Chuck Close - Self Portrait (2015)
Self-Portrait (2015) was created over three years from 24 blocks that were used to render the image in 84 colours. These images include a selection of these woodblocks and progressive proofs.
I hadn't seen the breakdown of the final portrait before and so I was honestly taken back when I got to see all of the separate components stand alone.
I often find myself picking my brain when it comes to colour tonal reduction, wether it be two tone, three tone or in this case too-many-tones for my head to process. I do however feel like I will learn and adapt a printmakers perspective to more I challenge myself.
I found it really helpful during task 2 taking an image and separating it out into a three tonal reduction preparation. Simply blocking out colour layer by layer forms something so much more interesting than the original image itself and Im loving watching this process be pushed and tested in lots of printmakers and their unique styles.
