“Sara” 42×77 inch woodcut from 17 blocks

The large (42 x 77 inch) prints of “Sara” reclining on her messy bed have been successfully completed — I selected 8 for the edition plus two proofs. There is some variation among the edition, the greatest differences being in the depth of the deepest tones behind the head and in the top background — [...]

Leaves — Pulling the final impression of first 77×42 inch woodcut

This morning I pulled the final impressions of my first 77×42 inch woodblock print using my new press… Not bad for a first attempt, actually, but I believe I can greatly improve with more practice! Registration appears to be pretty close to dead-on, thanks to paper maker Iwano Ichibei’s having rocked the paper mold lengthwise [...]

Self Portrait

Another mostly failed attempt to realize a full-color woodcut. The source was a water-color self portrait I painted a few years ago. The reduction print was carved from three blocks in various reductions. A ‘yellow’ block was carved and printed three times, a ‘blue’ block was carved and printed four times, and a ‘red’ block [...]

Rachel

“Rachel”, Nov 2003, 16  x 5 ;inches, woodblock print – 15 state reduction, graphite on Yamaguchi Hosho paper. 

Jessica Turning

“Jessica Turning”, woodblock print, 11 state reduction, graphite on Yamaguchi Hosho paper approximately 10″ x 7.5″ (chuban) completed October 21, 2003. This was my first experiment with graphite. I bought a one pound bag from Daniel Smith for about $10. Used about a teaspoon to produce these fifty-two 11″ x 8″ sheets (later trimmed to [...]

Lily: study in pink and blue

Woodblock print: Study in Pink and Blue (for Baren Forum’s NUDE CALENDAR EXCHANGE), image about 9″ x 6″, a bit smaller than chuban, water colors, completed August 26th, 2003. Twenty impressions from two reduction blocks on each of seventy sheets of Yamaguchi Hosho paper — most impressions ruined by leaky roof in studio.

Combing Hair

This is a two-block reduction printed on 48 sheets completed April 12, 2003 after five days of carving and printing. I was unhappy with the reds in the face and arm of my previous print. I had wanted those to be very intense, vibrating against the blues of the robe. But the color never vibrated [...]

Blue Shoes

My primary model for seven years, Sarah, with her daughter, Lily in her blue jelly flip-flops. Oban Moku-hanga three color (Prussian Blue, Quinacidrone Magenta, Sumi) reduction on three blocks in 19 block states. One basswood block and two shina plywood blocks. On Baren Mall Yamaguchi Hosho paper (very nice!). Fifty sheets printed in all. Twenty-three [...]

The Fisherman and his Wife

This was  my first ‘traditional’ multi-block Japanese woodblock print.  It was made during a two week workshop taught by Hiroki Morinoue at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado.  That was a life-changing experience — VERY stimulating — and launched me into a whole new world of moku-hanga (traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking)!  WOW!  Total immersion [...]