Waiting for Moments of Gladness A print is often developed one element, one colour, one layer at a time from a repeatable matrix or printable surface. Successive printings build upon each other untill the final result is achieved and the work is finished. Since my prints often require the participation of others, such as models, as well as the gathering of many diverse images and elememts, I thought it might be interesting to share some of the process that it takes to create one of my prints.

One element I’ve enjoyed using in several prints is the direct hand print of the model used in the work. For the print “Waiting for Moments of Gladness” I documented my model Kalae while printing his hands on the surface of each print using the actual hand or foot print of the model as a "real" element from the person being represented. It's not only another layer of image or information that enlivens a print but represents the actual "touch" of a person. There's something special about this kind of direct contact in a print who's images are so often separated from the piece by process or technique. The hand print is a unique and direct impression of the person who made it!

I also photographed Kalae as he had the Chinese phrase painted calligraphically on his back. This was just one more situation where the skills of another person were appreciated and added to the overall collaboration that went into making this print. Caligraphic Bodypainting