I am linking to Steph Takeda’s Potato Printing post.
Creating potato stamps to print a five-letter word was a surprisingly intricate task. Like Steph, I found that carving the mirrored reflection of letters posed a significant challenge. My initial approach involved tracing the letters by poking holes into the potato, but this method proved ineffective due to the holes being too small to see. Steph’s struggle with curved letters resonated with me, as letters like ‘O’ and ‘A’ were particularly difficult to carve out cleanly.
Time management was crucial, as the entire process of planning and carving took about an hour. This was similar to Steph’s experience, who also took about an hour for her project. My initial mistake of not cutting the potato lengthwise limited my carving surface, highlighting the importance of preparation and foresight. Steph’s reflection on the artistic charm of the imperfections and the appreciation for the physicality of writing was enlightening. It echoed my thoughts on the mechanization of writing and how it has distanced us from the laborious yet artistic nature of traditional text creation.
Both Steph and I used words with no repeated letters and found straight-edged letters easier to carve. This similarity in our experiences underscores the shared challenges and learning curve in this project. My choice of the word “NAOMI” added a personal touch, much like Steph’s choice of “OCEAN,” reflecting personal significance and connection.
Considering the effort required for this task, I now appreciate the efficiency and convenience that mechanized writing offers. However, this exercise also highlighted the value of traditional craftsmanship and the tactile connection to the written word, often lost in modern times. The imperfections in our prints add character and uniqueness, something that mechanized processes often lack.