Linocut: Coming or Going

Coming or Going, 2x4 Linocut with watercolor

A remnant of linoleum on burlap after cutting a few plates from a sheet.... I've drawn a figure with sharpie marker to use the block for a miniature print exchange with some pals.

After cutting everything away, except the drawing, so it will print close to the way it was sketched.
A test proof, pulled with Daniel Smith oil-based relief ink on Arches cover paper.

Watercolor: Red Pillow

Red Pillow 8 x 10 Watercolor
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Watercolor & Colored Pencil: Vintage Sink

Vintage Sink, 4 x 4 Watercolor & Colored Pencil
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From a polaroid of my LA apartment bathroom sink at dawn fifteen years ago.I liked the way the light was reflected off the pitted porcelain and chipped chrome. The photo is un-remarkable, but something about the composition appeals to me.

Woodcut: Jealous Mask

Jealous Mask 5.5x5.5 3-Color Woodcut w/ Colored Pencil

Collograph: Rainy Day Girl

Rainy Day Girl, 18/20 4 x 6 Collograph with colored pencil

This collograph of my sister in Rockport, Massachsetts was built with construction paper - cut out & glued to a piece of matboard with Liquitex gloss medium.

I printed the plate intaglio style with black ink, and then top-rolled it with an aqua blue - without cleaning the black off the plate, to make a relief print.

The relief print above, next to the plate.

Under the pressure of the press, the black ink mingled with the aqua pigments, and left an interesting hue on the plate. I pulled a ghost print without wiping away or adding more ink. The result was soft and tonal, and it was the base for the image you see on the top of this post.

Watercolor: Sunny Face

Sunny Face, 4 x 4.5 Watercolor
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This is one of our scaredy cats, Sunny. He hangs out on the window sills, soaking up the sun, until there's a knock on the door, and he vanishes into thin air.

Watercolor: Cocoon Plant & Roses

Cocoon Plant & Roses, 7 x 13 Watercolor
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When I painted this kitchen window sill scene, I was focused on the light passing through the green vase onto the tiles. After a few washes of color, I thought the arrangement resembled a dance hall scene; the cactus fixed like a soldier in uniform with a day pass, and the roses twirling and flirting like a blushing debutant. I planned to paint it larger, but I haven't had it on my mind till this week when the coral roses bloomed again.

Woodcut & Watercolor: Grecian

Grecian, 4 x 4 Woodcut & Watercolor [Artist's Proof]

I went to the Getty Museum with some friends in March, and I'm still dreaming about the Grecian statuary and Egyptian Fayum portraits. This stylized head study was doodled on a piece of shina wood from McCain's. After drawing on the block with graphite & watercolor, the first bit of carving begins around the forehead - above.
After more clearing of surface area....
Test print being pulled to make adjustments to the block above.
A second proof is pulled above...
And painted with watercolor.
A sample of the stylized busts I saw at the Getty Villa (this one is in Athens, but you get the idea).

Watercolor: Frida

Frida, 3.5 x 3.5 Watercolor on Pine Block
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Intaglio Etching & Watercolor: Imogen Heap

I'll be offline till Monday, May 21st. Here are some etching process shots in the meantime.
Coating a beveled, sanded & polished zinc plate with hard ground.

Using a Whistler's Needle (or a twisted scribe) to draw/scrape into the ground on the plate where I want to etch into the metal.


Dipping the plate into an acid bath for 60 seconds.

After cleaning the hard ground off the plate with solvents, I'm pushing Daniel Smith oil-based etching ink into the etched line work with a bondo scraper.

Tarlatan cloth is used to wipe the ink from the top surface of the plate, and then newsprint buffs it a little more. This leaves ink settled beneath the surface, in the tiny wells bored by the acid.

Soaked and blotted paper is laid on the inked & wiped plate, and rolled under a press at about 1800 pounds of pressure. The pulp of the paper is pushed into those little pores of ink, and pulled off the plate here...

This is an artist's proof, and the process will continue from the beginning over & over; coating the plate with hard ground, drawing more details - using the proof print as a reference to make adjustments to the line work & values. More time in the acid, and more artist's proofs pulled until the etching feels complete. This one is still under way, but I painted one of the proofs with watercolor, below.


Skipping Beats, Blushing Cheeks 6 x 8 Etching [Artist's Proof] & Watercolor
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(The figure in the etching is the singer Imogen Heap. The title of the etching is from the lyrics to her song 'Goodnight & Go'.)

Monotype & Watercolor: Descanso Fountain

Descanso Fountain, 4 x 6 Monotype & Watercolor
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Watercolor & Colored Pencil: Red hair, Pink Rose

Red Hair, Pink Rose 4 x 4.5 watercolor & colored pencil
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This is one of my favorite models, A.M. and I think I've either painted or made prints (monotypes) from this photo session a dozen times. I think I'm due for another very soon. :-)

Watercolor: After Billy (Holiday)

After Billy, 3.75 x 4.25 Watercolor on Illustration Board
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Monotype & Colored Pencil: San Juan Capistrano Bell

San Juan Capistrano Bell, 4 x 6 Monotype, Watercolor & Colored pencil
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The beginnings of this monotype were posted here, a few weeks ago.
I added watercolor & colored pencil to it this morning.

Monotype: Cake

Cake, 3 x 6 Monotype & Colored Pencil
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The plate, rolled with ink, and under way...

Monotype: Omikuji II

Omikuji II, Monotype, Watercolor & Colored Pencil
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Start at the bottom of this post to see the process on this one.
The first monotype pulled from the plate. (I also pulled two very faint ghost prints.)
After a trip through the press, pulling the monotype from the plate.
Close up of wet ink with varied mark-making.
Ink is removed with pastel stomps, rolled & folded paper towels, finger tips, etc.
A copper plate is coated with Black oil-based Daniel Smith etching ink, using a brayer. The drawing was sketched over vellum paper, which is explained here. The meaning of Omikuji is also explained in that post.

Trace Monotype: Looking at Family Photo Albums

Looking at Family Albums, 5 x 7 Trace Monotype with Watercolor & Colored Pencil
I love family photo albums. Most of my work starts with an old photo of my family, and I especially love hearing the stories that go with the images if they were taken before I was born. I'm lucky to be part of a big Italian/Canadian/English family with a penchant for documenting moments with cameras. The supply of imagery and inspiration is abundant.
The trace monotype above, before it was painted.

Watercolor: Italian Door with Leeks

Italian Door with Leeks 10 x 19 Watercolor
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The doors in Tuscany are charming little works of art meandering through all the little side streets in the residential neighborhoods. This one struck me because the family owned a produce market next door, and they displayed the day's goods all around the frame of the shop entry in little birch wood crates. On this particular day, the leeks were featured. The next day, it was peaches.

Etching & Watercolor: Lilac in an Amber Vase

Lilac in an Amber Vase 4 x 5 Etching with Watercolor [Artist's Proof]
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I was testing lights and darks for the next stages on this etching with watercolors. It's a nice way to map your next step in the printmaking process, and it's quick.