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!

Summer Skies

 The summer sky seemed especially vivid and varied this year. Or maybe I just spent more time outdoors observing it. 

                    
                                     Cruising Atlantic Canada 

After a storm, backyard view (above and  below)

My daughter took this shot of a Cape Cod harbor

My nephew captured this view while hiking in the White Mountains.

Wells Beach, Maine (below)

A peaceful view, North Hampton Beach (below)

The summer is winding down, and I'm grateful for all the different experiences with family and friends! 

It's time now to think about what I want to do for my next block print. Hopefully I'll find inspiration from my recent adventures!

Hummingbirds are Back

 It's the last day in May, and I've got a new print to show! I'm happy to say the hummingbirds are back, both in the yard, and as a block print.

For the print I only used 3 colors of the Akua inks--Magenta Red, Naples Yellow, and Phthalo  Blue. These colors are set of primary colors, which can be mixed together to make variety of other colors. I wanted to stay away from using black or white ink for this print, and to experiment with the three I chose.  

I first carved out the white areas on the bird's breast, and printed the background color. This is an edition of 18, using a 4" x 4" Soft-Kut block, that I order from Blick. I then carved away the background color and printed the green. Then I carved out the green, an added the orange layer. I made a little stencil for the "Ruby Throated" area, and just rolled on the red through the stencil, so the color would only be there. For the darkest color, I mixed all three colors together.

Completed, the block can also be printed with one color, and hand-colored with watercolors!

A finished print, matted in an 8" x 8" white mat, backed by foam core, in a plastic sleeve, all ready to go in my Etsy shop ( JGTentas).

Have a Happy June!

A Lot More Rocks!

 It's finally the first day of Spring! There is hope after what has been a long, cold, snowy winter! There is still a lot of snow in my yard, due to a series of snowstorms that slammed us in February. Here is what it looked like around February 22nd.

A huge flock of goldfinches have been hanging around the bird feeders recently. Unfortunately, we need to take the feeders down, as bears will be starting to come around.

I finished another "seacoast" block print this week. The image was inspired by some photos I took back in October at Jenness Beach in Rye, NH.

Gulls on Rocks, Rye NH

The Soft-Kut block in the final stages of carving.

Part of the edition of 14 laid out on the floor

I'm letting the layers of ink dry thoroughly before I will put the new print in my Etsy shop.

The print below, "Boar's Head, N.Hampton, NH" is almost ready as well. 

Looking forward to walking the beaches again! Happy Spring!!

Prints and the New Year

 2026! Happy New Year!

It's been awhile since I posted here, and updated the new projects that I've been working on.

As always the holidays were busy, and I started early to get my Christmas cards designed and completed.  My family and friends anticipate a new design each year, and some collect the snowmen cards I frequently create. This year I included a Blue Jay, and stayed with the all blue color scheme.

A variation colored with Prismacolor pencils.

The final stage of the printing plate can be used again to print the black outlines. Then when the ink has dried, I can add watercolor or colored pencils as a variation of the original.

I've also been working on another project, inspired by our vacation last summer to North Beach, NH. The houses in the photo are on Boar's Head, a little neighborhood sticking out into the ocean. On the other side of Boar's Head is Hampton Beach.

The image below is the Soft-Kut block that I started with.

The first color was a light gray layer of Akua ink, printed 16 times by hand, on Rive's BFK acid-free paper. You can see the drawing underneath, because I used a Sharpie marker to outline the pencil drawing on the block. The Sharpie keeps the drawing clear after repeated color layers and cleanings.

The next layer of ink was the blue sky.

Here are the final stages of the printing plate (below)

Below are the last two stages of the print.  

I'm still printing the final layer on the remaining prints in this edition of 16. Because of the multiple layers of ink, they will be drying on the rack for a while!

Have a happy, healthy new year! Best wishes!

Jane

Great Egret Block Print

I have recently finished a new reduction block print of a Great Egret. My daughter took a photo of one of these beautiful birds while walking along the ocean in the"Southie" area of Boston. Even with jets flying overhead to land at Logan Airport, this bird seemed unperturbed.

The Great Egret is a large showy white shorebird with a yellow bill and black legs. Not to be confused with the much smaller Snowy Egret, which has a black bill.

I started with a cropped image of the photo, and transferred it onto an Easy-Kut block. I then outlined the drawing with a thin Sharpie marker. All the areas that will remain white are carved out first.

I printed  light layers of blue and tan to start. The yellow bill was printed using a stencil to keep the ink only in that small area. 

I also used stencils for the ochre color in the water.

Lots of textures!

The ochre color was covered with another layer of darker blue. The rocks and the seaweed were defined by a darker brown, after I carved out all the textures.

This is the finished version. You can probably guess that I also cut a stencil for the leg. The black eye was applied with the wooden end of a paint brush, dipped in ink.

The image is 6.5" x 9, and I'm framing it in a 14" x 16" black frame with a white mat.

Unmatted prints from this edition will be on my Etsy shop soon! 

Almost Summer, and I'm just finishing a Winter Landscape

It has been a damp, cold Spring around here. Every sunny day brings people outside with a wary smile, and a glance to the sky to see if more trouble is ahead. Yesterday afternoon, after a really pleasant day, a sudden downpour appeared out of nowhere. The sun was still shining! The reward was a full rainbow in the aftermath. Another positive has been lush green lawns, and thriving plants! 

I finished a new reduction block print several weeks ago, and have had all the prints hanging up to dry. The Akua inks that I use tend to stay tacky for a while if I have a lot of layers. I had been wanting to make this print, as the image has the elements that I like; stones, browns and grays, and a variety of natural textures. Below is one of the final prints from an edition of 14.

Winter Stonewall  6" x 9" Block Print

I will include some images that show the progression of reduction process.

pencil sketch

tan layer

carving the block

                                                              darker brown layer

Materials I used include a Soft Kut block, Akua inks, Arches paper, and a wooden spoon for rubbing the back of the paper.

Until next time....

Jane