Crossing The Lines

so, now it's on, and it is down to the fine detail nitty gritty. The image is a steel sculpture, so I need to carve out these lines. This is the most intricate carving I've ever done. It went well, though I had one line break. Honestly expected worse. Let's see how it prints!
 

Project F

 

I had to redact parts of this image. What's the big secret? Oh, you'll see. But all that aside, I want to share a few things about the making of this print. First, I am using a brand new paper: Arches 100% cotton, light. I've been using a mould-made sulfite paper, which has always been good...but this prints so nice,vand the sheets are crisp. They have a tiny bit of texture, and I'm hoping I'm not cursing this paper as I move through the layers!

I also think I may have discovered something interesting. Usually, I tamp down with the screw press, hard, and release immediately. Well, during printing this color, I had just tamped down the block when I had to attend to a phone message or something. When I returned a minute later, I took the print off the block, and the print looked better -- I don't know how to describe it, even? Crisp? Whatever, we'll see how that affects the next layers.

The lines are perfect, crisp and open, and I'm feeling good about the next color 

One issue -- I am using thick cardboard for the guides, and one guide split laminations. I had to double brint a sheet to make sure the registration didn't move. Looks good, but I was sweating bullets.

Go Time

 

The cartoon was completed last night, and I've transversed the cut lines to the block. Each mark seen here will be white space. Each line needs to be thin, but consistent, but also not too thin or shallow, to keep from filling in when rolled with ink. Being a reduction woodcut, these lines need to hold up, crisply, through 9 layers of ink. The ink layers must be thick enough to fully support the next layer. It's a delicate balancing act.

Once the cartoon was finished, I made a transparency to work from. I've never used tracing paper to aid in the transfer process, and I'm hoping it's beneficial, because so far it's been great to work with.

There are 8 colors, plus black. These aren't actual colors, just place holders to help me map things out.

Making History

 

I am beginning a big project. I can't say much about it yet (I haven't been sworn to secrecy, but I'd like to make the reveal when the work is done.

This will be a 9-color reduction print with some very intricate cutting work. The work is due June 1, but I hope to be done much sooner. A couple of things I CAN say: it's the most important print I've done and the commissioning organization was most intrigued the reduction woodcut process.

Therefore, I'm hoping to do reduction woodcut printmakers proud. This commission is expected to get some media exposure. I hope to use the opportunity to advocate for arts education.