podkaynestudios
Posts: 894
Joined: 10/30/2006
From: Louisville, KY
Status: online
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Ok, I gave it another try, this time I have pictures. The photos of my "plates" didn't turn out, because, well, it's kind of hard to photograph the subtlety of carved potato flesh. :)
I tried two ways--one with a paring knife, one with a gouge.
The proof on the right was done using a paring knife. I will admit I didn't take great care in my cuts. The knife was dull, and I lopped off a cat's ear. With potatoes, there is no way to repair a mistake. But, I wanted to see if I could do this using tools anyone would have, and the answer is yes. I would simply take greater care. I also recommend a fresher potato, which has harder, less spongy flesh (but I used what I had on hand.)
The proof on the left was done using a traditional gouge. I did it second, and used a similar design. The potato took line nicely, but it is pretty hard to see just where you are cutting at times.
The main process started with cleaving a potato into halves lengthwise, in one swift motion. It is important to have flat, clean surfaces, or you will not get a good surface to carve and print.
I carved with the paring knife by outlining the area to be removed, then digging it out with the end of the knife, or the tip of a narrow, sharp spoon.
I used the gouge identically to the process for carving linoleum or composite material.
In printing, I found that moisture was a problem. You will get a very watery print, but that is also not necessarilly a bad look. It is a potato after all.
You can try to draw moisture out with paper towels, but the potato is a ticking time-bomb--it will turn brown, it will leak starch, it will shrivel and shrink. You are only going to get one crack at printing this, so make sure you get all the prints you want from it! You should also expect not to be able to change colors of ink. A strong, opaque image is probably hard to get, but I did have some luck with the first and last prints I made.
_____________________________
Cheers,
Aimee
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Alternate/Recycled Printmaking - 
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