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

The Finished Rocks! N. Hampton Beach Print

 Good news! I finished the "Rocks on N. Hampton Beach this week. Yesterday I added another blended layer of blue to the sky. The rocks were so dark in value, and very detailed, while the sky needed more "pop" to stand out. I am happy with the final version!

The finished print in a 13" x 15" double mat.

We are enjoying a nice spell of mild weather here in New England. The temperatures have been in the 70s for over a week. There are a couple of cooler days ahead, then back to the warmth through Halloween. Great to get the last of the yard and garden work done!

Rocks on North Hampton Beach

 Summer is officially over, and I'm working on a new print inspired by the many walks I've taken on North Hampton Beach this year. I loved seeing the cairns that people would build precariously on the rocks at the end of the beach.

The beginning stages of carving out the lightest areas.

One layer of ink on the rocks, then a blended sky. I used Akua inks, Arches paper and a Soft-Kut block.

 

Adding the water. (I used a stencil to separate the rocks from the sky)

Adding some texture to the water.

Adding a bit more value to the rocks, as well as a cooler tone to some areas.

As of today, this is the state of the block. Spent quite a few hours carving away the various textures on the rocks. The next and final inking will hopefully define the darkest shadows on all the rocks.

This block is 8" x 10" and will be a hand-printed edition of 12. I'm looking forward to posting the finished image very soon!

Jane

Holiday Greetings!

 Merry Christmas, and soon to be New Year!

It is nice to sit back and reflect after the hectic and joyous Christmas of 2023. It was wonderful getting the families together for a big feast at my sister-in-law's house. We lost the family matriarch last January, and every holiday since has been a first without her. Despite her physical absence, the traditions and love goes on.

I had been working on a small block print for my annual holiday-themed design. I usually create something new each year, and this idea came from a friend's yard display. 

I customized some of the designs with the addition of snowflakes, or a little paint here and there for definition.

I really enjoyed our own Christmas tree this year! It was just such a pretty shape and size. Each ornament is a memory. Many were made by my grandmother, or given to us by special friends.

We still like a real tree, and hopefully will until we can't physically put one up anymore! 

Best Wishes for the New Year!💚

A taste of summer in April

 You never know what to expect in April when you live in New England! Last week we had some record breaking warmth, with the temperature hitting 90 degrees. Today we're back in the rainy 50s!

We took advantage of the great weather and did a nice beach walk. It was chillier at the coast, but so perfect to be outside enjoying the day!

Hampton Beach

Rose breasted Grosbeak

Thrilled to see this bird back in our yard!

Started working on a new block print that incorporates my favorite subject matter- rocks and water.

first layer

I want to create the illusion of fog hanging over the shoreline, and depict all the muted colors of the rocks.

As usual I'm using Akua inks, a Soft-cut block, and printing each layer by hand. There are 16 prints in this edition.

Have a good week!

Spring Break

Technically, this is my Spring Break---April Vacation, but it feels like Spring is actually taking a break itself, and leaving Winter to fill in. There are snowflakes in tonight's forecast, and it's damp and raw outside today! I'm always complaining about New England weather, but this really isn't a new  phenomenon. Every year, Spring drags it's feet, until one day, Summer takes over, and just like that, we're in shorts, tee shirts, and flip flops.

This year, as the pandemic creates havoc around the world, one has to appreciate the little things that can still be enjoyed. Watching the goldfinches turn the brightest yellow. digging in the various beds in the garden, and finding new growth amidst last Fall's withered stalks and leaves, are simple pleasures.
Getting out on the rail trail for long walks, and doing on-line yoga in the house, have been mental health refreshers. Discovering ways to stay in touch with friends and family through video chats, and wide apart hangouts in the back yard, have also been essential. Trying to focus on the positive, and expressing gratitude to the people who are on the frontline of this crisis, makes me realize that I have a lot to be thankful for!

As seen on my walks in April

As my school district has converted to "Remote Learning" (like most everyone else), I've been trying to teach art without the hand-on, face-to-face lessons that are the norm. Fortunately, there are so many resources available on line. I'm thankful for all the museums that are giving virtual tours, organizations that are conducting useful webinars, and art teachers themselves who are sharing ideas, support, and their own work. 

After assigning my Drawing classes a Landscape project, I did one of my own, using the picture above as inspiration.

It needs a few tweaks in the background, but mostly finished.

The next step for this drawing will be to convert it into an 8" x 10" reduction block print. I'm using tracing paper now, to define the image that will be transferred to the "soft-cut" block. 

This will be the project for the coming week. I'll try to get the next steps posted in a timely manner, so you can see the process. 

Stay Healthy!

Jane T

December News

As usual, December is a busy month! I've found myself with artworks in four different exhibits, including our annual sale at one of the artists' home. I've been busy preparing my work for the show--getting works matted, priced, and packaged. It's always a fun event, taking over the house and turning it into a "pop up" gallery!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to finish the linoleum block print of the boats, that I started earlier in the fall. 

 


Hopefully, I'll have the completed print in my next post! I just printed a dark layer for some of the shadows, but will be using a light gray for the next layer as I want to create the illusion of fog. I forgot how hard it is to carve into linoleum, even with sharp blades. The linoleum is sturdy, and holds up well through multiple times through the printing press, but is a bit tiring on the wrist.

Back in the Studio

I signed up for a summer Open Studio Printmaking class, and am happy to be back in the studio again. It's especially appreciated that the building is air conditioned, and there is plenty of space to spread out one's stuff. I'm finishing up the "Winter Stream" edition that I've been working on for a while. It's been hard to decide if I'm done, or if I should carve more, and add another layer. I want to keep the illusion of a snowy day, in which every detail does not need to be defined.

The paper is much whiter than my photo depicts.

It seems funny to be working on a snowy scene while the weather has been so warm. Last week I enjoyed a day at Lake Winnipesaukee, and a couple of days at the ocean. Summer is short here, so you have to take advantage of the beautiful weather when you can!

Mad River Print

I had been working on the "Mad River, Waterville Valley, NH" print for a few months, and I finally finished it. I'm happy with it now, but I wasn't feeling sure that it would come out the way I wanted. I started with some intense colors in the first layers, which I liked, but I had to make some color decisions in the middle that deviated from the actual tones in my reference photos. I got some feedback from others in my printmaking class, and I'm satisfied with the final color scheme.

Setting up for the final layer

                                                           Registering the paper

                                                                Leaving them to dry

This weekend the printmaking class is showing our work at a venue in Brookline NH!