#25 - Boxer - Refined Sketch

I like how this shaped up. Now: how to deal with the colors. I know I don't want brown, but rather a burgundy color. I'm going to use two blocks like I did with the scorpion. I need to think this out with a clear head before I start carving, but I'm hankering to get started! And it does look like Boxer, so it's a good portrait.

#25 - Boxer - Does He Look Offended Enough?

I don't know. He could look more irritated. Just a bit more. Will keep working on this.

This is just a first sketch. I'm aiming for a 9x12 reduction print.

#24 - Stepping Stone Print

This is my daughter playing on a little harp. I have had a sketch for this pinned to my bulletin board for months, and finally decided to make it happen. I took several chances with this print, looking at it as a stepping stone. I tried not to worry too much about the face, or anything else for that matter. I just wanted to fearlessly step ahead.

First off, this is the first print done on the press. Hand printing is very hard on my shoulders, but the press was gentle to my body. I was able to print all three colors in one day with no pain. The print quality is far better and more consistent than I can get by hand-rubbing. The registration was absolutely perfect. I am so pleased with this press.

The second new territory was going for a more "sketchy" look, with texture in the background. I let the lines be loose and free, and didn't sweat the little dots and lines that I normally meticulously eliminate. I like the look of it.

The third thing that I did differently is color. I'm not thrilled with the colors, but they are adventurous for me. Blue hair? It would never have occurred to me to do such a thing, but it looks kind of neat. I'm looking forward to exploring more unusual color schemes in the future.

Again, it's not the best piece I've made, but it was treading new ground. I'm always trying to go new places with each piece I make. This deliberate adventurousness will eventually help me overcome my fears with regards to art.

Thank You, Chuck and Ruthann.

The Littlest Linoblocker

Well, it's carved into one of those rubber blocks, but here's his MONSTER!:

#23 - I didn't make this, but I will put it in my store, so it counts!

My daughter drew this, and I carved it. It's 2"x3". Tiny! I really like it. I think I will put it on a card. Here's another print she drew and carved:

Imaginative and well carved. Well done, child!

#22 - Peacock

I carved this with white lines instead of my usual black lines. I wanted the feathers to be very detailed and delicate. The size is 3x5. There aren't peacocks here, but I had some drawings of them in my nature diary. There are several up at a place called Pichetti Winery in Cupertino, and I sketched them years ago.

#21 - Humboldt Tree Frog

Here's a little black and white print I did on the first day of our trip. When we were here last year, we were able to collect some tadpoles. We put some of the tadpoles in the Koi pond where we were staying, and we took a few home. We managed to get one of the tadpoles to make it to frog-hood. We are staying at the same house, so we brought the frog back to come and live here. When we let her go, we noticed a huge clump of frog's eggs. Anyway, the print I made is of the frog we let go.

Petite Print Set

I am off to go and savor nature. The highlights will be Redwoods, Sequoias, waves and rocks. I'm bringing lots of little blocks and the materials required to print in black. I hope to come home with a series of baby prints showing the flora and fauna of my destination. Stay tuned.

#19 - Three Colors in One Day

Seven colors. Not too shabby. I have to say that using two blocks for this was an excellent way to get warm and cool colors together while still using the reduction method. I can't imagine carving seven blocks and having it turn out with reasonable registration. I only had to set up the registration board twice, so it looks pretty tight. The colors are eye-popping. It's a fun print.

So, I'm up to 20 prints. One third of the way there!

#19 - Scorpion - Fourth Color...Blue

The last blue is electric blue. It has a hint of turquoise. Now the colors are really popping, and looking good. I was biting my nails through the other blues.

#19 - I'm Feeling Blue

I didn't take photos of the first layer of blue, but you can see the light blue in circles. This is the second blue. The last layer of blue is going to be very intense!

More on the Linocut Process

What follows will provide more information to those curious about what goes into a linocut print.

I have had questions about how the ink gets onto the plate. I mix my ink on a tempered glass paint palette. I use el cheapo palette knives to do this enjoyable task. Someday I will upgrade, and mixing will be even more fun. I use an el cheapo brayer to roll out the ink until it's even and the right texture. Using so-so tools will make me really appreciate the grown-up versions of these tools when I do get them.

I use the brayer to apply the ink to the plate.

I use a little gadget called a baren to rub the back.

Then I do it again and again for about an hour and a half, and end up with this:

#19 - Scorpion - Two Colors Carved

I realized last night that I still need to start with the lightest color. That is yellow. So, I carved the second block for the yellow, and I'm ready to roll.

Now comes the tedious cutting of paper. I also need to decide how many prints I want to make. I am concerned about running into registration issues and having lots of ruined prints. I'm inclined to make 35 so that I will have lots to ruin. Worst case is that I wear myself out printing it. I'm looking forward to getting a press. I need $569, and every bit of money that comes in is going to be earmarked for the press. My shoulders do not like hand printing!

I made a little proof print to see if the carving is accurate. It looks pretty good. I only see one little place that is misaligned, but it's very minor. These are NOT the colors - it's just a test print.

#19 - The Process

I have had several people ask me to describe the process of creating a multicolored linocut print, so I've decided to show my process more carefully for the Scorpion.

I took the sketch and made a final black and white drawing. I transferred that drawing onto two pieces of linoleum. I have switched to unmounted linoleum because it's far cheaper. I went to Tap Plastics and bought a few groovy bowling ball style plexiglass scraps. I used a temporary glue to bond the linoleum to the plexi. This is the first time I've tried this linoleum, and it's excellent. I bought it from McClain's Printmaking Supplies. It's from the Netherlands ("Oh, sir, I did not look so low.").

I am basically going to do two reduction prints to create piece. I can't print the hot yellow and red over blues. That just wouldn't work. Therefore, one block will provide the blues for the background, and the other will be the warm colors.

I will be doing three shades of blue. I've carved the first shade. I carved out the areas I want to leave white. I slapped a little ink on the plate so you can get the gist of it. This is not the color I will be printing first (it will be light blue).

#20 - Completed Butterfly

I finished this up lickity-split. I'm getting faster at all this carving and printing. I'm also getting more capable of printing neatly and meticulously. Slowly but surely, I'm upgrading to equipment that is designed for relief printing. It all shows in the completed pieces.

I was just looking at my Comedy of Errors print last night and realizing that the piece is a stepping stone. Someday I will look at that print the way I look at prints I did five months ago when I started all this. They look like I was still trying to figure it all out. I think I will still be pleased with The Comedy of Errors, but I have confidence that I will be able to surpass it. Or maybe I'll just a be a one hit wonder!

The scorpion drawing is calling to me. I want to do my final artwork for that, and get the color separations done. Then I get to do my favorite part: carving... leaving "lino-chad" all over the house.