I usually pull a couple of prints on scrap paper before busting out my print paper.  It takes a little while for the block to get up to snuff and soak up enough ink to really give a solid print.  I drop my paper onto the block and burnish the back side of it with a large solid spoon that I have.  It is a delicate balance between using enough ink and over doing it, using too much ink makes your lines muddy.  This is usually when I remember what hard work this all is.

I'm pulling ten copies of this print and it will soon be available on my Etsy site for purchase.  The print is on 4 different colors of paper that will be shipped out at random.

I discovered by accident that the digital camera can show you exactly what bits you have carved and what is left over.  With all the different planes and grooves it can be hard to tell close up, but after you hit it with the flash you can see at a glance the bits you forgot to carve out.

Until you first hit the block with your ink you never know what it's going to look like.  I always give it a very light first layer in case there is anything you need to fix real quick.  You need to roll your ink out on a glass palette to make sure that it goes on in a perfect level layer.  If you look closely you can see that I am using the glass door from a old stereo cabinet that I don't have anymore.  You can usually find alternatives for expensive art materials if you keep your eyes open.

Jackelope Green Tea Linoleum Block Print

I have a lot of original paintings for sale on my Etsy sight.  Being original one of a kind works of art they are a little pricey.  In an effort to provide more diverse price options I will soon be offering a block print version of my previously featured Jackelope painting.  Here you can see the original ink drawing, a computer printed copy affixed to a piece of transfer paper, and the linoleum block itself with the transferred image on it.

This is my custom carving rig that my father made for me.  It allows you to push against the block to carve it without holding it with your hand.  Trying to hold your block in place yourself inevitably results in you stabbing yourself in the soft bit between your thumb and index finger.  There is a commercially made sheet metal version of this same gadget, but why buy something when you can get it made from scrap wood for free!

This is the first layer of my background color.  It's a little tricky to blend yellow and blue shades together without getting a weird green shade in the middle.  One of the great qualities of gouache is it's ability to go on in layers but still be workable to blend together.  If your really wanting colors to pop of the paper you can just keep adding color and building contrast. 

Painting in the fire here I avoid any real reference material for flames or anything like that.  I've never really understood modern painters continuing with photo realism.  Now that we can take and print a photo in literally seconds, why would anyone bother spending hours on a picture that looks exactly like a photograph (shrug). 

I did however print out some shots of sloths speeding their way up tree trunks.  I didn't really capture the unique qualities of greasy sloth hair.  I think it's a unique window into my psychy that I picture all monkeys/primates wearing a fez and a little vest.

Tinman and the Flying Sloth

Pencils for the Tinman and the Sloth.  I'm kinda obsessed with constructing the Tinman from different kinds of metal bits and pieces.  'Course a Tinman made from a potbellied stove is not technically a Tinman but...

Jackelope Green Tea #3

Starting to really build up contrast with the opaque gouache, I had to bust out some reference for the desert stuff.  Yay, for the Internet.  At this point I was still fairly uncertain which way to go with the Jakelope's pipe smoke and tea steam.  The steam from the tea has a kind of ribbon candy look to it, and I'm going with a more solid opaque approach.

Adding finishing touches and all the cactus prickers.  Clearly visible here is my empty chocolate milk glasses clearly indicating it is time for bed.

Jackelope Green Tea #2

About 1 hour into the picture at this point.  I continue to paint in between playing with my daughter and obsessively restarting her favourite TV programs on the DVR.  It is just me or do most children's shows seem to have some kind of creepy back story going on?

Jackelope Green Tea



I am continueing to experiment with the tea dyed watercolor paper.  I am still not certain it is worth the effort but starting with a off white background gives me a more overall rustic look.  The tea thing also goes along with my theme of The Jackelope drinking different kinds of tea.  This is my initial pencils on the watercolor paper.

Laying in my first colors with the transparent watercolors. This will be the foundation for my opaque gouache layers.