Working on a new print--Ogunquit Crow

I haven't posted to Illustration Friday in a while, but I have been working on a new block print. I took pictures last summer while visiting the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine. It was a rainy morning, and I saw this crow hanging out on the rocks by the ocean. I did a few sketches to figure out the layout and colors for a reduction print, and chose a  Gomuban plate for this piece. The advantage of this plate is that it can go through the press, but is softer than linoleum.

After six colors it is almost done. I have to finish carving away the gray layer, and then the final layer of ink will be black.

 

New block print---Great blue Heron

I've been working on a new block print using a Gomuban relief plate. This plate is softer than a linoleum block and harder than Easy-cut. I have been using a printing press for this, and it prints great with the Akua inks. McClain's Printmaking Supplies sells it.

It's a little dark here, but I've cut out areas for the second layer.

                           Here's a close-up of the heron (above) and the original sketch (below)

This is the first color layer. The lines are from a Sharpee marker I used to cover over the pencil lines on the block before I started cutting. They fade away on subsequent prints, but remain dark enough to see on the plate.

Here's Wiley--my steady companion who wants to hang out and "help" whenever I'm working!

Lobster Print

I just posted my new "lobster" print on my Etsy shop. I'm really excited about a new block printing material that I used for this project. I used a Gomuban plate that I've learned is a regular staple in Japanese classrooms. It's much softer than linoleum, but firmer than Easy-cut. It carves beautifully and can be printed using a press. Most of my other prints are printed by hand using the Easy-cut blocks, but this material is definitely something that I'm going to explore. The thickness of the Gomuban is only about an 1/8 of an inch, with blue on one side and green on the other, with a black core. The Akua inks that I used for the lobster print went onto the block nice and thin. Using a template on the press as well as pins and tabs, gave me strong color and excellent registration.

Plate on left with 2 color print stage on right

Final stage, wrapped and ready to go!

I'm also in the middle of another printing project using an Easy-cut block of a rushing stream. My daughter took the photo, but she is not sure exactly where it was taken---somewhere north of Plymouth.  It's similar to another mountain stream piece I finished recently. The Easy-cut is handy when I'm working at home without a printing press.

Feeling like summer is flying by way to quickly! So many projects, so little time!

*McClain's Printmaking Supply Catalog carries the Gomuban plates, and will send a free sample if requested.