Viscosotypes


This body of work revolves around fractal-like patterns, often called viscous fingering, produced when a high viscosity liquid is injected into a lower viscosity ink. I’ve long been interested in fractals not just as abstract mathematical expressions, but as methodological and visual systems—how a body of work can emerge from a fractal-like process.

These works began as a discovery at the printing press and have developed into a unique studio process, producing prints I call Viscosotypes. From these prints come a range of analog and digital works, forming a self-referential body of work. Each piece is derived from another, reflecting the recursive visual language of nature through repetition, variation, and scale.


Gradient Viscosotypes (1-4)
Acrylic ink, enamel, masonite
Approx. 9” x 12”
202



Whirlpool
Inkjet, foamcore, enamel, MDF
32” x 37”
2023


Occlusal Viscosity
Carved MDF, acrylic, ink
58” x 32”
2026


The Brooder
Inkjet, acrylic, enamel, MDF
38” x 44.5”
2024



Spiral-verse
Cove St Arts - Potland, ME
2021



Copyright 2025 Carter Shappy