Chuck Webster and John Yau, The Weather Was Like a Bakelite Radio, 2016, watercolor, crayon, and Shellac ink on vintage handmade paper, courtesy of John Yau
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Shellac Ink
Shellac ink is a specialized ink made from the resin secreted by bugs. Found mainly in India and Thailand, Kerria Lacca is a shell insect that feeds on the phloem (living tissue that brings sugar made during photosynthesis to the rest of the plant) and seals the holes with wax and resin. The resin is collected and then heated into a liquid form. Once it solidifies, it is sold in either disk-shaped pucks or as shavings. Shellac is used as a varnish for wood and a sealant for other porous materials. When used as an ink, more shellac means more water resistance. They also provide a more glossy finish than standard ink, allowing for more interplay between light and shadows. Artist Chuck Webster uses shellac ink in his collaborative pieces with John Yau. The mix of translucent watercolor, matte crayon, and shiny shellac ink creates a dynamic relationship between the mediums. Learn more about shellac ink with the link below, and find Webster and Yau’s collaborations in the Heiter and Treehaven Galleries of the Schneider Museum of Art.
https://www.vibrant-art.com/2013/05/01/shellac-inks-introduction-uses/
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Malcolm Morley and John Yau, French Legionnaires Being Eaten by a Lion from The Fallacies of Enoch, 1986, etching and aquatint on paper, courtesy of Gordon Novak
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Aquatint
Aquatint was first discovered in Europe during the 18th century. As an etching technique, it allowed printmakers to create work that utilizes tonal areas rather than lines. These tones are often softer and more gradual than more common printmaking techniques. The watercolor-like finish made it a popular medium for capturing shadows. The difference lies in the plates. While most etching techniques use plates with lines carved into them to hold the ink, aquatint is a series of dots. Smaller dots lead to a smoother gradient effect. This technique allows for more dimension and texture. Well-known aquatint artists include Francisco Goya, David Hockney, and Robert Havell. The National Gallery of Art’s curator Rena Hoisington explores an array of aquatint works from its early days to the present in the video below. Learn more about aquatint through the link, and find some examples in the Heiter Gallery of the Schneider Museum of Art.
https://youtu.be/JQZ8za2ey0M
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Dan Colen, Untitled, 2014, flowers on bleached Belgian linen, courtesy of the SMA permanent collection
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Flowers
For his series Flower Paintings, neo-pop artist Dan Colen uses flowers and force as a medium. The collection comes from a larger project where Colen examines the relationship between materials and the art itself. Subject and object become one and the same, with natural and artificially dyed flowers leaving imprints of their form rather than an artist’s interpretation of them. Colen’s use of flowers specifically brings forward contradictions between delicacy and the violence of force. The bold colors and leftover plant material create a physical and metaphysical work, engaging with color and texture in innovative ways. One of his flower paintings, Untitled, is currently on loan in the Entry Gallery of the Schneider Museum of Art. Learn more about Dan Colen and his work below, and visit us before Saturday (12/14) at 4 pm to see his work in person.
https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2016/dan-colen-when-im-gone/ |
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From the Archive
(VIDEO) Creative Industries Discussion: John Yau & Stuart Horodner
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