work on paper
Artist Statement
Phil Stevens
I seek the sublime through nature. I seek beauty, the universal, and a sense of place. I constantly search the countryside to find images. The effect I seek is fleeting. I am interested in the primordial so I look for abandoned fields and nature preserves.
The images are slices of nature where color, form and light combine to create a unique visual sensation.
When I find a location that appears to have possibilities, I stop and walk around the area. If a view is found that provides a desirable combination of color and composition, a small sketch is made with notes of the various colors. This becomes my reference when I apply the second and third layer of inks.
The monotypes are unique, one of a kind prints, which are created using multiple layers of ink. Printmaking is a transfer process where the pressure of the press transfers the ink from the plate onto the paper. I first mix the inks to create the desired colors. The background color is rolled on to the first acrylic plate and then paper is placed on top of this plate and printed. Next inks are brushed and rolled onto a second plate to establish large areas of the image. And then printed again. Additional layers are then developed on a third plate and printed to create the detail of the final work.