Woodblock gets stained

Struck

Struck was carved "white line" style, a technique in which the carving is the positive image and the background is inked in black. This is widely used for night scenes where the carved area is "lit". Sort of a reverse reverse woodcut print?

In any case, the lines on this block were carved very fine to show the delicacy of the lightning, and I even used rough sandpaper on the block to make the black sky a bit less black. All the different carving techniques made for a block that was not so exhibit-ready.

Background gets walnut stain to darken detail lines

Figure gets highlighted with sandpaper

First step was to strip the old layers of ink with a citrus-based paint stripper. Works quite well and leaves the wood only slightly stained. The stripper is applied, left on for about 30 minutes or longer and then scrapped off with a plastic putty knife so as not to damage the wood. Some old fashioned soap and water follows and the result is a fairly clean block. Most importantly, the carved lines on the figure came up clean.

Still, I was not satisfied with the appearance of the block so I decided to experiment with stains. First I stained the whole block lightly with a walnut stain, resulting in some of the lines accepting stain partially. This gave the lines more depth and still the deeper areas remained clean. I rubbed off some areas more than others until I was happy with the result. I stain with sponge brushes and use old socks for rubbing the stain off.

Struck, original woodblock selectively stained

With the background solved, the figure didn't stand out enough so I took some rough sandpaper to it and brought the white birch back to life. Now with the figure and background contrasting nicely, I thought the tree element needed to be separated from the background so I stained it with a bit of red mahogany, wiping away until the tinge was just different from the background. The front "broken" tree needed to be brought toward the viewer so I gave it the same stain as the background but left it a bit darker.
Lastly, a nice coat of satin polyurethane over the entire block to eliminate the shine and protect the stain and the bare birch.

Current and Upcoming Exhibits

Exhibits

Boy, it's been a busy year so far but I am happy to report on current and upcoming exhibit schedule:

Puzzle Prints traveled to the Laughlin Library in Laughlin Nevada, and will show there through July, courtesy the Las Vegas/Clark County Library District.

A Closer Look, the collaborative print made during my residency at Red Rock Canyon, will be shown along with other woodcuts in a 3-artist-show at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor's Center just West of Las Vegas, beginning July 4th. Opening reception is July 9th 5-7 PM!

Two engravings will show in Why, Masterworks?
June 19 – Aug 23, 2014
Reception: June 19  
An educational exhibit in the Fifth Street School, 401 S 4th in downtown Las Vegas.

And the Celebrating Life 2014 Exhibit will continue until mid July in the Charleston Heights Art Center, my piece After the Fire was awarded First Prize in Mixed Media. The Winners' Circle Show will continue in the City Hall Chamber Gallery but I will post dates when it gets closer.

Whew!

Puzzle Prints about to get a SOLO

Quiet = Busy!

Usually when I'm away from my web updating for a while it means that I'm too busy to sit. This has been the case this year already!
I have been a busy bee applying for grants, venues, residencies and other wonderful things.

I think the busy work behind the scenes is something that isn't very well liked by artists but this "hat" is so necessary to complete the circle of creating art. Indeed "sharing" art is the one concept that is not taught in schools, not emphasized by many artists and sometimes looked down upon. But when an artist decides to make art "for a living", sharing that art becomes paramount. Whether through sales, exhibits, festivals, workshops or many other venues, in my opinion sharing art truly completes the artist.

But it is a whole lot of busy work!

Puzzle Print #1

Puzzle Prints get a SOLO!

The Great Cairn!

This is indeed very exciting. I have been publishing venues where our beloved puzzles have been shown around the globe and have been seeking a venue where our creations can shine. Persistence pays off and this year, I am proud to announce:

 

 

The Las Vegas - Clark County Library District will show our exhibit entitled In Perfect Harmony, at the Sahara West Library Art Gallery from March 13th to May 4th 2014.
The Sahara West Library used to be the Las Vegas Art Museum and the venue, in the heart of West Las Vegas, could not be better for showing art! Address is
9600 West Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, Nevada
I am planning to frame all 14 panels from the original Puzzle Web, the Great Cairn, the City of the World and our latest Fantastic Garden. All together, with blocks by the side.

I have already ordered and received the frames and am in the process of dressing up our prints. Blocks will come next and some blogging and tooting along the way.

Grant Thank Yous

To help with expenses of framing and the opening bash, I received a Jackpot Grant from the Nevada Arts Council. Although many artists shy away from applying for grants and other available resources, I highly encourage the practice. Exhibits are expensive and often the venues don't yield a bunch of money for the artist, although the recognition gained is priceless.
Non-profit agencies channel available money from the National Endowment of the Arts and are thus able to help local artists with expenses and generally, encourage and aid artists in their professional development and career pursuits.
Thank you!

This project is funded, in part, by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

 

It's a show! It's a show!

Finding Common Ground

Well, the show is almost over, but the reception is this Thursday.
In case you can't read the "fine print" this was a collaboration among Nevada artists.

"Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground features sixteen artists who were asked to explore the geographical and cultural differences in Nevada, if such differences truly exist. The assembly of printmakers--eight from the North and eight from the South--produced two prints from each collaboration. Visually exploring connections and disconnections between southern Nevada and northern Nevada cultural attitudes, aesthetics and geographical distinctions, these sixteen artists communicated and visually responded to each other's unique economic, environmental, political and social settings, further dissecting this notion of a splitting geography and/or communion of Nevada's polarities."

Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground
Collaboration Printmaking Exhibit among Nevada Artists
Historic Fifth Street School, Mayor's Gallery
401 S Fourth St - Las Vegas Nevada