Tasked with choosing a 5 letter word, I initially wanted to write my name “LAURA” but there was the requirement that each letter be unique. And so, I settled on “LATER”. I also subconsciously knew it would be simpler to carve out with few curvy letters. The video example used a graphic so I also knew that carving text required I design the potato text in reverse, or a mirrored version of it. This wasn’t too challenging because my letters were easily imagined as a reflection. I thought it would take me a lot longer but the process in which I timed from start to finish took me 15 minutes. What I did find challenging was the spacing between the text. I set out slicing my potato so that I maximized the area of the carving surface. Even after having done that, I wanted to maximize the text area and consequently didn’t allow for text on the same line, rather, in spaces above and below the previous letter. This gave it a cartoony feel whose font is reminiscent of SpongeBob Squarepants’ time card slides.

The letters L, A, T, E were pretty straight forward (Lol) with the exception of cutting out the hole in the A. I had to be careful not to break the frame of the A when digging out the hole. Unfortunately, I did rip it a bit despite my best efforts. Finally, the last letter was R, which has a curved surface and another enclosed area that needed to be carved out. This was easily the most difficult (lol) letter to carve by far because using a straight edged knife to carve out a non-straight surface would seem incompatible. As a result, the R print looks the least aesthetically pleasing. I tried my best to print two identical prints but even at that, the surface of the potato was warped the second time because of a thin potato layer that was misaligned and thus printed a thicker looking L. Also, the amount of paint and pressure applied to the potato surface was inconsistent thus resulting in two non-identical prints.

Although the entire process took only 15 minutes, it was for only one word. Whereas to type this on a computer and produce identical copies, it would take mere seconds. Therefore, having advanced to newer technology, it becomes difficult to revert back to older technology simply due to the advantages and efficiencies newer technology affords. There is a novel aspect to working with older print methods but certainly it wears out fast. I can only imagine how patient and skilled past writers were when their medium was steel or stone and the process was much longer. For this reason, I have a greater appreciation for both old and new print technology.