Sassafrass Winter Solstice

["Archangel Michael" -- sketch]

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:21:55 GMT

[I always keep the image simple - since it's just a quick sketch for relief printing.]
[Mistakes & wrong proportions work out in the process of carving anyhow]

["unnamed" -- sketch]

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:38:42 GMT

["Mercury" -- sketch]

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:08:07 GMT

["Angel of Annunciation" -- sketch]

Sat, 04 Mar 2006 00:06:39 GMT

["Cupid and Psyche" -- test print]

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 14:52:16 GMT

["Nereid" -- test print]

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 15:30:09 GMT

["Hippocamp" -- linoleum block]

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 21:36:56 GMT

well, as it turns out, my experiment with small cuts has lead to a great discovery.
there is a fine point that one cannot cross when it comes to cut size.
unfortunately with this last project i crossed that line.
you can see the black lines where cuts were made and you can also see the whitish lines as well.
the whitish lines have the proper depth required to produce a printed image.
whereas the lines that are too dark do not produce proper lines.

so it is back to the cutting board with this one.
although i fear that the deeper cuts will distort the subject too much.
we shall see

["Hippocamp" -- detail practice]

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 22:19:31 GMT

my next project: a hippocamp.

it is really really small. approx. 2.5 in x 2 in
[on purpose] i need the practice with small cuts.
& i have excess small pieces of linoleum.

["Nereid" -- sketch]

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 20:37:05 GMT

["Cupid and Psyche" -- sketch]

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 14:16:30 GMT

["Njord: God of Winds" -- test print"]

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:15:29 GMT

["Njord: God of Winds" -- sketch]

Sat, 21 Jan 2006 01:23:21 GMT

Currently working on a carving of Njord: God of Winds.
another 5 x 7 inch print.

["ButterflyWoman" -- test print"]

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:58:50 GMT

["ButterflyWoman" -- sketch]

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:57:23 GMT

["Triton" -- test print]

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:16:16 GMT

["Triton" -- detail practice]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:29:41 GMT

my next project: a triton.

it is really really small. approx. 2in x 2 in
[on purpose] i need the practice with small cuts.

1 min sketch.

["Apollo and Daphne" -- test print]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:27:51 GMT

Test Print of the "Apollo and Daphne" Lino Cut.
[test prints = darker or lighter image runs]

["Apollo and Daphne" -- sketch]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:26:39 GMT

["Celestial Water Nymph" -- completed]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:25:33 GMT

ive completed my second block print.
i am not as happy with this one as i would have liked to have been.
i made a few alterations along the way.
- decided to not put much detail into the nymph as it wouldnt stand out against the background
- decided to not put any details into the face, i felt that a certain expressionless stance allows the viewer to attribute their own mood for the nymph

[ive also decided to print off some of my photography to grace my walls as well]

[ive also decided that *if and when* i am able to completely open up an online gallery and "if" i happen to sell some of my artwork ...with each sale... i will set aside and contribute a certain amount of money to a charitable organization -- to be described & linked on my website. why? b/c every little bit does make a difference.

["Celestial Water Nymph" -- in progress print]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:23:52 GMT

Just b/c i had a slight bit of ink left on the brayer i wanted to do a "mid-process" print of the Celestial Water Nymph -even though i am still carving it out, just to be able to have a sneak peak at the style the image was forming under.

Keep in mind that yes it is hard to appreciate the finer details of this print due to the fact that the ink was running out; however, this was just a printing to utilize what ink was left -- you know ... so that it wasnt wasted. [i hate wasting anything! esp. art supplies]

["Tree of Life"]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:22:29 GMT

To the upper left: is the block print after it was printed upon
To the upper right: is the first print that was created from the block
To the lower left: is the water-soluble black ink
To the lower right: is the brayer [which is used to transfer the ink onto the block print]
and i also utilized a plastic knife to transfer a gob of ink onto my braying surface.

---
Next Step: will be to let it dry

Next, Next step: perhaps i will create a signature logo, out of a wine bottle cork, to stamp my sig.

Next, Next, Next step: will be to mat and frame the print.
---

[.Once framed I will post a picture.]

["Celestial Water Nymph" -- progress]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:21:00 GMT

not even near being done; however, i have to stop progress for today.
tomorrow we are having guests over & i want to finish cleaning/decorating our home.
so for now. this is as far as i am able to work on this.
[& my art supplies from DickBlick had arrived last night]
it will take sheer will to prevent myself from wanting to play instead of clean.

It is easier to exclude harmful passions than to rule them,
and to deny them admittance than to control them after they have been admitted.
---Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

[99.9% --- "Celestial Water Nymph"]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:18:31 GMT

99.9% completed illustration of the -- "Celestial Water Nymph"

if this was a regular drawing i would finish with all of the final detail work; however,
since this drawing is just inspiration for the block print i will be creating ...the high detail is not important at all for this project.

[next i will be rough sketching the outline ontop of the linoleum block]

["Celestial Water Nymph" -- second pass]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:17:10 GMT

second pass sketch of the Celestial Water Nymph
i used the first "quick sketch" as the basis for this one
eye-balled the areas that i wanted to make alterations on
rough outline sketched and now have slightly begun to add shading to a few areas
ill continue with darker outlines and shading aspects

[this truly shall be a feat to compose for block printing, since there are small details to consider]

and now ... since i am such a quote freak

"He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser, sees newly every time he looks at the object beloved, drawing from it with his eyes and his mind those virtues which it possesses."
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

[celestial water nymph]

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:15:56 GMT

Another 2 min. sketch from a dream.
she shall be my next block print project.

I dont quite have the perfect layout of the elements as of yet.
but that is to be expected of a quick nighttime sketch.
of great notice is the lacking definition of the hands/arms
the details of the snakes that morph into flowers is not there as well since the shading had not been added.
the portion at the bottom that looks like her dress is going to be seeweed-like flowing pieces
the scanning cut it off but from the water she floats