Rorschach Prints

Rorschach Inkblots were developed by Hermann Rorschach in 1921 and are a part of psychological evaluations and tests to determine a patient’s personality type, mental organization, mental acuity and more. As the patient responds to the inkblot, the therapist writes down the patient’s reponses and uses one of several scoring systems to determine the results.

What fascinates me about Rorshach Prints is the viewer’s need and ability to see patterns in randomness. I did not try to shape the inkblot prints as I made them, so any resemblance to anything is purely coincidental. I have to wonder though if subconciously I managed to manipulate the way the inkblots came out. Could the making of inkblots determine the thoughts of the maker as well as the viewer?

These inkblots were made as backgrounds for my Spring Quarter Animation, Transfiguration. I made dozens of these inkblots. Most of them turned out as blurs or blobs. Some were too wet and soaked through the paper. Others were ruined by moving them before the ink was dry. These are the best of the best.

I also experimented with using acrylic paint as well and would like to try watercolor paint this summer. I am interested in how patterns and designs can be made from chaos.

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