Plot 73

  • Subtracted Light Stack
  • 42 x 36 inches (ink)
  • Sharpie on paper
  • BFK Rives
  • XY Mechanical Plotter
  • 2020

Subtracted Light Stacks are drawings that test the subtractive color mixing ability of the Sharpie® ink formula on a paper surface. Using a mechanical plotter for the production of a continuous line, fields of color are developed and layered with the goal of removing all illuminating light. These exercises explore the subtractive wavelengths from a spectral power distribution of the Sharpie® permanent marker’s spectrum to perceive a color. Depending on the color theory being argued, resulting color-fields could be referred to as composite black or K (key). I use the term INK to categorize this specific range of pigment.

See more: Subtracted Light Stacks

“Subtractive color.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtractive_color
“RYB color model.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RYB_color_model
“CMY color model.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMY_color_model


Detail, Plot 73 from Subtracted Light Stack Series

Detail, Plot 73 from Subtracted Light Stack Series

Detail, Plot 73 from Subtracted Light Stack Series

Detail, Plot 73 from Subtracted Light Stack Series

Registration detail, Plot 73 from Subtracted Light Stack Series