Exploring wild animals as a subject using the relief printmaking technique.

Abstract

The research was intended to demonstrate the potential of wild animals as a subject for relief printing by producing a variety of both utilitarian and aesthetic relief prints .The study objectives were to: Demonstrate the potential of wild animals as a source of inspiration for quality and diverse subject matter in relief printing; Expose the diverse possibilities some animals can offer to relief print makers in generation of original ideas for other printing techniques; and Document some of the endangered animal species for the posterity. The study was cross- sectional and practical in nature, as it undertook a cross-section of animals for inspiration. Both qualitative and quantitative means of data management were used. The researcher purposively sampled stake-holders in the printing field for the human population and animals in Kabalega National park and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for the non human population.

From the findings and the respective discussions, it was concluded that wild animals were to a great extent successfully used as a subject for relief printmaking. The work undertaken was diverse in subject matter; the research exposed the possibility of using relief printmaking to produce original ideas for other printing techniques. Lastly, some of the endangered animal species were documented for the posterity.

It was thus recommended that: First, that printmakers presented the animal subject matter to another level of creativity. That is, from a mere elementary interpretation of the animals to where the subject matter provides a variety of sources of inspiration in terms of elements and principles of art. Secondly, a comparative study of wild animals for any printmaking technique could form a subject matter of a rich and informative research. The reptiles for example are rich in design elements but were left out. Thirdly, further exploring in the area of producing original motifs for textile printing and aesthetic prints for decorative wall hangings by other researchers was possible. Fourthly, there were various printmaking techniques that could be used as a medium of expression in printmaking by future researchers. Fifthly, it was possible to execute a print using various body shapes and patterns of animals using a particular color at its full intensity in conjunction with its shades and tints. Lastly, it further made recommendations to future researchers by taking the form of collateral applications of wild animal images to a variety of surfaces.