printmaking // week33

no matter how hard i try, seems like i never become a daily blogger! photos piling up in my folders, waiting to be posted, getting old and out of date before time. so, here are some of the pics i took last week while working on new prints in the studio. i wanted to make a new edition of bird prints. except some single prints, all of last years edition sold out. for all the blossom and birds print i have used my big cherry blossom block as a background so far, but i plan to do "bigger" things and projects with it and don't want to spoil it in mini formats. it's my favourite print block, also my biggest one ( see a wall size deco on my flickr )

SO, inspired by a beautiful old japanese brush painting, i made this linocut of a plum blossom twig above. my favourite bird needs a comfy place to rest...



here's the first layer, printed with a light blue on chinese book pages (interestingly from a chinese travel guide to germany!)

then i printed over it again with the plum blossom twig, this time in a transparent, but strong florentian red which gives the whole thing a little more depth.


i don't know how you call this traditional japanese "instrument" for printing. its a strong cardboard covered with banana leaf and is perfect for use when printing fine lined blocks, because you can accentuate pressure and press very gentle.


here's a sneak peek of the little titmouse, the most exciting moment, how did the print come out? are the colors, position, paper right? make up your own mind....



soon to be listed in the shops......

happy weekend, all of you :D