Mermaid Print

I just started working on a new reduction block print. The topic is a little different from my usual subjects, which are often landscapes and birds. I like drawing mermaids, but I haven't tried a multi-colored print before. Here are the beginning steps of the process.

 First move the cat out of the way

 Tracing paper pattern is placed on the block and rubbed with a spoon

 The light image on the block needs to be outlined with a Sharpie marker

The block is ready for carving and printing.

Illustration Friday "The letter A"

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "The Letter A". I haven't been posting on IF consistently, but it is the NEW YEAR, so I'll try to get back on track.

                                                     A is for Avocado

The Eastern USA has been going through a long, terrible frigid weather spell. The temperature has been in the teens with below zero wind chill. Today it was 4 degrees F when I got up to go to my Saturday morning yoga class. Surprisingly, the class was packed! I imagine everyone is getting cabin fever, and can't stand being inside for one more day. On Thursday, there was a nor'easter that dropped a foot of new snow in most of New England. Lots of flooding on the coast, and anything that wasn't cleared away in now encased in frozen ice and snow. We are pretty tough here, but I'm looking forward to the milder weather forecasted for later next week. Weather in the 30s and 40s sounds pretty balmy at this point!

We love to feed and watch the birds that come to our yard. A partial list of birds include, blue jays, chickadees, juncos, cardinals, gold finches, white-throated sparrows, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, red bellied woodpeckers, downy and hairy woodpeckers, mockingbirds, crows, Carolina wrens, and mourning doves. Of course the squirrels are in the mix too.

This is a red-bellied woodpecker. You would think it would be called a red-headed woodpecker, but that name was already taken, and this guy has a bit of light red on the lower belly.

Hope everyone is staying warm and cozy!