This is the second post in my series of fish prints created using the woodblock printmaking method…for my experimental animated film titled Toxic Fish. Dramatically, after ocean fish are poisoned their bodies swell up, die and disintegrate. The static shape of the fish from the woodblock design starts firm before being flooded by toxins. It then falls apart to illustrate this. The method I employed was to gradually over-ink the block. This resulted in details being dampened into puddles…definition and sharpness were blurred and reduced into a dramatic sequence of atrophy.
Below is a photo of me carving one of the blocks using a Japanese chisel. I must add that this is not the recommended way to of doing it! It has been posed for a photograph and shows a compromised pose of the process for promotional purposes. The woodblock carving process is done on a fixed bench with one carving away from, not towards, one’s body.
If you liked this post you can see others on my Blog.
(All text, photos and artwork-©2017 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
This series of posts will profile a collection of creative prints that I have made, beginning with a series of fish. I used the woodblock printmaking method with variations in inking to make monoprints so that the prints produced could also be used in animation sequences. Six species of fish were featured, the first of which is the Japanese Tai or sea bream. I was very attracted to the idea of working in both animation and printmaking at the time but found it difficult to sustain both in the available time and ultimately had to choose between the two. I found the solution in combining both mediums. Animation’s enormous need for artwork could be more speedily met by using the printmaking medium. I was doubly happy but have since settled on making comics which falls in the space located somewhere in-between and requires a lot less artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print artwork with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Tai/sea bream woodblock print with overlaid hand-colouring for the animated film from my experimental animated film Toxic Fish-©1990 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. This print also stamped for framing and sale as static artwork.
Shooting my 1990 animation Toxic Fish on the Oxberry animation rostrum camera with artwork produced from woodblock printmaking.
Other posts of my graphic based material include:
(All text, photos and artwork-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
Publication of the second issue of my artist book/comic Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics, Chapter 2: A Blot On His Escutcheon is forthcoming. September is looking increasingly likely subject to completion of the printing, binding and delivery of the comics. The comic will form part of an exhibition of my works on paper at a new gallery in Glebe called GAUGE. Below is an image of the title page. The image has been constructed from elements of photography, printmaking, typography and collage. It shows Doctor Comics returning from a shopping expedition. UPDATE: Exhibition dates have been firmed to 18-29 September 2013 but still no firm launch date for the comic…which is beginning to raise thoughts in the long term of its potential development into a graphic novel. We will have to wait and see about that!
(All text, photos and artwork-©2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
I now have two three dimensional sculptures of Gigantor and Gojira on the kitchen walls of our home: Gigantor the giant, remote controlled, peace-keeping robot, based on the manga Tetsujin 28-go (Iron man No.28) by Mitsuteru Yokoyama and adapted for animation, plus Gojira (Godzilla) star of the famous Japanese movie directed by Ishirō Honda. These plaques are the work of model maker, artist and comics creator Lewis P. Morley and were exhibited just last month at a gallery in Redfern, Sydney. Once installed, Lewis agreed to perform their christening.
Gigantor installed …above the stove in the kitchen. (Photograph and ceramic tile design by Louise Graber)
I have always thought that Gigantor’s body resembled a pot-bellied stove so I decided that it was appropriate he be positioned above the stove. His clunky design with rivets and pistons, prior to those more elegant mobile suit robots, such as Gundam that succeeded him, have some resonance with the metal stove and the various pots and pans on the shelves.
Gojira installed on the Japanese graduated toned wall. (Photograph by Louise Graber)
The whale eating Gojira, on the other hand, coming from the depths of the ocean and memorably seen in the 1954 Godzilla movie wading through Tokyo Bay, had to go over the kitchen sink.
Lewis and his magic silver signing pen signing Gojira. (Photograph by Louise Graber)
Christening Gigantor in steampunk style with steam from a boiling kettle. (Photograph and ceramic tile design by Louise Graber)
Christening Gojira with water from a metal jug. (Photograph by Louise Graber)
It was very kind of Lewis to come over, appropriately dressed in his Gundam T-shirt and perform this ritual. He now has visiting rights. This post was first published on the Doctor Comictopus blog.
UPDATE: GODZILLA GETS RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE IN TOKYO, June 2015
News photo: Godzilla officially welcomed to Shinjuku by the Mayor.
Well that’s 40 days since my last post…that preferred publishing frequency rate is getting more like it. Feel free to post about my blogging, comics art history and creative projects. I shall reply. Doc.
UPDATE: POSTER DESIGNS FOR THE NEW SHIN GODZILLA FILM, April 2017
(All text-©2012 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
Doctor Comics 