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!!

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

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!

Inspired by Summer and the Seashore

 I've been working on a couple of small prints of seashells. So far I've done a block print of a scallop, and another of the "yin and yang" of a mussel shell.

I'm participating in the Uncommon Art on the Common in Goffstown again this year. It also happens to be the 15th anniversary of the event, and will take place on Saturday August 3rd.

The little block prints that I've been working on are quite small at 5" x 5", and will be matted to fit an 8" x 8". frame. I'd like to complete one more in the series before August 3rd. The question is, what kind of shell will be next. I have a variety of local New England shells that have been saved over the years, and I'm looking over my collection for the right one.

   

         

                   

Summer officially arrives on June 20th, and if the forecasters are correct, it looks like it may be a 90 degree scorcher! Stay cool!

Jane

"On the Rocks 2"-the finished print!

 I finished the finish layer of the "On the Rocks 2" block print this week. It was a complicated design, one in which I used a variety of stencils to mask out sections that I wanted to keep separate from the areas I was working on.

I'm pleased overall with the finished image! I wanted to get it done in time for the Members' Show at the Two Villages Art Society gallery in Contoocook, that opens later in May. Also I'll have it for sale in my Etsy Shop---JGTentas.

Looking forward to some warmer spring weather! It's been a bit chilly and rainy here in New England. Lots of daffodils blooming though, which is very cheerful! 

Happy weekend to all!

Shells on Rocks Print

 I haven't posted on this site for several months, but I have been busy working on a new reduction block print. This new print is another version of the On the Rocks theme that I created last year.

For this piece, I used a photograph of beach stones that I superimposed with actual shells, a couple of rocks, a sand dollar, and a sea urchin.

Then I traced my design and transferred the image onto a 6" x 9" easy cut block, and drew over all the lines with a permanent marker.

I carved away all the areas that will remain white on the print, and printed the first layer of ink.

I made a stencil to block out the background rocks, and worked on each shell individually, as I wanted to use different color schemes for each one.

This is the result of the mini prints using the stencil.

This is the state of the block itself after the printing of the shells.

I put little stencils on each shell, to block out the areas already completed.

This is the light gray layer for the background rocks.

The next layer is defining the rocks more.

I'm working on carving out the background rocks now. It will take a while  to finish this stage of the process. Hope to show the finished design by the end of the week. 

Check back in!

Cat in a Tree Block Print

Happy February!

I just finished a new reduction block print, and am shipping it off to its new home today. This was a custom order of a cat hanging out in his favorite tree. 

 I worked on the orange cat first, using stencils and a small roller, to keep the colors of the cat separate from the tree.

Then I did a couple of green layers for the leaves.

Next was the gray layer

The final layer was black

I am happy with the finished print. There are about 8 layers of ink overall, as well as the white of the BFK paper in some areas. I used Akua inks which are easy to clean with Dawn detergent and water. The printing plate is Soft-Kut, which is sold by Dick Blick. I prefer that material because it is so easy to carve, and it holds the details very well. All of the prints are hand printed without using a press. I usually use the back of a wooden spoon to impress the image onto the paper.

Enjoy the weekend! We are having a relatively mild one coming up! Might be in the 50s.

XO Jane

Strawberry Basket

 Finished up a little print that is only 5" x 5", but involved the use of multiple stencils and color layers.

The subject is a humble cardboard basket full of strawberries.

These are the two variations of the finished prints. One has a white background and the other a light green one.

Some of the steps that I followed for this design are below:

Red berry stencil used to print over the green.

Carved leaf design in the background.

The final prints drying on the line.