Printmaking Experiment: Kani (Crabs)

Elementary school teachers often guide their students through simple arts-and-crafts printmaking using supermarket meat trays:

It is a little ironic that such a highly-technical, modern material as closed-cell Styrofoam can create such a warm, soft texture when rolled with ink.

I thought it might be interesting to take it up a level and try a similar technique with large pieces of foam insulation.

I used my Kyoto Market: Day 30 crabs as inspiration.

The first attempt at black/white (top left corner) came out well enough and encouraged me to try black ink over a layer of colour.

Each print is 30 cm x 40 cm (about 12″ x 16″).

I know that printmaking is very technical and that I am making a lot of unholy errors with my edges and roller lines, but I’m happy with the direction this is taking so far.

More experiments to come.