Birds!

 

Bluebird
3” x 4”
Reduction Relief Print

I did several drawings of birds, with the idea that I would create more cards to sell at my show in October. When I set to making the drawings into relief prints, I didn’t fully think it through, as the time it took to create two of the pieces couldn’t realistically be offset by the price per card. Hmmm – live and learn, I guess. Despite that, I was happy with the results and as always, learned something in the process. 

 

On "Bluebird", I used the reduction process. With this method, you destroy all but your last color plate in the process. While it saves on linoleum plates, it’s less forgiving than using separate plates for each color. This was a limited edition of only 10 final cards.

Western Flycatcher
3” x 4”
Relief Print

 

Next, I created “Western Flycatcher”. For this piece, I carved separate plates for each color, so I can reprint this image again if I wish. I decided to get fancy and mounted the prints on black paper. Then, I tied white paper to the inside with embroidery thread. A delightful result, but impractical in terms of the time spent assembling each card.

 

Hey, Crow!
4” x 3”
Relief Print

 

“Hey, Crow!”, it was a last-minute project. I decided on creating a one-color image that would be more time-efficient. I love this guy! Though I had to carve the image twice before I was happy with the result.

 

Stay tuned for more birds down the road.

Heart Beets

 

Heart Beets

8” x 10”

Reduction Linoleum Block Print

Beautiful beets from the garden! They were very small this year, and I harvested and ate more beet greens than beet roots.

 

This piece was my first effort at the reduction printing process. As I embark on this new technique, I am terrified. It takes careful planning and carving! 

 

How it Works
First, I cut away the areas I want to be white and then print a light base color, which in this case, was a pale yellow. Next, I cut away the portions I want to leave as the base color. This is repeated with each subsequent color. There were six color passes in the final image. The scary part is how easily you can accidentally cut away a chunk that was supposed to be a color you have not yet printed. I speak from experience. Fortunately, I was able to touch it up.

 

Ultimately, with this process you destroy all but your last color plate by the time you finish (in this case, black). So, it results in a limited run of prints. I started with 14 sheets and ended up with 10 prints of this image.

 

Not bad for a first try.

Across the Meadow

 

Across the Meadow
14” x 11”
Acrylic on canvas

We got an early start on this plein air adventure, returning to Echo Basin, just outside of Mancos. Finding a wide place along the road near a house with an interesting old outbuilding—and an even more interesting barn across the road—we parked and set up our easels. My plein air partner chose the old barn as her subject. While I was intrigued with the outbuilding, logistics were against me. I would have had to set up my gear right next to the fence and peer over it to view my subject. That might not have gone well had the property owner come out to find some stranger looking over their fence into their side yard.

So, I opted to stay out of trouble and moved closer to the road. I turned my attention to the south where there was a ridge deep in shadow. Only the eastern-most flank and the jutting folds were lit, glowing a brilliant green with grass that had sprouted thanks to a recent summer shower. After a hot, dry summer and the rain was a welcome gift. That was my warm-up painting.

Then, I broke out another canvas and turned my attention to the meadow below the ridge, rimmed with trees, the foreground thick with golden grasses. I took a more traditional approach with this piece, starting with transparent layers of paint and gradually working toward more opaque layers. I finished off with a bit of iridescent gold (which doesn’t really show in the photo), but added a nice, subtle flair to the piece. (Interestingly, the many transparent layers of paint made this piece difficult to photograph due to reflected light off the texture of the underlying canvas. It shows much better in person.)

We worked until the sun was high and the cool of the morning was long gone. Another delightful day outdoors doing what we love.