I transferred Barred Owl Nocturne to the lino block after tracing the pencil sketch. I used a bone folder and rubbed the back of the traced drawing until it was thoroughly transferred.
I am printing the first run of Sanibel Blue. All of the carved areas will remain the color of the Cougar Natural paper. The first color was a pale gray. This print was a six color run. When printing a one block reduction print, you start with the lightest color and end with the darkest color. Each color is printed on top of the previous color. The carved areas allow the image to develop as each color is printed. The final run is called the key block since it gives the final and all-important details of the image.
Ready to print the final run of Barred Owl Nocturne using the carved key block.
Print and key block on the press, Barred Owl Nocturne.
It is always satisfying to complete a reduction print. It is an arduous process, but an exciting way to print multi-colored prints using one block.
Barred Owl Nocturne
I continued exploring reduction relief printing this year. Barred Owl Nocturne and Sanibel Blue were challenging and rewarding endeavors. Take a look at the steps I took to complete these two prints.
The fully transferred image is ready to carve.
Here I am printing the first run of Barred Owl Nocturne in a pale gray-purple. This print was a seven color reduction print. Note that very little has been carved away that will remain the white of the paper (Cougar Natural).
The carved key block for Sanibel Blue, inked up and ready to print.
Final run of Sanibel Blue.
Sanibel Blue