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MACKENZIE THORPE
E V O L U T I O N
Those familiar with Mackenzie Thorpe's work are accustomed to the artist's many universal themes and iconography. What is also apparent is his continuous apetite for artistic evolution.
Evolution, Mackenzie's series of etchings, aquatints and stone lithography is his first significant foray into this medium.
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Here we follow the process of Stone Lithography, a challenging yet rewarding process. |
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Mackenzie begins his work by drawing and painting an image directly onto the surface of the lithography stone.
"Much like a painting, the printing surfaces act as a blank canvas, a starting point that evolves to hold the first and immediate impulse of the artist.... |
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...however in printmaking you do not truly know the results of these artistic impulses until you begin inking the plates and learning how the various inks, plates and paper react to create the printed image" |
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In collaboration with the master printer, in this case John Gruenwald, the materials are prepared for printing and a series of proofs are pulled incorporating the tonal variation and necessary layers of colour.
Once the desired result is achieved, it is designated "right to print" and the edition is pulled. |
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There is no original, no benchmark, just the prints as they evolve. Only when you pull the image off the stone do you know the finish line is close, marked only by Mackenzie's artistic instinct.
"there is an energetic anxiety that builds as the print is slowly pulled through the press and everyone involved stands by, hoping the vision was accomplished" |
| The Evolution works were created in John Gruenwald's studio in San Francisco. |
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