Graphic Novel


VISA 2272
ART OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

VISUAL BITES II


 

Alex and Bella proofing a leaf from the graphic novel.


VISUAL BITES II
CULTURAL EXCHANGE PERTH - MIAMI
A graphic novel project between two continents.

Concept: Paul Trinidad, Alex Wolman, Alberto Meza
Art of Graphic Novel A collection of Short Stories in Woodcuts PDF version
(TrinWol Press First edition 2013) Edited by Paul Trinidad and Alex Wolman,

Project Brief:

Develop a student exchange of graphic work between ALVA University of Western Australia and Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Miami Dade College.
http://www.mdc.edu/kendall/artandphilosophy/meza.asp

Ten years ago UWA and MDC made a significant cultural exchange of student works with the production of a book of graphic imagery. This project consisted of around 50 prints from artists, teachers and students. The book "Visual Bites" was hand printed and hand made in an edition of 100. A true Artists Book.

In this project evolving from the Graphic Novel, the outcome is a commercially printed book or graphic novel.

Times have changed in ten years but the enthusiasm to engage with and create graphic works from the oldest of print media processes has not waned. Graphic processes do not just apply to image making or laying out of visual material. Graphic thinking is abstract and incisive. Students learn how to distil and empower ideas and expression.

Learning graphic processes in the group situation is liberating and confidence building.
I'm interested in learning the language with the hope of furthering my Fine Arts studies at Seoul National University over the next few years.

 

Link to Gallery Page:


 

Josephine and Serena


VISA 2272

 

VISA 2272 is a study program offered in Semester 2 by ALVA in the UWA broadening units.
http://units.handbooks.uwa.edu.au/units/visa/visa2272

Students in this unit will learn how to think and respond graphically. The unit is oriented to rapid idea development and skill acquisition. Students will become skilled in graphic processes and gain an thorough working understanding of the origin of the Graphic Novel.

The term 'graphic novel' is used broadly to describe works of non-fiction across a number of genres including, among others, alternative culture, fantasy and science fiction. Contemporary graphic novels are composed of sequentially developed art imagery presented either in a traditional comic book form or in experimental artist book. The graphic novel holds a strong place in contemporary literature and culture, and is gaining increasing status in traditional disciplines.

Students learn the history of the graphic novel in relation to the practice of producing such a work. The original origins of the graphic novel are in the practice of traditional printmaking. The unit examines traditional printmaking practices used to produce the earliest form of the Graphic Novel.

Researching the works of early graphic novelists such as the Belgian artist Frans Masereel and Lynd Ward students learn introductory graphic art processes of wood carving and printmaking. They are taught the process of visualising and recording sequences or storyboards of thoughts and imagery. Students produce their own unique graphic novelettes through the use of traditional and contemporary print media and artists book binding techniques.
This comprises
(1) Artist bibliography—pictorial or visual reference material in context of set work and student's own research and development;
(2) The visual diary or sketch book—includes handwritten notes, visual explorations in graphic and drawn media, along with storyboarding for the graphic novel;
(3) Three to five relief prints and experiments;
(4) A graphic novelette produced in the class.


 

 

Josephine and Serena carving medium density fibre board block prior to printing. students develop a sequence of narrative imagery based on their own experience. The narrative reflects their interpretation of an idea developed through creative thought processes and writing.

 

 

Ben and Fintan working on registration and carving processes.

 

The style of inking the graphic printing block prior to producing a page in the novelette.

 

 

RESEARCH


Here are some Url's:
Check out this video - the url was sent to me Tami Utami, a visiting graphics student from ITB Bandung, her classmates made the video of wood cut process in Bandung.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngYkqa7QEw8

Old/original Masters of Graphic/wordless Novel
Lynd Ward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGfZi5JCI5g
Frans Masereel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cULbrNvtbfU

 

 

Serena and Jeff preparing a printing block.

 

Serena pulling a proof from two of her blocks. Later this print will form a page in her own graphic novel. Imagery from her graphic novel will be scanned digitally for the final collaborative production between Miami Dade College and UWA students.

 

Serena's amazing character carved into the wood block (MDF), rolled with ink and ready to print. Serena has cut out stencils to keep the halo area of the block clean from printing, Avid printmakers love the background textures which transfer during the printing processes but it is an acquired (visual) taste.

 

Serena preparing to print.

 

Alex and Jeff fine tuning their ideas.

 

Bella's graphic portrait, hot off the press.

 

Ben and Fintan incising some details in to their blocks.

 

Josephine focussed on her carving technique.

 

 

The graphic class Jeff and Josephine

 

 

Students from MDC working at projects.

 

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

  
   
     

 

 

 

 

Professor Paul Trinidad
University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley Western Australia 6009

October 29, 2013

Dear Professor Trinidad,

On behalf of the Printmaking program at Miami Dade College, I am delighted to accept your invitation to participate in the third print exchange between our institutions. After almost a decade of interchanging ideas and projects between Western Australian and Miami students, it’s gratifying that our art education relationship continues and develops into new and exciting art projects. I thank you for the leadership and encouragement you have provided to make this new project a reality.

Miami Dade College is a state funded institution located in Miami, Florida.  It has eight campuses and twenty-one outreach centers.  Founded in 1959, it is the largest higher education institution in Florida, and the second largest in the United States, currently with 160,000 students.

As you may recall from your visit several years ago to the Art Department at the Kendall Campus, our facilities and programs provide students with a variety of print mediums of study.  Particularly to the current project, students will be creating a set of prints in woodcuts and lino-cuts that will exemplify their mastery of printmaking techniques, as well as imagery that represents their thoughtful reflection of Miami culture and life.  We look forward to receiving and admiring the work your students will be creating exposing contemporary issues of Perth life.

I cannot emphasize enough how inspired and exhilarated I, as well as participating students, are to work in conjunction with you and your students. I am certain it will result in an excellent educational and artistic experience for all involved.

Warm regards,

Alberto Meza
Professor of Fine Arts
Arts and Philosophy Department- Kendall Campus Miami Dade College

 

 

Inspiration from a photo sent from Mayra, a student of MDC. The grapahically enhanced image of the The Colony art deco hotel is located on the famous Miami Beach strip. Mayra is researching for inspiration for her wood cut print.

Hiya Prof Trinidad,

I am pleased that you had chosen that photo of the Miami strip, it was one of my favorites. :) it's alternation is fine with me. I would just like to say that I'm a proud MDC art student, I was born and raised here in Miami for 20 years, through those years the lifestyle has been a mixture of exotic and chaotic experiences. I am honored to working on this project with you and Prof Meza.

Thank you so much

Mayra Pavon

 

 

Miami Intracoastal

 

For this project I decided to work towards the idea of "genre art," which is art that depicts events or scenes of everyday life, and towards nature. . Because Miami is a tropical location, palm trees as vegetation is a given. Everywhere, one will see palm trees.

Serena Chiang

Link to Gallery Page:

 

Craig Thompson, a graphic novelist who works in the woodcut style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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