Hummingbird Variations

 I recently posted about a small reduction block print that I made of a ruby throated hummingbird. I also created a second hummingbird block that I planned to print only in black and white. The bird is facing in the opposite direction in this second one, which is on top in the photo below.

I printed up a few black and white ones to paint with watercolor.

Here are some variations that I matted and packaged to go in my Etsy shop.

I'm going to have to take down my hummingbird feeder next week. It's beginning to feel like Fall here in NH, and the hummingbirds are heading south for the winter! Bon Voyage!

Foggy Coast Block Print

 I haven't posted for awhile, but I wanted to update the progress on a recent print that I had been working on. The subject is based on a photo I had taken on a visit to Portland Head Light in Maine. That day it was so foggy, you could barely see the water, and I liked the color scheme created by the mist. I also enjoy working with rocky textures!

Here is the finished image.

The print size is 6" x 9" and is part of an edition of 16.

Hope everyone is having a good week! Cool weather with rainy intervals in our forecast here. We had a couple hot days in the 90s last week, but things can change quickly, and the temperature is only 58 as I write this. Well at least the rain is great for the plants!

April News

 It's April Fools Day, but I'm not a trickster! I don't have the heart to play practical jokes on anyone, and cringe at television shows that pull pranks on people. That said, I love that it is April 1st, and we can kick March to the curb! Even though there is still snow in my yard, it's melting fast, and plenty of little green shoots are popping up everywhere!

I'm also happy to  have some of my block prints on display, and for sale at the Asheville Print Studio in Asheville, North Carolina. The owner of the studio created a "spotlight" show for my work in the entry area of the studio. There is also a larger curated exhibition of prints from 27 artists who belong to the Asheville Printmakers Group, going on at the same time. Check them out on Instagram!

 #ashevilleprintstudio.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Jane

Past Peak Foliage and a New Print

 As the month of October is rapidly reaching its end, I have been capturing a few images of the waning colors. 

The nearby lake has been partially drained this Fall

The bike trail covered by fallen leaves

The final harvest of tomatoes, and the last of the Orange Cosmos

We've had frost a few nights so far, and I've been taking in the plants that I want to over-winter in the house. I have a hard time letting go of plants, and I know I have way too many. So many of my house plants have a story behind them. Plants from clippings from my late grandparent's house, birthday plants, plants sent to us in sympathy of a loved one's passing, cactus that were tiny in one pot over 30 years ago, now monsters in their own containers. I have an orchid that a student gave to me many years ago, that faithfully blooms each year. My husband rescued a couple plants from his office as they weren't doing well, and now they are part of the menagerie. I complain a bit, but I truly enjoy having growing things around me!

I finished a small 5"x 7" reduction block print this week. It is another version of a winter stream that I photographed a few years ago while taking a walk around town. I created a larger, similar print previously, but this one focuses more on shadows on the snow.

Goffstown Stream

It's part of an edition of 16, and I'll be putting it in my Etsy shop soon. Also getting ready for the Two Villages Art Society's Members Show in Contoocook, NH.  The show runs from November 25-December 24th. and is a great place to shop for gifts!

Bye for now! Happy Halloween!

Piscataquog River Print

 I've been busy getting ready for the Uncommon Art on the Common Art Sale, which is taking place in Goffstown Village tomorrow. It has been a couple of years since I last participated, due to weather and Covid, but it's always a lot of fun! I'm selling block prints, and my friend Lori has gorgeous felted animals, as well as prints.

I just finished, in the nick of time, a new print of the Piscataquog River. The river runs right through the center of Goffstown Village, and is a great place to observe wildlife. I've recently seen a bald eagle, and an osprey flying overhead. 

Here's the steps in creating the new print that I just finished.

The "soft-cut" block is ready to carve. I use a black sharpie to outline the transferred drawing.

Warm yellow tone for the first color

Light blue for second layer

more carving, then a couple gray layers for the sky

First green layer

Second green layer

third green layer

Final green for the finished print!

Have a great weekend!

Little Bird Prints

 I've been working on some new projects in my studio this month. Currently, I am printing a series of three popular birds that are frequent visitors to the yard and feeders. I chose a black-capped chickadee, a tufted titmouse, and a slate-colored junco as my subjects. They have similar colors, and are about the same size in real life. I started with the chickadee print, then realized I should have worked on them all simultaneously, so the the color layers would be better matched. For the other two I'm doing it that way.

Above are the three plates lined up together.

These are the chickadee prints. I still have one more darker layer to add to this print.

Junco stage 1

Junco stage 2

Titmouse stage 2

I'm ready to add the red to the berries next. I'll use a small roller, and try to keep the ink only on the berries, as the red is hard to cover up if I inked the whole plate.

