Moth second plate

At last I have finished the cutting of the second plate.



The patterns are quite different from the first plate, as I want to overprint and see what happens.



I also cut a mask, using a test print from the first block. I can’t now remember why I I wanted to do this but I had written it down in my invaluable to-do book.
(Note to self: Good idea to add reason or give self some clue or other.)Anyway I hope I will remember when I start printing.
Test print of number two plate

  .
I was looking at the new plate and the cut-out print from plate one and thought how much I liked the isolated pink moth.



Some more possibilities are suggesting themselves.. sadly not the reason for the mask yet.



More soon..

Moth Print 1

Like Sue I am just back from hols. This time another inspiring visit to a favourite city Amsterdam. Time is short this week so just a simple moth design to try a few print techniques.

Some initial sketches to sort out a design that will be quick and versatile. 





A few further thoughts and starting to cut the base plate.

Chris the Frog

My Easton group had a wonderful day on Friday tackling a woodblock print. Their results were excellent, some even managing two colours which is some going for just a few hours.



A few stage one prints from the class.
Chris the FrogI had printed up a few variations of the Frog as a demo using the same very basic materials we would be using in the class, a spoon, a baren, computer paper, tissue paper, some cheap Japanese rice paper and basic acrylic printing inks.



The first plate.



Various combinations of paper and inking.



The frog is called Chris because I had unwittingly cut a rather nice letter C in one of the spots.. it seemed fitting..



In the garden there are still many tiny froglets around the pond fringes Mowing is a nightmare and very very slow. I have to carefully pat the grass to alert them and help the very tiniest ones to get to safety. The long grass must seem mountainous to them.. I rather know how they feel.



Here is one on the very tip of my grubby fingers.. I am wondering how they will survive the winter.

Frog colour roughs and plate 1

This is a quick frog woodcut I made for a demo at Easton.  



A few colour roughs to think about two colours.


 

I cut the block to the accompaniment of frogs singing from the herb bed..



Wood block plate 1.. A4

One Coot Finished

At last, a finished print with a  little hand colouring. There has been quite a lot of learning the hard way with this one. Patience is a virtue.



The large coot with 2  punky spiky haired chicks .. vinyl cut. Image 11 x12 inches

Coot 2 Progress

I am still playing with the coot and after a bit more cutting away I have another black proof.


I am hoping to make a few experiments with this and now have a blue green version and a couple of dark blue ones.





Coot Blue Lino 10 x11 inches
More to come :)

Coot Number 2

I have returned to the coot sketches and am planning another print to be a companion to Rook. I am not sure if or when I will be able to find the right sort of type so might just have to cut it myself. It would be good practice.

Black and white thumbnail.
So far I have made a rough proof and scribbled on it a bit with white chalk to  see what more I need to cut away. I made quite a few colour roughs but in the end decided it will just be black and white this time, like rook.
 
Inked up plate and first proof
It’s fascinating seeing the print emerge. It’s never quite how you imagined.