Icarus Hyperbolic Tessellation

Icarus(2020)

Its been quite awhile since I wrote a blog. The image above is of a P3 tessellation that has been translated to a hyperbolic image. I originally completed the Icarus image in 1986 and did it on a lithographic stone and printed it. You can see that in the print called Metanoia (see Tessellation Art Gallery Page 2). I made that original print in the studio at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee with Mark Wilson as the instructor. I also made the Icarus tessellation into an etching called Michael's Dream (see Tessellation Art Gallery Page 1) and hand colored it.  The above image was drawn on lithographic stone to make it into a new print. This is a photograph of the line work on stone. This is the second hyperbolic tessellation I've completed. The first was Flying Fish 2020 you can see that on the Gallery Page 1.

The basic geometry was constructed with line and compass and then I traced over that onto tracing paper using a light table. After several adjustments (actually numerous) I transferred it to stone. It was very time consuming to draw as each image is drawn by hand (Polychromos pencil) after transferring it to stone with iron oxide paper. I hope to print a color background and do some 3-dimensional shading work to finish it off but for now I'm satisfied. I'll print this stone at Muskat Studios. (www.muskatstudios.com). I've been collaborating with Carolyn Muskat for 20 years now since completing the image War and Peace at the MFA School back in 2000. 
I enjoy working the stone and get a great sense of satisfaction as the image materializes and then pulling the first proofs. Drawing on the stone is a unique feeling and has a smoothness and coolness even if its old technology. I really enjoy it.