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

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

Day 29 Into The Fog

Day 29

Into The Fog

9x12 Oil on Panel

*Sold*

#30paintingsin30days

I'm enjoying where I've gone with my boats.  Just Wednesday I was out and about, it was a rainy day and the fog rolled in rather late. This isn't too typical here. Of course any time I can play in the fog I will. There is something about the sea when the fog rolls in that everything slows down and you really have to focus on the now. There is only what is in front of your nose and no more.

"Under the thinning fog the surf curled and creamed, almost without sound, like a thought tying to form itself on the edge of consciousness." -Raymond Chandler The Big Sleep (Great book BTW!)

Day 28 Day on the Bay

Day 28

Day on the Bay

9x12 oil on panel

$75 + $10 shipping US only

#30paintingsin30days

It's really been a crumby few days in my neck of the woods. Good thing I love crumby days!  There is just something about a rainy day that makes me feel happy to be glum...if that's even a thing!?

I spent the day in and out of the local architectural salvage shops dodging the rain but more than happy to walk in it. What can I say, I had my wellies on so bring it on puddles!  

I spent a beat near the sailboats just off  Bay Island. I had to dig into my picture archives to find this lovely gem.  Sailboats are a favorite to watch from any vantage. Even though I'm a kayak gal I'll happily let a sailboat pass, definitely not a yacht or wave runner but that's another story all together!

The day ended with a foggy walk on the beach with the little noodles. Plenty of treasures to be found!  Excited for tomorrows painting...I'll give you one guess ;-)

~Jane

Day 19 Morning After

Day 19

Morning After

8x10 Oil on Canvas

$50 + $8 shipping

#30paintingsin30days

Morning after a storm on Siesta Key. My starting point for a morning run, the red lifeguard stand! And...GO!

Its a cold one here, highs in the low 60's! Bundle up!

~Jane

Day 18 Negotiations

Day 18

Negotiations

8x10 Oil on Canvas

$50 +$8 shipping

#30paintingsin30days

I'm digging this color palette. I tend to go for a more washed out palette which gives me a certain beachy satisfaction.  I like pushing color to another level. Its there I see it but staying safe isn't always fun!

Birds are funny creatures...I thought I had walked up on something very important this day!

Have a great day!

~Jane