REDUCTION CUT

On Watch.Learn.Play. we talked about printmaking and the different ways to do it.  I got excited about doing a lino reduction cut and was off and running.  

I still had some leftover linoneum from days gone along with other supplies I'd need.

I made a drawing of my favorite teacup:

The next day I transferred the drawing to the linoleum and got to work.  I had to get out some inks.  I still had some Akua Inks from years ago.  They needed stirring up, but seemed to be okay.  They all went on okay except the Hansa Yellow, which was still a bit lumpy, but I was able to break that up when I mixed it on the palette (glass). 

So, first I cut away the background and rolled on some off-white ink I mixed.

Then  cut away the white 

and rolled on some yellow

Here's one of the prints with the white and the yellow.

Then I cut away the yellow parts and printed some orange.

I didn't get pictures of the rest of the process.  Next would be cutting away the parts I wanted to stay orange and inking on some green and printing that.  Then cutting away the parts to stay green, roll on some blue, printing that, and the last color was a brown in the cup for the tea (or coffee).

And they were done!

That was fun, but I don't think I'll be doing it again soon.

The poor linoleum looks pretty bad when this process is done, and is spent. 

 

BIG PATTERN

 With the help of my husband, I sent a file of my Big Flower drawing to be printed out onto paper the actual size I want the quilt to be.  

I picked it up from the printer today.  Two big pieces that I needed to splice together.

Here it is, in the studio, taped together.  Now to trace it onto freezer paper.

FLOWERS II PRINT IS HOME

 My print by David Weidman, Flowers II, is home from the framers.

I love it.

FLOWERS II - MINE!

 I've coveted David Weidman's print Flowers II for years now.  I finally broke down and bought one.  It arrived a few days ago.  Today we took it to be framed.  We spent some time deciding on mat color and frame style, and even the type of glass.  

It won't be done until the middle of September - and they kept my print.  I felt like I left a child in their care.  And, I can hardly wait!

MAILING PRINT

 I finished off the print for Maria's Monumental Puzzle Print, 100 Acts of Kindness.

I wanted to include some goodies for Maria for doing such noble work, too.

So, off it all goes to the Post Office.

FINISHED PRINT

I finished up the carving on my print for the Kindness Puzzle Collaborative Print.  I think it turned out pretty good, with a minimum of mistakes.  The dogs enjoyed hanging out with me out by the picnic table.

Then we moved up onto the deck and continued with the napping, until it got too hot to stay outside.

Once inside, Jax continued with his nap.

It was a good day for dogs.

DOGBIKER

I finally used the embroidery module on my new Bernina 770.

I had to make the lines of the lino print of my Dogbiker more solid in Photoshop.  That took hours.

Then I imported it into my free for a month copy of Bernina's Embroidery software and turned it into an embroidery file that my machine could read and interpret.

After a few missteps, I got it done. 

DIDN'T HOLD UP

This acrylic plate did not hold out long enough to finish the edition.  It started breaking up on the edges, and eventually cracked through the middle in several places.  Those cracks started showing up in the print, so I had to quit using it.\

The plate after about 15 prints pulled.

The cracks were showing up on the print.

DIFFERENT ACRYLIC PLATE

I finally started printing my Year of the Goat (Sheep) print from last year, well this year - 2015.  It's time to start thinking about next year's Year of the Monkey print, so I thought I'd better do this year's first.

I had already had the image scratched onto an acrylic plate.  I'd used some thinner acrylic then I'd ever used before.  If I remember right, it was all they had at the hardware store at the time.

Before I wiped the ink off - don't want to spoil the surprise!

It seemed to be okay, until I started running it through the press.

Sorry for the blurry image.

Sorry this one is blurry too.

As you can see in the pictures, after about only 25 prints, the edges are starting to deteriorate and break up.

I stopped for the day.  I hope it still prints next time I start up again.

PRINTED THE FRONT OF CARDS

Went straight up to the studio this morning after I braved the snow to go get a Starbucks jolt.

Nothing better than being in a warm studio when it's snowing outside!

First I had to dust off Harley, my Ettan Press...

Then get it all set up with papers under the jig and a pressing mat board.

Then stir up the ink...

Roll the ink onto the plate...

And pull the first print and make adjustments if needed...

And just keep repeating until the pile of paper is gone...

I was done before 10am - time for a walk.  The snow has stopped, the sun is shining, but the temperature has dropped, better bundle up.

Still lots to do before these cards are ready to mail.

Stay tuned.

HORSES DONE

I spent most of the day finishing up the printing of my Year of the Horse Exchange print.  I still need to sort, cull, stamp and sign them.  Then they get stuffed into envelopes, addressed, stamped and mailed.   It could take a while for all of that.  

29 FACES - NUMBER 24

This is one of the prints I did a while back.  I used colored pencils on it.

MY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

Here's my contribution to Maria Arango's Monumental Collaborative Puzzle Print "The Fantastic Garden".

Of course, I'm down to the wire, it's due back to Maria on August 31st. 

When I think of a garden, I think of peace and serenity.  So, I had to go with a Buddha statue.  We have one in our front yard under our huge Cedrus Deodora tree.  I love it.  Our yard is very peaceful and a nice relaxing place to be.

MAILING MY YOT SNAKE CARD

I finished my Year of the Snake card this week and put it in the mail today.  They are slithering their way all over the globe, hopefully there's one on it's way to you.  Below are some progress pictures.

I did a reduction cut on a piece of bass wood. (Meaning I used the same block of wood throughout the process, cutting away the parts I want to remain the color I just printed)

I rolled on the Akua Intaglio inks with a brayer and used a baren to transfer it to the paper, which is probably Rives (I forgot to write down what it was after I bought it).

The pictures are in reverse order, the first steps are at the bottom...

Finished!

All the cards laid out to dry

Made quite the mess trying to decide on final color

Auditioning different colors for final outline

After the third color 

Rolling on the third color - a darker green

Second color - light green

First color - Red

First stage of block

Carving using a magnifying glass with a light

The original drawing

Happy New Year!

Hope the Year of the Snake is a great one for you and yours!

A START ON A CELTIC SNAKE

It's time I got started on my Year of the Snake Print for BarenForum's Chinese New Year's Exchange.

First, come up with a drawing and transfer it to some wood blocks.  I'm going with two.  I haven't even figured out how many colors, but I'm only doing two blocks.

Peeling the paper off, and hopefully leaving the drawing.

Mixing a very transparent yellow using Akua inks.

Rolling  the first color directly onto the card.

I'm starting with 60 cards.  

I'm hoping Bentley the cat stays off them while they are drying.