Comments on: Grass-2 large woodblock print 22.5 x 72 inches from 16 blocks http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/ Mike Lyon painting, drawing, printmaking, furniture, photography, and other stuff Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:41:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bill Griggs http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1987 Bill Griggs Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:33:24 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1987 Mike, Your work is fascinating. Combining CNC with art across so many mediums is a truly significant achievement. Your wood block printing is a labor of love. But the most arresting work is the way you captured Danielle's eyes. I can't wait to see what you do next. Bill Mike,

Your work is fascinating. Combining CNC with art across so many mediums is a truly significant achievement. Your wood block printing is a labor of love. But the most arresting work is the way you captured Danielle’s eyes. I can’t wait to see what you do next.

Bill

]]> By: Mike Lyon http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1548 Mike Lyon Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:50:37 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1548 Not all my work uses electromechanical tools, but I have used the computer controlled router for some smaller work and for all woodcuts larger than about 20 inches. Better results than this can be achieved with hand tools -- the router placement is theoretically accurate to within about 2/1000ths inch -- that seems like it'd be more accurate than hand carving, but... As a practical matter, the router is pretty hard on the material and very thin lines and very small printing elements have a tendency to break off. Hand carving is much gentler, finer, and capable of more nuance than the machine, but it's VERY MUCH SLOWER -- I can carve 24 hours a day by machine but not nearly that long by hand (duh) -- and by hand I must slow down for the delicate work, hairlines, tiny marks, etc. The machine is coarser but on these very large multi-block prints it doesn't seem to matter -- the hand-printed surface is satisfyingly full of subtle nuance and detail. Thanks, Dan, for your kind comments, by the way -- nice to be appreciated!!! -- Mike Not all my work uses electromechanical tools, but I have used the computer controlled router for some smaller work and for all woodcuts larger than about 20 inches. Better results than this can be achieved with hand tools — the router placement is theoretically accurate to within about 2/1000ths inch — that seems like it’d be more accurate than hand carving, but… As a practical matter, the router is pretty hard on the material and very thin lines and very small printing elements have a tendency to break off.

Hand carving is much gentler, finer, and capable of more nuance than the machine, but it’s VERY MUCH SLOWER — I can carve 24 hours a day by machine but not nearly that long by hand (duh) — and by hand I must slow down for the delicate work, hairlines, tiny marks, etc. The machine is coarser but on these very large multi-block prints it doesn’t seem to matter — the hand-printed surface is satisfyingly full of subtle nuance and detail.

Thanks, Dan, for your kind comments, by the way — nice to be appreciated!!!

– Mike

]]> By: Dan farrelly http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1547 Dan farrelly Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:20:58 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1547 Hi I had a simular idea of using arabic patterns with my drawings but never to this extent i actually cant believe my eyes your work is beautiful. is interesting how a pattern mixed with a slightly looser pattern can work. Is all of you work computerised or is there hand drawn versions too? I cant tell the difference and would like to know if its humanly possibe to achive results like this by hand Thank you Dan Hi
I had a simular idea of using arabic patterns with my drawings but never to this extent i actually cant believe my eyes your work is beautiful. is interesting how a pattern mixed with a slightly looser pattern can work. Is all of you work computerised or is there hand drawn versions too? I cant tell the difference and would like to know if its humanly possibe to achive results like this by hand

Thank you
Dan

]]> By: Carole Baker http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1530 Carole Baker Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:07:22 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1530 Mike, Your set up is amazing, as well as your print. Thanks for sharing. Mike, Your set up is amazing, as well as your print. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Mike Lyon http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1529 Mike Lyon Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:41:19 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1529 Dear Peter, First, the best place I know of to ask questions about woodblock printmaking and get MANY 'answers' is Baren Forum at http://barenforum.org My site is pretty chock-full of technical information about my work and processes -- but maybe there's too much here to sort through... I wrote a pretty concise introduction eight years ago for another Baren artist who lives in Italy, Colleen Corradi. She published it here: http://www.monoprints.com/info/techniques/reduction_print.html and I think it might be just what you're looking for? Good luck! Dear Peter,

First, the best place I know of to ask questions about woodblock printmaking and get MANY ‘answers’ is Baren Forum at http://barenforum.org

My site is pretty chock-full of technical information about my work and processes — but maybe there’s too much here to sort through… I wrote a pretty concise introduction eight years ago for another Baren artist who lives in Italy, Colleen Corradi. She published it here: http://www.monoprints.com/info/techniques/reduction_print.html and I think it might be just what you’re looking for?

Good luck!

]]> By: Peter D http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1525 Peter D Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:54:10 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1525 Mr. Lyon, your print is beautiful, I really enjoy the scale of your prints. I was wondering if you could share a little bit on how you separate the different values or blocks to make your prints? It looks like you may be starting from a photo? What’s the process you use or program to get 16 different color blocks from a photo? I’ve been a baren digest subscriber for about two years and I have a few ideas for woodblock prints using an original photograph but not sure how to get the separations? Any chance you can point me in the right direction. Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best, Peter Dylag Mr. Lyon, your print is beautiful, I really enjoy the scale of your prints. I was wondering if you could share a little bit on how you separate the different values or blocks to make your prints? It looks like you may be starting from a photo? What’s the process you use or program to get 16 different color blocks from a photo?
I’ve been a baren digest subscriber for about two years and I have a few ideas for woodblock prints using an original photograph but not sure how to get the separations?
Any chance you can point me in the right direction. Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Peter Dylag

]]> By: Annie B http://mlyon.com/2010/07/grass-2-large-woodblock-print-22-5-x-72-inches-from-16-blocks/#comment-1522 Annie B Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:30:24 +0000 http://mlyon.com/?p=1303#comment-1522 Yessiree! Beautiful print and as always it's so fun to watch your process. Thanks for the inside look. Yessiree! Beautiful print and as always it’s so fun to watch your process. Thanks for the inside look.

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