Re: Best Gum Prints I have seen : Criteria

Terry,

When I write, "mastery of the technical potential of the medium," I
refer to technical control of the medium of gum printing. I obviously
would not compare the technical potential of a gum print to an RC
color print. However, there is a level of control and execution that
we can expect for a specific medium, and I rather believe I know what
that is for gum from a purely technical perspective. Obviously,
subjective considerations can also influence our judgement, and that
in turn can be influenced by prevailing opinions about style.

Today, for example, most people consider that the ability to get good
Dmax in Pt./Pd. is a sign of mastery of the medium, but in another
age Emerson valued the opposite. My own view on this is that all
processes have a few specific distinguishing qualities and those who
are proficient in working them how to exploit those qualities in a
way that is consistent with their artistic vision.

Sandy

>Sandy
>
>I respect both Chris's achievements in making gum prints and your
>qualifications to comment on the process. .That was not the point.
>As you implied it is possible to make good prints with less than
>perfect technique.But then whose technique is perfect ?
>
>The original point was how it was that Chris appeared to be getting
>a layer of dichromate under her coating as she applied it. I
>suggested first of all that could be that there was too much gum in
>the mixture but then I realised that I meant too much dichromate
>solution. My comment as based upon my experience of making thousands
>of gum prints. It did not in any ay imply critiscism of Chris's
>prints. If one asks questions like that presemably one expects an
>answer.
>
>You sais=d that Chris's gum prints were some of the best yoyu had
>seen. That is an entirely different point. As I said. leaving
>Chris's prints out of it, what did you mean by 'best'.
>
>You said "The print indicates mastery of the technical potential of
>the medium" but what does that mean ? Do you mean making a gum print
>to look like a C type or controlling rhe medium so that it does not
>look like a photograph at all as was the case with some of the great
>Pictorialists. Or are they both legitimate approaches.where on can
>combime a bit of one and bit of the other. Is process here here
>getting in the way of the art implied in your second comment, "The
>print shows artistic creativity and imagination" where i would
>support you all along he way.
>
>Terry.
>
>
>In a message dated 7/4/06 12:17:32 am, sanking@clemson.edu writes:
>
>>
>>Terry,
>>
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>>My criteria are.
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>>1. The print indicates mastery of the technical potential of the medium.
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>>and
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>>2. The print shows artistic creativity and imagination.
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>>Am I qualified to make such an observation? I think so. I have
>>personally seen and handled gum and many other types of alternative
>>prints by some of the most outstanding printers of this and others
>>periods.
>>
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>>
>>Based on my criteria, and using such experience as I have, my
>>opinion is that Chris is a talented artist with outstanding control
>>of her medium. And believe me on this one, if this girl does not
>>know the answer to a question about gum, she will find it, either
>>by research in the literature, or by testing. I really admire those
>>qualities.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Sandy
Received on Sat Apr 8 09:09:33 2006