My process begins with pencil drawings. Here are a few - a Fritilaria, Daffodil, and Spiderwort. I enjoy drawing with pencil, since it allows me to study form, line, and composition.
Photograph of the Fritilaria, which inspired this print.
Here I am printing the second color. Notice how the flower is 'coming to life'!
Printmaking magic (most of the time); pleased with how the colors and image are coming together.
I printed a total of 7 colors. This is the final color; a dark purple-black.
During the cold months of Winter, I began a new series of prints based on the plants found in my gardens. I have explored birds and flowers in the past. However, with these prints I am focused on the botanicals. I spent a good bit of time completing a suite of drawings based on photographs I have taken. I recently completed my first print in this series. It was slow goint at first; since I had not worked in the reduction process for some time.
I began with the Fritilaria. Here I have transferred the sketch to the linoleum and am carving the image. I will leave these areas white on the completed print.
The press and linoleum are inked and ready for the first run, a pale yellow color. I am printing on Rives BFK paper. I place the unmounted linoleum on a wooden base using permament double sided tape. Shims of chipboard are under the wood to get the linolem type high which is .918 ". Each time I print a new color, more of the block is carved away and more details are added to the image. This is the reason it is called a Reduction print.
I am printing the third color - a lovely teal. The background is now carved away and I will work solely with the flower and leaves for the remainder of this print.
Another color - this time a dark green.
Here is the finished print, an edition of twelve and one Artist Proof. I am excited at what I learned and can't wait to continue with this series!