Narrative: The image came from a series of cyanotypes (old-time blueprints) created by hand by the artist working in the open air. The design for the offset poster shown below was taken from over 50 variations in cyanotype. The layers of images came from cartography, the movies, Japanese wood block prints, and computer look-up tables.

Although this poster was printed by offset lithography, the plates were made from exact duplicates--not reduced, enlarged, or screened half-tones. The exposures of the cyanotypes were through six layers of hand-drawn master transparencies. To create the blended gradations of color by offset lithography, the artist worked with the photographic platemaker and the printer who operated the offset press, and Bill mixed the inks himself.

• Mail order: $99.95, unframed, unsigned, FOB Seattle.
  Includes shipping & handling. SN 82 0611.

The example the above is the second-run of the poster, which came after a series of monotypes that were painted directly on the first-run poster. The first run is almost the same but is in blue and white only, without the light orange and earth tones. A few of the first run poster are still available.

In making the composition, there were three sources of inspiration: A geological survey map of the Colorado River, leaf-like or heart-shaped diagrams used in the artist's first computer-plotting, and the famous Japanese print by Hokusai, The Great Wave.

Videos were made of the original cyanotype series and also of the printing of the poster itself. They are in the artist's archives. See Ritchie's Video Products Catalog or email questions to ritchie@seanet.com.

Specifications:

• Offset lithograph, Six colors Four blue tints, transparent varnish, tan
• Size: Image, 39 X 24 1/4 in., Sheet, 40 X 24 3/4 in.
• Print date, edition, by: 6/11/82 in an edition of 514 in Seattle at Atomic Press and Triangle Studios (Note: Most copies destroyed in 1992).
• Paper: Patina by Warren, Inks: Process PMS Colors
• Printers and assistants: Bob Brown, Mike Keller, Fred Winkler, Bill Austin
• Published by: The artist with cooperation of David Bethlahmey, owner of Atomic Press