Update, just keeping on...

Block for City of the World project by Don Halpern

Let's see, since last post, I cut and mailed out the blocks for the City of the World project. In fact, some of the blocks are coming back to me already!
Here is the Puzzle Prints Blog:
http://puzzleprints.blogspot.com

Other than that, I finished a couple more prints. My latest work is always viewable from the 1000 Woodcuts Page in my website:
http://1000woodcuts.com/1000woodcuts/1000.html

Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar
Reduction woodcut for SSNW Exchange

Aloja, five block color woodcut for Barenforum.org's 48th Exchange

For this last print, I tried printing a grissaille of sorts as a base before over-printing with transparent colors. I wanted the sky and water to have an uneven dark/light feel as if lit by moonlight. Many possibilities with this technique; I'm thinking a base of bright yellow to brighten a desert landscape, a base of red or blue to fire up or tone down a figure...

I have achieved a wonderful balance between taking care of the house and garden, making art and still keeping my collector's well fed with online sales.
I have another print on the bench ready to carve, a tribute to the Japanese for a benefit a bunch of printmakers are concocting in order to help out the victims of the earthquake and Tsunami.
And life just keeps going.

Two more arrivals!

Two more arrivals to report!

Ruth Leaf's (Venice, California USA) block arrived a few days ago. I know Ruth personally and I just love everything she does. Ruth is somewhat of a world citizen and she has traveled extensively in her lifetime. I thought the figure in the window mirrored my own perception of life in the big city: you are surrounded by people and yet every citizen is very much alone.
The block shown below beside one of Ruth's many cards in my collection:

Ruth Leaf in the city

And L.D. Halpern's block arrived over the weekend.
This one I like because I too play the guitar, so perhaps I'm identifying with the image. More so, I feel it represents how we go about our lives, finding time for creative entertainment even in the midst of the tumultuous events in today's world. Don't miss the interesting contrast between L.D.'s image and the news with which he chose to wrap his block.
Also, the last picture shows both the front and back of the block (aaahhh, the magic of Photoshop!). Clever images, both front and back!

Here is L.D. Halpern's contribution, from Beloit, Wisconsin USA:

Don Halpern: My image is that of a guitar player with stars in the background.  It's a simple image of a lone musician bringing joy to passersby as they walk through the CITY OF THE WORLD.  After all, what is a city without music?

Both front and back of the block, thanks to Photoshop!



Our city is growing! Keep them coming citizen friends!; they are all precious presents.