MARY MARK REVISITED

Below is a link to a super three part Youtube interview with Mary Mark talking about her woodblock printing process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSYfy7eF9xg

WOODBLOCK PRINTMAKING

...and another website featuring a good section on woodblock printmaking. Information on the history of the art both in China and Europe and then information on the techniques including types of wood, steps involved and design. There are links to other types of printmaking such as intaglio and screen printing in the index.

http://www.druckstelle.info/en/holzschnitt.aspx

On a different note, I am working on one more pastel before I get back to the Linocut I started. This one on yellow Canson paper so, hopefully, a little brighter than my last attempt.

WOODBLOCK PRINTING

Below is a link to a Youtube video showing one type of woodblock printing. It shows how printing was done (in this case, playing cards) in the late 1400s and early 1500s,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgCYovlFRNY&feature=related

BACK TO WHAT I KNOW

The last couple of pastel pieces I have done were floral subjects. They were fun to do and , obviously, pastel colors and flowers go together. The part that doesn't fit quite as well is me! I'm just not much of floral kind of person! I decided to go back to a subject that I'm a little more comfortable with...music. I'm still really enjoying doing things with pastels because they happen so quickly. Haven't stopped the printmaking though. I have linocut and woodblock in process.

WOODBLOCK - WOOD ENGRAVING - LINOCUTS

I am placing a link to a wonderful site with information and fantastic print samples on printmaking techniques by John Steins. A word of warning though, don't visit the site unless you have a little time on your hands. If you love printmaking, it's hard not look at all of the different posts. He shows the major differences between woodblock printing and wood engraving. He has added excerpts from a 1940s book by Paul Landacre on the art of wood engraving that is still interesting today. Proceed with caution.

http://johnsteins.com/

A couple of my own modest attemps. One a linocut, the other a woodblock print.

YOUR FIRST PRINT

For anyone interested in the Japanese Moku Hanga (woodblock printing) technique, a Tokyo based artist named David Bull has put together a wonderful book on the subject. It is a down loadable ebook called 'Your First Print' and it is loaded with tons of information. There are audio and video clips to help with the written information. David has been doing woodblock printing for over thirty years and his wealth of experience is invaluable. http://mokuhankan.com/catalogue/0057.shtml The download is $7.50

WHAT IS MOKA HANGA?

I found an excellent website (blog) called 'Woodblock Dreams' put together by Annie Bissett. If you take the time to search through the site, you will find all kinds of information on Moka Hanga and woodblock technique. She has included a very good description of the art form here http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2005/07/what-is-moku-hanga.html , and there is a link to another detailed description at the bottom of her page. Well worth the visit.

WOOD VS LINO

Linocuts are so much faster than woodcuts, and much easier. Working to complete a woodblock can take weeks, where the same subject on lino is only days. The bonus with wood is the fact that the edges of the cuts are much sharper and hold detail better. 'Say Something' is a print made from two woodblocks with reductions done on the main block.

REDUCTION WOODBLOCK

Back to basics...though the technique requires a bit of planning, reductions woodblock prints are really rewarding. The fact that they also are a little less expensive (one block vs multiple blocks) is a bonus.

It has become easy for me to remember that whatever I cut away from the block will show as the last color that was printed on the paper. This print I named 'Devil Music' (best viewed from a distance).