WOOD CUT

Jammin'

Reduction woodcut

John Brisson

WOODBLOCK PRINTING

In The Park
Woodblock Print
John Brisson

Detail
http://www.downstairscreations.com/Detail.htm

PRINTMAKING

I've started a new reduction linocut. Getting back to working on prints after finding some older ones that I had done.

Say Something
Reduction Woodblock print

Say Something
Block

Jammin'
Reduction Woodblock print

Jammin'
block

                                     

WOODBLOCK PROCESS

This print was done with two blocks with reduction cuts on both.

Block 1                                                           Block 2

Print progression

In The Park

MATT BROWN REVISITED

Years ago on a trip back east I had the great pleasure of seeing Matt Brown work on his beautiful woodblock prints. That event started me on my printmaking journey. If you are interested in printmaking and especially the Japanese Hanga method, visit Matt's website at http://www.ooloopress.com/index6.html

 My first woodblock print - In The Park

THOMAS SHAHAN

Stumbled upon a great little video posted by printmaker Thomas Shahan. The video gives a small history of relief printmaking and then a demo of the artist working on one of his prints. The detail he is able to get from the wood carving is fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLIFCUSECNI

ANOTHER START

Baseball practice has started so I can't seem to find much time downstairs with my art. Thinking another pastel will be the easiest for me to work on. Watercolor is too frustrating and lino or woodblock too time consuming.

PASTEL A WORKIN'

I think I need to narrow my focus a little bit. Too many irons in the fire would seem to fit. I have a large woodblock going that I can't seem to resume because the blocks just don't work very well. A reduction linocut that is in the halfway stage. I am really excited about continuing my new attempts at watercolor with the Edwards techniques, and I still have this pastel I am trying to finish.  I also need to sort through things in my studio and put it back into some semblance of order. Breathe John!!!

IN THE PARK

My print 'In The Park' placed third in one of Fine Art America's art contests. This is a multi-wood block print I did a few years ago.

ASSIGNMENT

I have been having a hard time with my woodblocks. The Luan was not a great idea. It does not hold detail like the Shina. Chips and peels very badly. I've been able to set it aside for a while because my wife has asked me to do something for our niece's wedding. It is just a few weeks away so I started a pastel that I know I can finish in time. Rough drawing and first layer done.

PASSING TIME

I have spent the past few nights working with pastels while waiting for my shipment of woodblocks. I have a couple of Linoleum blanks that I could start, but nothing jumps out at me subject wise,  for them.

'I Need a New Gig'  - From a jazz painting.

TOM KILLION - PRINTMAKER

My interest in all forms of printmaking, and especially wood and lino prints, finds me exploring the internet looking for artist who excel in these techniques. Tom Killion is one such artist. He has a studio in Point Reyes, California, and his fantastic prints show the beauty of that state. He combines a traditional Japanese technique along with his own special touches in his work.

http://tomkillion.com/

On the right is one of my Woodblock prints.

MIKE LYON REVISITED

One of my favorite websites to visit belongs to Mike Lyons. It is continually updated with really good articles on printmaking (woodblock), drawing, painting and silk screening. Also information on equipment and materials.

http://mlyon.com/

Pen and Ink

NATURE AROUND ME

Living in Big Bear Lake provides an abundance of fantastic subjects for my art. Birds of every variety either live here or stop by for a visit. I just need to wander outside and pay attention! A few years ago I did an acrylic painting of this guy looking for his lunch. I liked the results and decided to make a print attempt using the same composition. It was one of my first woodcuts and taught me a lot through trial and error.

NEW WOODBLOCK

I have been working on a new woodblock over the last month. Another Blues/Jazz theme. The reduction technique again and I'm down to the final cut which will be the details in a dark ink.

REDUCTION WOODBLOCK TECHNIQUE

I discoverd the web location below that shows how a reduction woodblock print is created. Andrea Rich has been doing woodcut prints since the early 1980s and her work is really very special.

http://www.andrearich.com/process.htm

WHITE LINE WOODBLOCKS

I found something new to try. It's called 'White Line Printing'and it looks very interesting. I like it because I can use watercolores (which I struggle with)instead of ink.

This medium was developed on Cape Cod early in this century making it the only truly American art form. It is a means by which a printmaker can create color prints using a single block of wood (unlike traditional Japanese prints, which require a separate block for each color).

I'll see how it goes!!!

Landscape by Kathryn Smith

IN THE PARK

This one of the very few woodblock prints I’ve done using multiple blocks. I usually use the reduction technique where one block is cut and printed a number of times with different colors.

Registering the paper on each block was a challenge for me.

This print has been published in McClain’s Catalog and posted on other internet blogs.

Click here to see detail.

TERI PRINT

Woodblock print I did of Teri.

Instead of gluing the drawing, I drew my picture directly onto the woodblock.

Since this was to be a single color (black) print, I printed the background with muli-colored inks first.

After cutting the block, the prints were then pulled using black ink on Japanese Gampi paper.