The foliage has been beautiful this Fall, and has lasted longer than usual, I think. The intense reds have faded away but the oranges and golds have been stunning! I can't resist taking pictures when I've been out walking around town.

With all the restrictions around Covid19, It is such a pleasure to get out and enjoy nature! 

Best wishes!

Jane

A Little Traveling, and the End of September

 I'm back from a five day trip to New Jersey with a few friends. We had to postpone our travels earlier in the year due to Covid, so masks and hand sanitizer in hand, we gave ourselves the go-ahead to venture out into the world again. We brought all our own food and drink, and had the most delicious meals in our lovely rental home! Rented bikes for quick access to local scenic areas, and social distanced on the beach. Lots of laughs as always, and an added appreciation of our over 40 year friendship.

Cape May lighthouse in the distance

A flock of mostly Black Skimmers mixed in with a few terns and gulls

       A Snowy Egret framed by foliage

Peaceful harbor

And the iconic lifesaving rowboat 

Now that I'm back home again, it's time to organize the studio, order new supplies and materials, and get working on the prints and other projects, I have on my agenda.

The final layer of ink is on the reduction block print, "Goffstown Brook." I carved out more of the background trees, and deepened the color value of the closer areas, for a little more sense of depth. The image is 8" x 10" and should be posted in my Etsy shop soon.

Can't believe it is going to be October 1st tomorrow! Time flies!

Mid-summer Life

Despite a very warm July, I'm still trying to get some work done in my studio. Thank goodness for cooling fans! I love my view of the backyard as I work, and it's a quiet space, as my husband is still working from home. My cat Wiley, enjoys hanging out with me, even though she steals my swivel chair whenever I stand up.

I've been trying to finish up a few block prints that need to be completed before I move on to something else. I had some issues with the ink I used on the "boats" print. I used a combination of Akua and Daniel Smith inks, and it doesn't want to 100% dry. There is still some "stickiness" in areas, so I have to keep them hanging individually until that disappears.

For this print, I've used colored pencils to add a tint of color in areas. I figured I'd experiment as it needs something more for definition.

The "Winter Blues" design of bluebirds at my feeder, has also been challenging in terms of finding the right colors, and the way the various layers interact with each other. Warm and cool color tones can be tricky when placed on top of each other, as it can dull the intensity of the individual colors.

The newest print that I'm finishing is "Goffstown Brook". I started drawing out the design back in March, and didn't have much time while still doing remote learning to work on it. It's pretty much completed now, but I'm still contemplating adding one more layer to darken up the last layer.

In spite of the pandemic, I've had some enjoyable outings in local areas. I had a fun day at Sunapee State Park while trying out my new inflatable paddle board. While it's supposed to be a stand up board, I spent most of my time on my knees!

Hope everyone is staying well, and finding ways to enjoy the summer!

Lots of Showers...Bring May Flowers

It has been a very wet, cool Spring this year. It seems like every day has had at least one shower in it. Happily, this weekend has been lovely so far, with temperatures in the 70s and plenty of blue sky. I came home Friday after a hectic week of work, and enjoyed a quiet respite on my back porch for the first time this month.

A brilliant Indigo Bunting has been hanging around the yard.

It's a busy time as the end of the school year approaches, and I'm looking forward to summer break to have more time to work on my prints. I finished carving the last layer of a new linoleum reduction blockprint, and inked up and printed a few to see how it looks.

Ellis Stream, Pinkham Notch, NH

I don't know if a winter scene is going to be popular in the summer, but I will have some of these available on June 8th. If you are local, stop by and enjoy some art and antiques.

Blooms

It took a while for Spring to arrive, but it's finally here, and we are enjoying all the gorgeous blooming trees and shrubs. New Hampshire's state flower is the Purple Lilac, and they come in all variations of purples. I took this picture while walking around town the other day.

Everything seems to be blooming at once, and our ornamental Cherry tree had a bounty of flowers on it this year.

Also the Azaleas

Last weekend, my group of fellow printmakers hung work at the Massabesic Audubon Center. We did another event two weeks ago in Brookline NH, which got us excited about showing our work. The new show will be up until June 23. It's a great place to visit for hiking and birdwatching---they even have a live video cam of the peregrine falcon nest in Manchester. While I was there, we saw one of the parents feeding the three babies. The parent had brought what looked like a small bird back to the nest, and ripped it apart, then stuffed bits down the eager babies' gullets. A little gruesome, but fascinating to watch.

My pieces in the show.

Tried to get this little sketch done in time for last week's Illustration Friday post "hairy" but didn't make it, so will post it here. Looking forward to a day at the beach, but not on a windy day like this!