ALMOST FINISHED WITH AIR!

Okay, I spent Saturday morning putting the final layer, the so-called keyblock, on - the black ink. I was surprised how well everything lined up! Like I said in the last post, I had adjusted the alignment of the third layer, the orange, and I was worried about how the last would go. It's the most important, since it outlines everything.

I still have to weed out the bad ones, tear them down to size, sign and number them. Then I've got to make up a colophon (description, statement, facts, info and name) and stuff the whole works into plastic bags - which I don't have! Yikes!

I ordered some more, so now they are going to be even later than I thought, while I wait for the bags to be delivered. I must send an email to Four Oceans Press and explain.

I'll reiterate my theme.

In this series of the Elements, Earth, Water, Air and Fire, I wanted to show how we come into contact with them in our modern society. Imagining someone who lives in a highrise in the city - when they want air, they turn a knob and adjust to whatever temperature they prefer.

Here's my latest Classic Element - Air.

And here's the first two I did - Water

and here's the first, Earth -

DAY THREE - AIR PRINT

Here's the third color, I had to do a little adjusting to get it go line up right.

I just love this color! It's Akua intaglio ink Scarlet Red and Yellow Ochre mixed together. I'm using the same basic colors through the four different prints in this series. And yes, that's a cheap-o Speedball brayer. Use and abuse and toss it out and get a new one when it's used up.

And here's my Ettan press showing my easy to make three-hole-punch registration system using a 99 cent three-hole-punch made to fit into a three-ring binder and lots of blue masking tape.

CLASSICAL ELEMENTS - WATER

Here is my second in the series for Four Oceans Press. This is a linocut, using three plates. Run through my Ettan press. The image is 6" by 9" on Rives paper.

Continuing on my theme of Classical Elements in our modern times. When we want water, we turn a faucet and there it is!

FRUIT ALPHABET

I joined in on another print exchange from Four Oceans Press. This one is Fruit Alphabet Exchange. Each participant picks a letter and makes an image of a fruit that represents that letter. I picked 'A' even knowing it would always be on the top of the pile!

I really wanted to do a simple apple. This is a woodblock reduction cut. I started with yellow, having cut out anything to remain white. Then I cut away the parts to remain yellow and printed the green. I added a little darker color to the bottom of the apple and the leaf. (Is that cheating?) I gave a lot of thought to just leaving it like that, (see below). But, I tried red on a few and decided that really made it pop. I added a litle extra brown to the stem at that time, too.

This is 'Apple', relief print reduction cut, image 6" by 8" on Rives paper.

Edition of 30, with one Variation entitled 'Green Apple'

CLASSIC ELEMENTS - EARTH

This is the first in the CLASSICAL ELEMENTS Exchange through Four Oceans Press.
After giving this a lot of thought, I've decided to go with the Elements as we encounter them in our lives now. Our modern society leaves small opportunity for direct interaction with our elements. Here is my take on Earth - the only time we get near it is in the potted plants in our homes.

This is a lino-cut, four plates- the black line (key block), the flesh of the hands, the green plants and the terracotta pots. I used the pin registration I learned from Andrew on Wetcanvas.com. It worked great!

Here is a picture of my wonderful press, an Ettan 24" and the stand my husband, Darrell built for it.