Maggie Wilson (Printmaking, etc.)

Some placeholder photos of my new prints, "Veronica the printmaker"! More formal documentation to come!

Plaster molds!

Routing a design into plaster for a slump mold! First I cast the block the old fashioned way, then after it set we cut it while it's still wet! I did a rough pass and a parallel finishing pass with an 1/8 inch bit to get all my details

Final product!  I am very happy with my life size (and very heavy) halo, despite the necessary economy of my finishes.  I’m looking forward to the new directions this study is taking me in my practice!

WIP (as you can see, the hand of the machine is very evident in my routed edge, despite both a roughing and a finishing pass. In this case the grooves worked in my favor! But lesson learned for next time)

My project for the CNC router, a medieval halo rendered in 3D!  My successful model, pictured in cyan above, was achieved using the revolve method after a few different attempts.  I plan to cut two of these hemispheres, then laminate them together in the woodshop to create a symmetrical finished piece.  Pictured also, the 2D design I drew to engrave the surface using the laser cutter.  

A nice finish to my stained glass study! On to the cnc router...

A relatively successful cut of my stained glass window study! My plywood frame came out exactly how I planned it, and my acrylic panes were a success in a mixed engraving/cut out. Now comes the question of fit. The panes are loose right now (kerf! *shakes fist*), but is it better to recut the panes at a slightly larger measurement, or start experimenting with adhesives to hold them in the frames (I.e. How does my prof feel about hot glue?)

Laser cutter Study 1!  A very small stained glass window, with a simple line engraving in the glass.  Question: how do I get a photograph in the panels of the window?  I tried to use picture frame but I couldn’t figure out how to trim so only the cut out panel shapes remained.  I’m hoping to cut the “frame” out of plywood and the “panes” out of a scrap of acrylic, so I can experiment with assembling them.  If it works, it could lead to a cool larger scale sculpture!  I’m doing some separate tests to engrave acrylic with a more detailed raster image, which I’m hoping to find a good method of filling with color, intaglio style. Maybe alcohol ink?

Our first assignment, joinery on the laser cutter! Leah and I worked together to come up with solutions to create a tight fit between two pieces. Knowing our control (pictured C) was a loose fit because of the laser's kerf, we developed solutions 1 (a tight fit, but a design failure) 2 (a first attempt at our final lock and key design with an angle out of place) and 3 (success with our lock and key design!). Cut at 90 power and 80 speed. We also labeled our mockettes in order to practice cutting different color layers at different powers, with our labels engraved at 5 power and 100 speed. (Also pictured, our first cutting attempt at 80 power and speed which didn't make it through the substrate :()

An important factor of laser cutting wood, is an awareness of grain, which at times I’ve chosen to mask or highlight.  Wood with a denser grain will cut more shallowly over those veins, which does leave a literal “shadow” over the final print. 

For the purposes of my class for which blogging is an assignment, I’ll be tagging #digitaltophysical, but my goal is to create an interwoven documentation of all my studio projects and class discussions.  Stay tuned!

Songs Woodcut 2015

Charms Woodcut 2015

2014

2014

2014