#25 - Boxer - Thinking, Cutting, Registering, Printing.

I was happy enough with my revised sketch to get going on carving. I decided to make two plates: one for all the grays and black, and the other for the yellows and rust. I'm undecided on the green. I might put a bit in at the end, just after the black. I love that trio of colors (yellow, rust and green). I'm going to see how it goes as it takes shape.

The print is just about the maximum size I can do on my press, so I had to set up the registration differently than I'm used to. Behold:

Yes, that's an eraser cut from the top of a pencil and hot glued onto a piece of foam core. Isn't it just mahvelous?

Here's the whole set up:

I go through duct tape like a meticulous gaffer.

I cut the paper extra wide and punched holes. The paper goes on the "pins". You get the idea.

And check out my awesome press blanket:

I choose you, Pokemon playmat!

#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 - Redrawn Scoprion

I pitched the Day of the Dead motif. Too busy, and without the skull element, lacking. So, I came up with this drawing. I like it, and so do all my peeps. I'm not sure what motif this is. Maybe it's the "Karen likes it" motif.

I will do a final redraw just to get all the details worked out, and then start carving the black plate. The piece will be 6"x8" and will have 5 colors. I've switched to unmounted linoleum, so I won't have to use a whole piece for every color. The red and yellow-gold can be on smaller pieces.

I will be using my new Registration Board from McClain's Printmaking Supplies. It's similar to what I'm already using, but will work better (I hope!) Stay tuned.

#16 - Fun and Frustration

Played with my new colors. I made a color wheel and goofed off. Then I mushed all the colors together on the glass and made a monoprint:

Then I tried to print the ballet dancer. For some reason the colors are not registering with each other. I wasn't feeling up to problem solving at that point. I don't want to waste prints, so I need to solve the problem methodically. So, I took one of the prints that was in a horrible green color and slapped some delicious blue over it, just to get the need to print something out of my system.

My Printing Jig - Updated

March 6, 2011

Update:

That jig was just okay, and did work well for mounted linoleum. But, ultimately it was not worth all the work because you can simply go to McClain's Printmaking Supplies - www.imcclains.com - and get a Registration Board. Then use unmounted linoleum temporarily bonded to plexiglass. Use their instructions for using the registration board. This is MUCH better, and inexpensive too.

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When I was getting started with linocut, way back about three months ago, I quickly found that I needed something called a "jig" - a frame to hold the block in while I am printing. I cruised around on the internet and found a few homemade jigs to try to emulate. I made one, and it really stunk. I used flimsy materials, and it broke after a short time.

I made another trip to Home Depot to get supplies to make a respectable jig. My mother-in-law gave me a board that she used back when she was making cartoon illustrations for KQED. It's a solid board, and very smooth and straight. My husband had a neat solution for holding the block in place on the jig, but the easiest solution was duct tape. It just works, and it's cheap. There are metal guides on the sides for holding up the edges of the paper at the height of the block. The registration of the layers of color has been quite good, so I'm satisfied for now.

Thank you to my husband for building the jig for me. He is meticulous, and the jig is well built!