Two-Block Baby Kraken

Background block is ready for a test print.  Foreground block is started.

I should run the slanted lines on the background block into the negative space for the balloon, to cover any mismatch in printing.

I'll print the background block in a blue or a blue-green.  The foreground block will be printed in black, with pastel added afterward to make the elements bright.

Nicky & Gabby Blocks

I want to print up my Nicky and Gabby blocks, but Signy's a bit of a drawback.  Right now she's in heat, so there's no sending her off to SH for the day.  So I need to come up with another idea.

It occurred to me that I used to wet the paper (especially for oil-based inks).  But it also works with water-based inks.  I can set up the card table(s) and soak and blot my paper.  Then I might try printing with a baren, counting on the damp paper to take up ink more easily.  At least I'd like to try it.

I'll only be printing b&w and adding pastel color later.  Just spots of color.

And here's mir image of the blocks.  Possibly print more of an ocher colorway?

More Carving

More carving.  

BW.

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They're a pair, so I need to match up a few things ~ like drawing the cloud outside the lines, making the sky the same, etc.

Back to Work On Steampunk Nicky

Nicky's coming along.  Getting those fiddly details in.

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BW scan of block.

BW/MIR scan of block ~ faux print.

More carving.

More carving.

Taking a break now.

Paleo Rustlers ~ Carving

Hmm.  Block doesn't fit on the scanner bed.  Hangs over one side or the other.  That'll make scanning the print a little irksome as well.  Oh well, it'll work out.

Following the grain for the most part.  About to branch off from it to create a stream.

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Carving a little more on the "stream."

Color Play

Playing with color on washi.  Doesn't take pastel well.  I'll be printing on sturdier paper.

She's a kewtie.  8-]

Gabby block Nearly Done

Might be done.  At least for a test print.

Faux print ~ greyscale mirrored image to see what it'll look like printed.

I'll be printing it with grey or tan or beige for Gabby's shading.  I'll be adding pan-pastel for color.

Of course I know I'll have to recarve some lines after I print.  The wood always swells and my lines are chronically too fine.  ;- j

More Gabby

Gabby Block Scan

Gabby so far.

BW view

Even darker to show what stands out.

More Gabby-girl

Gabby So Far

More Gabby Block

Lots of little fiddly bits.  I know I'm avoiding carving on Gabby.  ;- j

More Gabby

Carvity-carve.

Gabby and the Wild Blue Yonder

Back to work on Gabby.  8-]

Gabby and the Wild Blue Yonder

I want to finish it in time for xmas. ;-]  I plan to print it in a very light grey or a tan or ecru (ochre?), then add pastel for color and highlights.

Crossing the Streams

This is the cartoon I came up with once I started thinking of it as a tapestry instead of a woodcut.

Can do either, or both.  8-]

carve this

Cartoon with swirls around stars (like a tapestry).

Cartoon with star echos like a woodcut.

Back to Baby Octopus

Working on colorways and carving plans.

I might start carving over the 4th long weekend.  8-]

Dino-Cat-Moth

I like this better.  More motion.  And they both lose out.  ;->

Adding a garden background.

Perhaps the dino-bird will be jumping up to get the moth.

Paler garden so I can see elements better.  I won't carve much of a garden ~ I'll pastel color later.

Early Bird & Cat Sketch

Early bird and a cat squaring off over lunch.

In the garden with grass and plantings (likely agapanthus, my favorite alien flower).  Plantings go diagonally across the back.

Maybe some greenery in the foreground or the mid-ground.

Early Bird ~ WIP

Early Bird woodcut with Pan Pastels.  First pass.

Knight's Tale ~ Canterbury Tails ~ Pan Pastel

Scan.  On printmaking paper.  Nice tooth for Pan Pastels.  Not quite finished I think.

Knight's Tale ~ Pan Pastels

Pan Pastel over woodcut ~ Canterbury Tails ~ The Knight's Tale.  I like the composition but I've never been happy with the print, burnt sienna w/ black tapped in.

So I added pastel.  I like it as a first try.  I'll work on the color next time, but at least now it has depth.