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Tomorrow (Saturday 7 December) is Frontier Christmas in Old Washington, KY. My tradition is to open my studio to the public and give a free printmaking activity-where guests can use my press to make their own Christmas card.

I’ve been thinking about Owls a lot recently-teachers are some of my favorite people–and the owl represents wisdom, my appreciation for teachers and love of owls inspired this year’s card design.

This year’s cards will be unique, because we have a NEW metallic ink. It’s hard to see the reflective quality of the ink in a photo, so I hope you’ll come to the studio and make one for yourself!

The studio is at 2111 Old Main Street-Upstairs above Lil’ Jumbo’s Coffee Shop-Across the Hall from Rewind Design bookstore. We’ll be printing cards from 10-4pm! Hope to see you there!

I’m continuing to practice carving small blocks in woodcut. Here’s the start of layer 1

Layer 2 of our tiny, tiny (4×5″) woodcut

Layer 3

Here’s LAYER 4 of our itty bitty (4×5″) woodcut.

-just one more layer to go!!!

The finished print!!!

4×5″ image on 8×9″ cotton paper
Limited edition of 22

For this woodcut, I wanted to challenge myself and work on my craftsmanship as a wood carver, so this piece is extremely small compared to my other woodcuts-7″x3.5″ —and it has a fair amount of details for such a small print.

After printing layer 1 (above) I carved the block to reveal what will be layer 2, and I hope to print it tomorrow after today’s ink dries. Stay tuned—

Here’s LAYER 2 of our little itty bitty (3×7″) robin woodcut. I’m so glad those tiny stars didn’t pop off while going through the press! I held my breath each time it went through.

It’s in a bit of the ‘ugly duckling stage’ this orange is just for the beak and breast–the colors should make sense when we print layer 4 the next day.

LAYER 4 of our Robin woodcut! At this stage, we have a good idea of how the print will turn out. Just one more layer to go: BLACK!!!

Happy artist with the finished print!!

Hi all! I just finished the latest addition to my series of woodcuts of the different birds of Kentucky: Goldfinches!!!

Layer 1: light grey is on the right

Layer 2: yellow on the left

with this technique all colors come from the same block-pictured in the center

we were able to print TWO colors in one trip through the press–there was enough space between the orange and purple to ink the block with both orange AND purple.

Layer 2 on the RIGHT Layer 3 on the LEFT.

LAYER 5 (left) of my latest woodcut.

At this point, you can clearly see the plants and bird outlines–in contrast to layer 4 (on the right) -we’ll be building up color relationships and texture for the remaining layers.

6 (right)-a light brown for the female’s feathers and 7(left) green of the thistle plants-of our woodcut.

–and LAYER 8 of our Goldfinch woodcut–Dark green. I’m in LOVE with the texture of the thistle plaint in this print.

-just one final layer to go: BLACK

Click image above for more details on how to add this limited edition reduction woodcut to your collection!

I just finished my LARGEST multi-color reduction woodcut to date: using the reduction technique–where each color is printed from the same wood block–effectively destroying the block with each layer. These are particularly unique because it’s impossible to ever print more.

It all starts with a sketch

Then carve the parts of the design that will reveal the white of the paper–Ink the rest with the lightest color

Carve the parts of the design that will reveal the light color, and ink again with the second lightest color–light, light green

keep carving and inking to build up all the colors of your design

layers 5 (left) and 6 (right)

green is one of those tricky colors for me to mix. It took 3 tries before I got color harmony that I liked

The different greens build a nice depth and texture to the woodcut.

The finished woodcut!!!

I’m working on a new 6 color woodcut.

Layer1

carving back into the block for layer2

layer 2 – hello yellow!!!

Layer light blue

Layer 4 – Grass

Layer 5 – purple

The finished print!!!

This was created using the reduction technique–where each color is printed from the same wood block–effectively destroying the block with each layer. It’s impossible to print more- available in a limited edition of 20.

Printmaking season is in full swing! I’m working on my SECOND woodcut of the season.

Layer one of the print–a light blue for the background

Layer 4 – reveal – Light blue, light brown, dark blue and now medium brown

the penultimate layer—just one more time through the press

The finished woodcut!!! Goat In Cornfield!
The printed image is 8×10″ printed on 11×14″ heavyweight, acid free, 100% post consumer recycled paper. Limited Edition of 17

Printmaking season is in full swing! I’m working on my FIRST woodcut of the season.

Layer one of the print–a light green for the background

Layer 2 – a light orange

here’s a timelapse as I work through the block–cutting a little bit more for each layer

The final block doesn’t have much surface left- reduction woodcuts are so unique because it’s impossible to go back and print any more.

The finished woodcut!!! Cat with camera!
The printed image is 8×10″ printed on 11×14″ heavyweight, acid free, 100% post consumer recycled paper. Limited Edition of 22