#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.