In thinking about ways to create expansive landscapes, I really wanted to try utilising multiple pieces of paper, printed together from one plate, yet separated.  There is something about the fragmentation of a landscape artwork which somehow captures the feeling of looking all around you.

When a vista is too large to take in - surrounding us from all sides - we move our heads to view one part, then move again to view another.  Our minds take in all of the individual mental snapshots and then stitches them together to make a whole impression.  This is the feeling I wanted to play with in this project!

I made a long panorama plate.  I did not plan this design out - I didn't even sketch onto the plate first.  I went straight in with PVA Glue, using that as a way of sketching out areas to build on, and then squishing tissue paper into the shape I wanted.  Once I had found the wave shape, I could then add a few more structured shapes with felt.

These are the materials I used in this experiment:

• Main Wave: Tissue Paper
• Boulders: Felt
• Boulder Cracks: Wool & Tin Foil
• Clouds: PVA Glue
• Sea Spray: Sugar
• Bird: Cut out cardboard

Once it had fully dried, I sealed it with Button Polish and left it to dry...

I was really pleased that the sugar didn't dissolve in the button polish - I wasn't sure if it would!

As this was an experimental plate I only did one coat of sealant.

I used Black Essdee Waterbased Ink to ink up the plate.  I covered all of the sections roughly with a brush, then tidied up areas around the spray and edges with a cloth.

I decided to use a group of six separate pieces of Mulberry Paper to print on - with one larger central piece, surrounded by other smaller ones.

I was really happy with how the textures came out!  The sugar especially is a new favourite of mine now!

I feel like I could play with the paper sections more, in order to get a more aesthetic grouping in future - I am not sure the composition of this result is the most effective yet.  It was just the first attempt, with cut off bits of paper I already had.  I think the bird on the rock would look better on a piece of paper that reached down into the sea a bit - rather than being cut off where it is in this experiment.

I really like the overall intention of this print though - the sea feels like it has movement, the boulders feel heavy.  The textures work with each other well and it has definitely given me ideas for future prints.

What do you think?  Do you like the idea of using multiple pieces of paper to print one plate from?  Have you tried it yourself?  Let me know!