One Piece Down, One to Go

Since midterm, I've been working constantly to finish up so I can give the pieces to Plasticare to model the stands after. I am happy to say that I officially finished the first piece-- I colored the drypoint and added a bit more to the back of the piece. As the for the color, despite its challenges, I decided to use watercolor. It doesn't stick to the plexiglas nearly as much as acrylic does, but I felt the properties of it were more appropriate-- I'll just have to be extra careful about scratching. As for the back, I added some hand cut stenciled kanji, which will be the title of the piece: kibou, meaning a wish or hope.

I'm very happy with it, the back has felt unfinished for quite some time now, and I was yearning to get back to expressive brushstrokes! Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the drypoint before I wrapped it up and gave it to Plasticare, but I am satisfied with the effect as well-- very subtle! In other words, the three panels are now there to ensure precise measurements of the stands (and wrapped in glassine).

As for the second piece, I am working on the two films for the large rectangular piece: some raw data concerning the distance of the planets from the sun on the back, and a constellation of my own creation, modeled after the morning glory, for the front.

Concerning the two circles, I have finished one side of each. I finished the drypoint rabbit, of which I don't have a picture, and need to paint on the back. I printed both layers of the moon chart on the other:

The brown is the backing paper and the green is the tape around the edges. I printed the first layer (my own pencil drawing) in transparent red, and the second (photograph of chart) in transparent black. I am very happy with how it turned out, but am still unsure about whether to put anything on the back yet. So far, one person has told me to leave the back blank because the frontal composition is so busy. I agree that it is pretty busy; however I wonder if I should add something simple like a wash. Please give me your opinions.

As soon as I finish the second piece, I will bring it to Plasticare for measurements as well. Friday the 9th is the absolute latest deadline I gave them, and asked for it to be earlier if possible. Just in case, I signed up for a few hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am a bit worried because install was originally supposed to go until Tuesday and I was kind of relying on that to fix any mistakes that arise (Plasticare is not open on the weekend). Hopefully if I need it the gallery staff will let me install on those extra days. I am also meeting with them tomorrow to look at their pedestals. I was hoping to visit earlier just in case I needed to make some, but if I keep up the pace on the second piece hopefully making a pedestal won't be too much of a problem.