Roadkill

This semester, I’m taking a class called “Pattern Design and Print”. For this project, we needed to screen print four yards of muslin using the same elements in different ways.  I work best when I have a theme to work off of, and the week before this was assigned, my friend’s dog had had an unlucky encounter with a skunk, stinking up her house.  I decided to avenge my friend’s nose through art.

I preferred to use stencils rather than photo emulsion for two reasons: I could make stencils quickly, and I could change them out easily (I was only given two screens to work with).

I started by thumbnailing shapes for the skunk.  At first I thought I wanted a linear skunk with its legs splayed out to the sides, but decided that didn’t create enough movement.  I ended up creating a skunk that curved, which not only created movement, but could also interlock somewhat.  I made three sizes of this design.

I experimented with the tire/road element throughout the process.  I kept asking myself “How many different ways can I convey the idea of a road?”

Mixing the colors was fun, figuring out the different levels of transparency.

Anyway, enough talk, here are the results!

roadkill1small
I masked off the stripes with tape and used a tin can to create tire tread/skunky stink.

 

roadkill4small
For the tire tread, I applied tape directly to the screen and pinwheeled it so it would connect.

 

roadkill2small
I think this one is my favorite because it’s so simple, and I’m just in love with that maroon!

 

roadkill3small
For this one, I crinkled up the fabric and didn’t stretch it to achieve a craggy asphalt effect.