Description

Hume's limited-edition prints are often derived from his large-scale paintings, which are characteristically made using household gloss paint. The artist's subject matter ranges from studies of flora and fauna to portraits, but the resulting images are far from traditional representations. Hume's careful placement of forms, unexpected cropping and precise choice of hue combine to produce arresting, intriguing work that hovers between abstraction and figuration. Although his paintings are often characterised by their flatness, printmaking has allowed Hume to experiment with scale, as well as traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques which provide an opportunity to create subtle texture within his works on paper. Using laser-cut woodcut techniques and screen print to create a combination of flat and wood-grained surfaces, Hume's chosen palette of pastel colours for these new works was painstakingly adjusted to create a sense of 'falling away' and giving a softer impression than is found in the glossy paintings for which he is renowned. Ticket developed substantially as an image during Hume's time in the RA Schools printmaking studios. In its first incarnation marks resembling tears moved from the semi-circular form at the top of the image to the bottom; the final print's imagery has been pared down and a foreboding black form added. With the semi-circles now in negative, the overall impression is reminiscent of a paper ticket.