The Final Layer!

I printed the final layer of the shell block print today. I carved away a lot of the blue layer, and then printed the final color in a brown hue.

                                                            Close up of the block

Now I have to get ready for the annual "Uncommon Art on the Common" Art Show on August 4th in Goffstown.

Shells Print continued....

I've been working on the "Shells" print this week, and you'll see the progress since I last posted.
The weather was so pleasant, that I was able to do some of the carving out on the porch. Wiley and I enjoy watching the birds (and squirrels) in the yard while I'm working.

In the images above, I've already printed the first color previously, and carved out the areas that will remain that first color (light gray). I'm also carving out the texture of the background. 

In the image below, here is the layer of darker gray after it has been printed over the first layer.

I've had to do a lot of carving to get the block ready for the next color.

Below are a few variations of the print with the blue-gray layer.

The ink color shows up better in this photo.

I could be done at this stage, but I think I may do another layer. I will have to wait and see how the ink dries. All the various layers of ink, affect the final color. The real trick of making a successful reduction print, is the perfect alignment of the printing paper each time you add a layer. The pins and tabs, as well as a sturdy base to hold the block in place are the keys to matching up the image every time.

Starting a New Print--"Shells"

I've been working on an idea for a new reductive block print. I love the ocean, and the native shells that wash up on the beaches. I want to use a limited palette of colors as well, so I worked up a composition that incorporates mussels, small clam shells, and a heart-shaped rock.

This is the drawing that I created on a sheet of tracing paper. I used the tracing paper for the pencil drawing, so that I could easily transfer the image onto the block by flipping it over, and rubbing the back with a spoon. The size of the drawing and the block is 6"x 18".

After transferring the image to the "soft-cut" block, I outlined the shells with a permanent marker. so that the drawing won't rub off during the printing process. The image on the block is reversed from the original drawing, so that it will look like the original after it is printed.

I plan on using the natural colors of the shells---brown, gray, blue, and cream. The paper is Rives Lightweight white (more like an off-white), and the ink is Akua intaglio. The ink works very well for relief printing, and can be cleaned with Dawn detergent and water. I've placed the block in its template, taped down the "pins" for registration, and taped the "tabs" onto each sheet of the printing paper. There will be 12 prints made from the block using this technique.

Stay tuned for further progress.

Summer Vacation

I've been finding some fun things to do now that school is out for the summer. A quick trip to Maine, and a day on the beach with a friend, inspired me to paint on some flat rocks that I collected there.

Here's the beach, and a massive piece of driftwood, bigger than myself.

Mermaids have been one of my themes this year, so I tried to fit my drawings onto the shapes of the rocks.

When I'm done, I'll put a coat of varnish on them.

After a recent rainstorm, I took some pictures of my back yard. The colors of the clearing sky and the misty atmosphere made everything look very lush.

I've been having too much fun to work on a new block print, but hopefully in my next post I'll have something new to show.