Pitbull Puppies Woodcut Print - Step by Step Demonstration

Welcome to my demonstration of my printing day on Tuesday..or welcome back if you're one of the many who are stopping by my blog often! When I last left you I had just finished...or so I thought...cutting out my piece of pine, but after a couple of test prints, I refined it and cut out more. It looked too busy to me. But finally I was happy with my cut and began the printing part.

First, I laid a line of oil based printmakers ink on the top of a large piece of palette paper, which I have taped all around to keep from slipping.

Next, I roll my brayer through the ink, bringing it down the palette to get it even. Then, ink up the block. See how the ink hits the part I didn't cut out and doesn't go into the grooves of my design?

Sorry for the photo lighting ... my second story studio faces west, not nice even lighting ... but I enjoy it because it's up in the sycamore leaves and I actually enjoy the afternoon light changes. The table I'm using to print on is right up against the window. I don't use it for drawing or painting, but for other art activities, it's fine.
Earlier in the day, I had ripped all my paper to size on this table.

Now that the block is all inked up, back and forth, turning the block to ink, I'm ready to lay my block into place. I've made up a jig to hold the block in the same exact place, with the paper being laid in the same exact place.

Now, I gently lay my paper in place, press it to the plate with my left hand, and with the back of an ordinary kitchen spoon, begin rubbing the back of the paper to transfer the ink. VERY important at this stage to keep the paper in place so the ink doesn't smudge into the white parts.

Look closely! Can you see the puppies design coming through the paper? Next, we'll peel off that paper and see the completed print. But that's for tomorrow. Got run.

Pitbull Puppies Woodblock Print

Most of you know me as a colored pencil pet portrait artist http://robinzebley.com/. But I've mentioned my new medium that I'm trying to master, woodcut printing.

Today I'm working on the finishing touches of a woodcut print of two pitbull...or some type of pit or bulldog mix puppies who were found abandoned and were rescued. You know I love pitbull mix pups!

After playing with woodcut tools, for the most part, I really like a straightedged razor blade for the details. This started as a piece of white pine. I drew the white parts with a pastel pencil...they all got cut out. And the dark parts you see now were drawn on with a dark pastel pencil. Cut out the white, leave the dark. Opposite of how you draw! After I did most of the cutting, I did a quick "proof", which is a test run of sorts. Amazing how you can see more you'd like to get done!

So now I think this is done and ready to print. I'm tearing my Japanese print paper today and inking up! This is the first time I'm printing at my own home studio. I was lucky enough to take classes this summer at Fleischer Memorial in South Philly from the very talented printmaking artist and teacher, Jeff Dentz.

Anyway, off to printing! So check back to see how this comes out! If you'd like to automatically receive an update, click on "Followers" on the box to the right or subscribe. If you missed my post about my Otto, here's the link.

http://artandanimals.blogspot.com/2008/08/otto-boxer-bull-mastiff-who-turned-into.html