Paleo-Seahorse Print

My pinto-patterned paleo-seahorse, printed at last.

I like the colors, yellow ochre and burnt sienna.  The darker color accent is tapped on with the tiniest little hanga brush, rather like a stencil brush.

I can see where I could carve a little more around darker elements, a la white line printmaking, but I'd really like to be done with this block for awhile.

The watersoluable inks are so dry in this beastly heat.  I'm continually adding water to the ink between prints.  The Pacific Northwest begins to look really attractive for its continual humidity.  ;- j  It's almost enough to drive me back to oil based inks.  At least they stay workable through a whole print run.

Oh well, just something else to work around.

Two-tone Paleo-Seahorses

Ok, so I printed up some paleo-seahorses today.  First I've printed since I recarved the block.  I like this a lot better.  Now I can forget about it for awhile.  It's been haunting me to get it printed.

I did the first print (upper right in this shot) in yellow ochre with burnt sienna tapped in.  Need to order more yellow ochre, so for the other three I mixed yellow and burnt sienna for the base color, with burnt sienna tapped in.  I think I did a pretty good job of matching.

Now I can move on to something else.  Anything else.  ;-j

Paleo-Pinto?

Carved some more on my paleo-seahorse.  Looks more like a pinto or a paint now.  I need to do a test print, probably tomorrow.

A little more carving.

Paleo-Seahorse - Cartoon with Color

Playing around with cartoons today.  Something like this.  The paleo-seahorse definitely needs more visual interest.

To make the cartoon I took a scan of the block and played with it in Paint Shop Pro.

  I greyed it, increased contrast and made a negative image.

Then I printed up a handful and pulled out the colored pencils.  Honest I was really working.  ;-}

Paleo-Seahorse

Printed up some Paleo-Seahorses today.  Not entirely pleased with the results.  I think I have to carve some more on the block.  Needs more texture.

Paleo-Seahorse Block

This one's going quickly.  May still tweak it a bit, after a test print.  I want to work on some of the lines to add a bit more white.

I may or may not carve eyes.  Right now I'm planning to dab in details in ink.  That technique worked well with my paleo-horsefly.

Seahorse Block Scanned In

Scanned in the block.  Love the look of the grain.  I'm following it for the rock face background on my paleo-mythos critter for this one.

I'm not sure how many this makes in the set.  I should count them up.  Maybe a dozen.

Wow.  I just counted.  I found 26 paleo-themed prints, mostly woodcuts, but a few monoprints and intaglio etchings as well.  Add in my paleo-themed tapestries and it's closer to 30 (but I don't thing they count, so I'll leave them out).

Carving Seahorse

Carving the seahorse block.  A bit harder to see when the block is stained rather than painted black, but I like the look of the grain.  It's coming right along.

 

Seahorse

 

Transfered image with chalk, then went over it in pencil.  Next is to start carving.

I love the grain of the wood.  I'll see if I can follow it for the rock face.

Seahorse Sketch & Prep

Flipped the seahorse to the right and closed his mouth. This is looking more like what I want. I've got a 6"x8" block of shina for it. Think I'll stain it with wood stain (if I have any handy).

The stain is a little warmer, but the grain shows nicely in this scan. Rainy day so it'll take a while to dry. Then I'll transfer the image via chalk.

Paleo-Seahorse

Starting on a new paleo critter, as the scroll project will take some time. Bill is looking into getting or making a UV light box. But that's for another post.

The sketch is from a horse by Zeng Shanqing-- very angry and wild looking. I love this piece.

I liked the posture, so I drew it as a seahorse (hippocampus to be precise). I'll probably tone down the anger. Don't need that wide a mouth. And naturally I added the tail.

Color over the Top

Hippocampus, jeweltone. Or an attempt at it. Hard to tell how much color you're laying down with watercolor pencils. Definitely an attempt at going over the top.

Yellow Hippo

yellow hippo, 4"x6"
Another colored hippocampus. This one is brighter than the limey one.

Lime Hippo

hippocampus, watercolor crayons, 4"x6"

Another watercolored sea horse.

Blue Hippo

Hippocampus w/ watercolor 4"x6"

This was a lighter print, so I thought I'd try a little watercolor on it. I used watercolor crayons on the water and then wet it with a brush. Works well I think. I used 4 or more colors of blues and greens.

Next time I'll try watercoloring the whole print.

Hippocampus Block

Hippocampus 4"x6"

My latest demo block, a hippocampus or sea horse. The demo went well, tho the wyvern was still the favorite print. It works best when its well inked, or the sea horse tends to blend into the background. I may carve a little more tomorrow.