2/15/10

Chapter 4, "Lakeside Wood" is born...

In my previous blog I got started with this new block print after taking a hiatus. Click here to read the beginnings of this saga.

Now the conclusion...

I carve the three new blocks and print the blue.

I’m printing light blue over olive green, which shows through, so I decide to run each sheet through the press twice.

Next color is a warm brown. Returning to my original set of three blocks, I remove all areas that need to remain green or blue. I mix up a very warm brown, and it’s back to the press…here’s a print that’s about to get printed brown...and here is the result:

Only one more color to do: black. Oh boy. This has been almost too easy. I’m getting nervous. I carve the blocks, removing all that should remain brown, leaving only the shapes that will print black. Off to the print shop to put this thing to bed, and finally Murphy’s law kicks in: the motor on the press is dead.

Printmaker Bill and my husband Bob spend an hour or two replacing the motor. I fetch coffee. Finally the press is ready.

I print the black. It looks great. Yahoo!

The triptych has just the look I was going for. It’s an edition of only 75. Here it is, in its custom frame by Thomas Pafk, with “Lakeside Wood” carved into it, along with the Roycroft Renaissance mark of excellence in hand-craftsmanship. (That mark is also stamped onto my prints, with my signature.)

Thank you to all of you who sent emails of encouragement and crossed your fingers for me!

The triptych will be available at my shows, including the Grove Park Inn show in Asheville, NC this week, or click here to order "Lakeside Wood".