Scroll Project - Mantling

So I've been looking at mantling (the cloth sun covering for the helm that looks more like fancy ribbons) for the shield augmentation. I'm not a fan of the look, personally. So I have to find one I can stand to carve that still looks heraldic.

This one looks nice and woodcutty. I guess I just have to look at so many that I get used to them and then don't mind so much. Desensitize myself.

Wait 'til we get to supporters....

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With appologies to Mary Tarin and her Pelican scroll for Bevin -- this is an example of actual ribbons for the mantling. Looks rather nice. The whole scroll can be seen here:

http://wiki.caid-commons.org/index.php/Image:Marytarinofglastonbury7.jpg

Scroll Project

approx. 11"x14"

Be it known to all...

that I plan to make William's Knighting Scroll. I've looked at 1000 scrolls from the Caid Scribe's website:
http://wiki.caid-commons.org/index.php/Category:Scrolls
There really are 1000 illuminated and caligraphed scrolls on it! Busy little bees.

I ran the mock up past Bruce Draconarius, and he made a couple wording changes and suggestions. He suggested supporters for the shield, so I'll have to get William working on that one. I don't think he has anything in mind. Loki and Freya? ;-j

I have to carve the shield and mantling block, and I'm going to carve at least the beginning phrase -- Be it known to all -- with the initial B illuminated. I know my limitations. I couldn't possibly carve the whole text!

My caligraphy isn't too great, but I guess I can work on it. I'd also like something closer to Caxton's original font, only more legible to modern eyes. I'll have to see what I can come up with.

I feel compelled to add that William is practically obsessive about the color black, so the fact that it's a black and white woodcut is a plus. I'll add a bit of color to the shield and mantling (black and silver) and possibly to the supporters, whatever they turn out to be (surely not zebras or pandas!). A couple letters here and there can be illuminated in the text as well. But it's minimalist by design.

Rainy Day Printing

I should print in the rain more often. 8-] My ink never dried out and I didn't have to clean my block until I was done. Ran out of paper.

Tore down another sheet and I may finish up the run after a lunch break.

There is definitely an advantage with the humidity. Don't know what I can do about it ordinarily tho, as this is So-Cal. Normally dry as a bone.

I know -- move to the Pacific North West! ;- j

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A productive day indeed. Finished up the the prints for the exchange and then some. I wonder how I can get more humidity into the air when I'm printing? Swamp coolers tend to give me a sinus headache.

Barring that, I guess I need to keep my ink wetter longer.

Paper Prep

Tearing down paper today. Sidling up to printing.

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Guess I sidled too close. ;-> Printed about half the number needed for the exchange and all but two are good. I'm a bit rusty, but it's coming back to me pretty quick.

Does anyone else find they have to clean the block often when using water soluable ink? I don't remember having to clean it that often during a print session, but like I say, I'm rusty. Or I may be getting the ink too thick. I'm using Daniel Smith and a bit of water.

Test Print

Test print of the typography exchange block. I like it. May touch up the beard a bit, but otherwise I think it's done. I did get some lines on the wall, which are printerly and add texture. I may touch them up a bit too, just to tone them down. Otherwise I think I'm ready to print.


I may make it on time yet!

Press Block So Far

Almost there. If I don't stop fiddling soon, I'll whittle it all away. Time for a test print.





This is more or less what it should look like. This is a mirror image of the block. I don't intend to make it blue -- it just looks that way in Paint Shop when I mess with the contrast.

Periodic Table Print Project in Globe and Mail

w00t!! Jenn Schmitt just sent around a notice that our Periodic Table Print Project appeared in the Globe and Mail, Ontario, Canada. 8-] The link is:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/headless-modelsrhylprintmaking-project/article1424170/

Mine is the one in the upper left hand corner, Titanium. Woo and hoo! 8- ]

Ok I Did It...

Carve out the wall, that is. No going back now! But I think it pops now. I'll work on the press next.

Thanx for the feedback, Viza. As you can see, I went the whole hog. ;- > But I think I like it. And there's bound to be some texture in the white anyway, with carving marks.

My husband, whose visage it is, likes it better now. I do think it leaps out more now.

White Walls

I'm contemplating making the walls white. It's beginning to have an overall grey tone and more white would allow me to lighten up the alcove, internal area of the press, etc.

I haven't done it yet. I just erased the background from a scan and played with it in Paint Shop. It's not my usual style. But I have a problem with not enough contrast as a rule.

I might have to lighten up the flooring, make that greyer.

Carving Press Block

Pencil sketch on block, 4"x6".


Starting to carve. This is really scary. I've never attempted to carve face detail this tiny before. I figured I should start with it tho in case I screw it up and have to start over with a new block. I'm going to leave it alone for awhile now. Don't want to press my luck.




A little more carving, some pencil sketching, some chalk. Shoulders are getting a little stiff so it's time for a break.






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More carving.

Typography Block Sketch

This is for the typography exchange, but it is also for a long-standing project to depict early printmaking in the 15th century. I'm planning to do William's knighting scroll and this is one possibility for the artwork.

Printing Xmas Block

I like the reddish brown color. I've been playing around with tapping on accent color, but I don't like how it's coming out. This may be a one-color block afterall.

I practically recarved the whole block. I have a tendency to "draw" too lightly on the board. Someday I'm going to design a block that calls for bold images. ;- j

Almost Ready to Print

Faux image -- mirror scan of the block, colorized in PaintShop. About to print and see what needs recarving. ;- j

Poking Along on the Block

Lost the weekend to holiday doings, but I'm back to work on the xmas card block today. Carve, carve, carve.

Christmas Block

Wassail!

Block in progress -- mirror image scan. This'll be the Schuyler House Christmas card. I put the castle on one of the mugs. And I put a sleeping cat on the hearth for the absent Kitty (who worked for Schuyler House).

Horsefly -- test prints

Did some test prints of my paleo-horsefly this afternoon, working out some colorways.





Yellow ochre or vanilla print. ;-j


More like what I'm aiming for: yellow ochre, red and thalo blue, with a touch of white to lighten up the colors.

Had to keep adding water as the ink was drying fast. Must be dry today. My hands feel like sandpaper, but that's par for printing. Used my baren and wooden spoon and some sketch paper.

I'm feeling smuggly productive today, after days of displacement. ;- j

Paleo-Horse Fly -- Possible Colorways

I can displace all day. ;-j Trying out a couple of colorways in colored pencil.


The blue-green is more eye-popping.


But I'm leaning toward this orangey-purple colorway.

Paleo-Horse Fly -- Faux Print

Faux print -- darkened mirror image scan of the block, to see how it's coming along. Not bad. A couple iritating chips that leap out at me. A little more work around the lower right wing.

Don't know if I'll carve out the black background or leave it as a frame.

Paleo-Horse Fly WIP

Started carving.

It's going pretty quickly. Not happy with a couple of choices I made. I'll see if I can carve my way out of a corner or have to start over. Maybe I'll try it both ways and see which one I prefer.

Paleo-Horse Fly -- a sketch

Getting back into carving. I want to have something new for the Loscon art show in a couple weeks. Something small.

Here's a computer-cobbled sketch for a new paleo-mythos critter, a paleo-horse fly. I sketched the horse from a Przewalski horse and added some dragonfly wings I found on google. Still working up the details. I'd like the wings to be lighter than the background, but that may not work.