Title page for the first issue of my comic using rubber stamps and linocut-© 2011 Michael Hill

The above image is an impression of the reversed typographic design shown in Production Report No.1. As I am interested in experimental image-making I have moved the block during the printmaking to create a bit of blur. I have also used askew registration and mixed some of the fonts. The comic is based on memories I have of a career in education that involved teaching, research, design and consultation at an art college then a design school across the disciplines of film, video, animation and visual communication. The subject of comics often arose but more as a method of teaching storyboarding than as a medium in its own right. By chance I also became involved in printmaking when I and a colleague temporarily swapped our classes- my graphics students with her printmaking students for a couple of sessions, and her students learning animation and video production with me. Later, I went along to experience the printmaking department myself.  I loved it both as a technical medium and as a form of artistic expression. The result was that since that time printmaking became part of my artistic practice. In this project it has not only been used to generate the title page but also some visual expressions on several pages.

A little too much blur perhaps? I’ll try it and see. © 2011 Michael Hill

I manipulate the visual communication aspect of the work and modify the degree of graphical experimentation. I see both elements as essential considerations in comics making.

Experimental typography-© 2011 Michael Hill

The ‘graphical impressions’ are drawings or prints of memories generated in ink from rubber, wood, lino and other surfaces (the title and subtitle from rubber, my name from lino). This page looks a bit too typographic so I think I shall probably consider adding an illustration or two. In addition to utilising printmaking as a method of image-making I am also doing some drawing with various tools ranging from traditional metal dip pens and pencils to felt-tipped pens and brushes and a selection of inks.

UPDATE: For a visual diary record and time-line overview of this project, read all of the production reports relating to Issue #1:   No.1   No.2   No.3   No.4   No.5   No.6   No.7   No.8   No.9   No.10   No.11   No.12   No.13