Henry's Song

Henry's Song 

6x9 

Linocut

This piece came from the colors of the ocean.   I really want to break out of the traditional image shape I often use and see what would happen with negative space in my composition.  I like the energy of these waves although simple as they are. I'm always interested in the direction of waves and how the water moves.  The ocean is so awesome like that! In this print I used an ombre effect with my ink moving from a darker cyan to a lighter sea foam yumminess. I love rolling different  colors in one roll.  Another reason to get nerdy about my art!

I might come back with another color run on this print at a later date.  Stay tuned!!

The drying rack

Waves

Waves

Hand pulled Linocut

Ink on Archival Paper

5x7 image

8x10 framed

$50 Framed + $13.25 shipping

This is the first in a limited series of "Waves". Limited edition print of 5.   

I love new ways to represent water!  In this series I used an ombre effect with layers of blue moving darker towards the top and bottom. These blues were inspired by a trip out to the North tip of Siesta.  

I'm not sure which I like best...the white or the black frame?  I have them up on my easel in the front of the house and I think I like them together! HA! Its like the yin and yang of linocuts!

Enjoy the day!

~Jane

Wednesday Blues

Wednesday Blues...

My Wednesday blues are very happy and exciting today.  I mixed the best blue today!  Started out working on my second pull of my new reduction, and I just couldn't get enough. I would have kept going if I had more room!  The blue is a Jane mixed gray base with just a touch of Caligo phthalo blue.  I think I might just submit this to the boss for our new exterior house paint color!  Love it that much.

Below is the second run from my reduction, up close. (The paper is wet and doesn't lay flat until dry, which is why it isn't square, I can't handle such things my eye is still twitching looking at the bottom left of this photo!)

One more pull of a darker blue and she's all done!  The final print is always the most exciting, but this second was a high in my day!  Yay for blue!

Check out the fun card I finally printed!  I carved it some time ago and haven't felt the urge to print it until now. It was inspired by...you guessed it, water!  I just cant get away from the ocean as my muse. I love this design because it isn't like anything I have done. I really just wanted to break down the current with its bubbles and sea foam. I printed it as a card with the hopes to work larger and use this as the study. Turned out alright! Green light to move forward.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments!

~Jane

Reduction- The process

1st reduction linocut of the new year!

The reduction, or 'suicide' method of linocutting uses a single piece of lino to produce a multi-colored print. The lino is gradually cut away as each color is printed and the image emerges. Sometimes only a very small printable area remains for the final, darkest tone. As the block is essentially destroyed during the process, a reduction print can never be reprinted.

In the above picture you can see my setup.

 From left to right:  Wooden spoon from IKEA or barren-Critical to hand pull a print. I use the back of the spoon to burnish the paper over the linoleum. I prefer a spoon because I can use the edge or the flat back and really get a good pull out of it.  although its more of a workout.  Register Jig-I use this to line up every print I pull.  You can see the battleship gray linoleum in its place.  Ink- I only use oil based Caligio inks (easy clean up, its worth the extra shipping)  Brayer or roller- I use this to roll my ink on the linoleum.  These come in different sizes and hardness but this is my go to one. Palette knife - Used to mix ink and spread on my palette surface. I also use a clean palette knife to move my inked block into place.  Its not always easy to move things around all covered in ink!  Plexi-glass palettes- I use these to roll my ink and mix my ink. 2 different sizes works well for me, I have found to ask at framing stores for scraps to use.  

Here is the linoleum all inked up and ready to print its first run!

 The first run printed...

Such a fun process!

I will let these dry and revisit next week for the second run.

Have a great weekend!

~Jane

With Love...

With Love

Linocut

5x6

$6 (free shipping within US)

This is a new favorite print of mine. This linocut was craved by myself on battleship gray linoleum and hand pulled making each print unique.

  This sweet little swallow has such personality, and love!  In spirit of Valentine's Day and love I want to offer this print with free shipping within the US.  Send it to a special friend or family or frame it and keep it always!  I think I'll do both XO.  Please let me know if you would like more than one, I can work out a discount of multiple prints.

~Jane

Love is in the air!

So happy to be back playing with printmaking today!  I have a few larger projects on the brain but I had to get my Valentine's made before it was too late!  I still have to hand paint the heart on my black bird but you get the picture!

There is just something about the smell of art. Every medium has one you know.  The smell of linseed oil and oil paints, the sharp smell of my oil based printmaking inks...whatever your medium is you know what I mean. It's like coming home when you haven't smelled it in a beat.  I haven't printed in almost a month. I've been so consumed with painting...but just one crack of the ink cap and I was back!!  SO GOOD

I hope you enjoy these and don't forget to send your own this year. Everyone needs a reminder of love!!
XO
Jane