Aspen Grove 77×42 inch woodcut plus pigment application video
7 Comments
5,845 views 
You asked about how I mix and apply pigment…
When printing very pale colors, I generally add pigment dispersion or dry pigment to rice paste or methyl cellulose, mix well, and then dab that onto the damp block and brush out. For more saturated colors, I mix a substantial amount of dry pigment into a bit of paste and water and let stand overnight, stirring well the following day prior to printing — OR — I use pigment dispersion (a pigment-saturated liquid which mixes freely into water) as I demonstrate in the movie below. I add the pigment directly into a damp area of the block and then brush out until I achieve an even and satiny surface suitable for printing.
In the video, I’m printing the fourth of 12 carvings onto six 77 x 42 inch sheets (image 75 x 40 inches)… I’m clearly very much on the steep part of the learning curve and my printing’s more or less out of control at the moment — even so, this looks like it’ll be a pretty nice image of the dense aspen grove next to my parents’ home in Colorado.
And… It turned out very well in spite of my poor choice of an MDF core plywood — the MDF tended to swell during damp printing so that it was quite a trick to avoid squeeze out of pigment at the edges of carved areas. Still, the press and printing are progressing nicely, I think!
Twitter
Hi Mike,
I’m not seeing the “out of control” part, but I’m not watching you print, either! I lived in Northern New Mexico for several years, so your Aspen Grove print is bringing back sweet memories for me.
Hi Mike…the print is looking good, can’t wait to see the final stage…we want more video !!!! thanks for putting these up !!
Mike,
I came across your site through a link, and I am totally impressed, and in awe, of what you have created for yourself. I’m trying to set up a print shop, and I am trying to figure out how to build things like light tables, drying racks, flat files…. But that’s just baby stuff next to what you have done. Thanks for videotaping so much and posting it for other printmakers to oogle at.
Mike, if the wood is walnut veneer, what is the core made of? Yep, I’m still slowly trying to work my way towards producing some cnc routed prints of my own.
Dad-
I LOVE the huge aspen print– I WANT ONE FOR MY HOUSE!! (please?) and the video is very cool– you’ve made such a great system with the new press and drawer system. YOU ARE SUCH a GENIUS! love you! Im so proud! hehe!
love,
Legs
Mike, I am wondering why you seem to have settled on 8 impressions for these large prints, since you are now automated, and you did twice that many or more reduction ‘plates’ when you were doing the nudes. It’s an issue I’m wrestling with right now. The 2 prints so fare are beautiful to look at. I hope you can post them so we can see them straight on. Oh, and thanks for the demo. No rice paste? No goma-zuri?
Richard Stockham
Mike,
I have been waiting for you to finish this print, but now I’m thinking maybe it is finished. Hard to tell with reduction printing.
The deep perspective of this image is quite beguiling. The botanical theme continues, I like the way you are illustrating the organic origins of the print. Where to next I wonder?
Thanks for letting us watch.