A Familiar View

May 26, 2007

Four-color Bic pen

4"x5"

Now there may be some purists out there that will scream, but yes I used a Bic four-color pen for this sketch. I had been thinking about how in the course of two years I have used a variety of tools for my sketches. Markers, pencils, charcoal and even a litho crayon. When I applied to the program I included two sketches made with a black and a blue ball-point pen. The program director commented about them as did my first semester advisor, Pete Hocking. I thought about going back to using a ball-point pen and thought it would be interesting to introduce a limited "pen" palette by using the standard Bic colors. It is an odd palette at best as there is no yellow but it is somehow just enough. I plan to experiment with a few more of these drawings this weekend and see if I can improve on this first effort.

Starlight Proof

May 18, 2007

Chiaroscuro print

5.25"x6.75"

This is the second color block that I have carved for this print that has not been 100%. The key block is about a sixteenth of an inch too big. But, I think this block may work if I sand a hair off the key block and re-carve a few elements in the color block. We shall see, but you can see what I am aiming for in this proof.

Blowing Snow at Peacham Pond

May 16, 2007

Monotype

5"x7"

There is something so simple about this one that I cannot express how pleased I am with it. The distant hill and blowing snow come together in a magical union that makes me happy to live in a place where we have such weather. The memory of standing on the frozen pond in 20 degree weather with a pencil in hand makes me smile and happy to be alive.

Etching State II

May 16, 2007

Copper Etching

7"x5"

This plate is starting to come together and I have learned something very important about the intaglio process. I have become so used to the convenience of solar etching that I loose patience with the slower and more laborious process of traditional etching. I am going to keep working on this one as it is starting to come together.

Marshfield Winter

May 16, 2007

Solar Etching

4.25"x6.25"

This is the third of three proofs I pulled off of this plate last night. It is amazing what a difference it can make in the "feel" of a print just by altering the color of the paper. After I pulled this one I ran it through the press a second time with a sized piece of aluminum step flashing. Just enough ink from the paper transferred onto the plate. I'll let it dry and then this weekend I plan to engrave the plate for a color version of this image.

Marshfield Winter

May 16, 2007

Solar Etching

4.25" x 6.25"

This solar etching was taken from a monotype I made a while back and is more successful than earlier efforts of translating a monotype to a solar etching. In my last attempt the lovely grey tones printed black when burned on a plate. For this effort I printed the image on a transparency and then scratched away the toner where I wanted it to be more of a grey tone. This technique worked very well and except for a small crack in the upper right hand corner of the plate it is working okay.

Fall Festival

May 11, 2007

Hand-colored Monotype

9"x6"

Hand coloring my old monoprints is new territory for me and in my heart I think this is a better piece now than when it was just a black and white image. I'd love to hear any comments about this one if your so inclined.

Blockprint Proof

May 10, 2007

Two-plate Blockprint

5.25"x6.75"

This is a failed attempt at the color block for this chiaroscuro print. Somehow, the color block is short on the horizontal and things did not line up very well. The grey color was just used as a test and the print will be deep blue when it works. I carved a new color block yesterday and plan to start pulling proofs this week.

Etching State I

May 5, 2007

Copper plate etching

7"x5"

I am still tentative when I scratch the wax for a copper plate etching but this one etched pretty well. I already have a second coat of ground on the plate and hope to scratch and etch later this evening.

Starlight Cartoon

May 3, 2007

Copy and hi-lighter

5.5" x 6.75"

The tiny amount of white that I plan to leave showing is very subtle here and will be more pronounced when I make a color print. This experiment gives me a template for the color block. The color for the print will be a bit darker and on the purplish side of a dark blue.

Starlight Proof

May 1, 2007

5.5" x 6.75"

Woodblock print

Here it is, a proof for my latest carving. For weeks now I have been worried that the sky was not going to come out well. Somehow it came out better than my original vision. There are one, maybe two areas that need to be fixed with wood putty but it is ready for the color block to be carved!

Woodblock 4

May 1, 2007

5.5" x 6.75"

Cherry Wood Carving

Ha! I finished the key block for the Starlight print before the end of the semester. Tonight I will pull a proof and get some linoleum ready for the color block. That and it is really spring here in Vermont so life is exciting.