Progression....

Here is a pic of each of the steps for creating the Heinz sign.  Oddly, I did not take a picture of the first step just all of the ones after it.

I can't wait to start a new one.

Look who's done!!! Heinz Field Logo - Final

Heinz Field - 8x10 - 7 Color Reduction Print

Above is the completed print for the Heinz Field logo that I've been working on.  Probably the most successful registration that I've had on all the prints I'm working on.

As with most prints I've made though, it was yet another learning process.  It had it's issues and getting that final dark grey to print took considerably longer than the other colors, but with the help of some masking I managed to get what I wanted.

The lack of surface area to ink always gets me at the end and I have to slow down and watch that the edges don't get too over-inked.  I always prefer using a larger brayer, but usually in these cases it's not the best option.  Wound up having to use a 2 inch brayer for the final color and place down masks to prevent any previously carved areas that got ink on them from printing.

Once these are dry, they will be photographed and prepared for some local art exhibitions.  Hoping to get them in at least 1 of them.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionprint #Heinz #HeinzField #Pittsburgh #PittsburghSteelers #Steelers

Cars!

A little while back I made 2 linocuts of cars.  This is one of the two...I don't even remember the cars name (Shelby something I think).  I'm not really a car person, but the highlights and shadows that play out on them is really appealing to me.  I decided to do a 1 color print on unmounted linoleum.  I usually like to use mounted, but I was still trying things out and wanted to see what it was like to print unmounted.  It's also hand printed with a baren, something else that I don't normally do either.

I tried finding the test print for the Ford Mustang, but I'm unsure as to where I've stored it.  I will try to find it and post it as well.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #Shelby #car #print

Almost finished...but, not today....

Started mixing today with the plan on printing.  It took a good while to make the appropriate colored ink and then when I finally started printing my color proofs I didn't like how things were turning out.

I was using my large brayer in hopes of speeding things along, but it was dipping into the carved away surfaces leaving ink on the sides and when I would print those areas looked real sloppy and I didn't like them.  I'll have to use my 2" brayer to do this final step.  Unfortunately I also ran out of time (since things weren't working out as planned) and since I have things to do tonight I decided to just clean up, post this photo and be ready for either tomorrow morning or Monday to print the final color.

#art #printmaking #lino #linocut #reductionprint #reduction #print #Heinz #HeinzField #Steelers #Grey #Sign

The problems you face that you never expect

So yeah....I printed my red for the Fuel and Fuddle print the other day and this happened.  About half of the prints came out fine, but then the other half had issues transferring the ink from the block to the paper.  It's not even that the first half were spotty and the second half were fine...it was completely random.

I did toy with the pressure a little on the press on the side that really seemed to miss.  I'm really consistent with how I ink up the block, but I still made sure to pay very close attention to how I was doing it.  I wasn't sure what else to try, but it's apparent to me that half of these prints need to be run through again.  Luckily I didn't use all my ink that I mixed up which was a mix of my Permanent Red and Quinacridone Red.  The Quin Red was supposed to be the solo color, but I didn't like how it looked on my color proof and the very first print pulled so I altered it a little.

Guess this one is gonna take a little longer to finish.

 

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reduction #neon #sign #pittsburgh #problems

Carved Lino Blocks update

 

So I finished carving so that once the ink is dry on these two prints I can go and immediately start printing.  This is the final carving for the Heinz sign.  It has a single dark, dark grey color that needs to be printed for that print to be complete.

It appears that the Fuel & Fuddle (FU) has about 5 colors left to print.

I've also started looking for my next project.  I've found a couple signs that I really like and I'd like to try a larger piece...as in 10 x 15-20(?).  I'll need to order linoleum for that when that happens though.  Plus I have the "OT" print that I'm working on so I still have stuff to do.

#art #printmaking #linocut #carving #reductionprint

Heinz and Fuel & Fuddle update

Very excited to be this close to being done with this print.  This morning I added in the shadow of the part of the sign that outlines the Heinz logo.  Decided to not ink up the entire block since I only needed to print just that tiny little area.  Cannot wait for this color to dry and prepare this print for a couple local art exhibitions.

 

Mixed up a bunch of ink that was supposed to be the shadow on the light yellow background the other day and it completely didn't work out.  Got a completely wrong color...so I packed it up in some foil (in hopes of using it later) and tried again this morning.  Much better this time and I'm really excited to get this color dried because I want to print the red so bad.  I think once I get that down I'll be very excited about this print.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionprint #pittsburgh #412 #Heinz #HeinzField #PittsburghSteelers #Steelers #FuelandFuddle #FU #signs #neon

Heinz Linocut Block - Almost Gone!

Well I'm down to 2 colors and this is the block as it currently sits.  The last 2 colors are a dark red (the shadow under the outside border of the logo) and a dark, dark grey for everything else.  Pretty excited to get this piece completed.

Tested the ink I printed the other day and it is surprisingly almost dry...that means I'll get to print very soon.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionprint #Heinz #HeinzField #Pittsburgh #PittsburghSteelers #Steelers

Heinz Field 2 Colors Left!!

I will say that each time these things work out that I'm getting more and more pleased.  Added the next grey onto the Heinz Field logo linocut.  I find that I love the shadows of the "Field" letters.  I've even already carved away the block so that I'm completely ready to print the next color...unfortunately, I have to wait for the ink to dry since it was only printed yesterday morning.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionprint #Heinz #HeinzField #Pittsburgh #412 #PittsburghSteelers #Steelers

Heinz Carving and decisions to make

I've been carving at this guy slowly for a couple days now.  I just found out that the ink is dry from the last printing and I'm excited to print the next color, but I like how some of the colors look on the last print....aaannnnddddd....some of those areas were supposed to be printed over with the next darker grey.  I am wrestling with what to carve away now.  Going to take it with me to work and try to work out what goes and what doesn't.

All of the areas that are basically colored in black marker are supposed to be the final color printed, but some of those are really fantastic as the color they currently are.  I didn't anticipate this dilemma and really want to print the next color.

#art #printmaking #reductionprint #linocut #Heinz #HeinzField #Pittsburgh #412 #PittsburghSteelers #Steelers 

Cleveland Museum of Art

So my wife and I had both had this past Saturday off and we were looking for something new to do.  We decided to make a little run to the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio.  Much larger than either of us really expected and we actually ran out of time so we didn't get to see everything.

If you ever get the chance to stop by and visit, it is a fantastic place with an amazingly large collection of various art from all periods and cultures.

This is the center of the museum...and amazing open area with seating and a cafe at the far end.

Below are some of the highlights of my day

I'm leaving this one on it's own....this is by far the oldest piece I've ever seen.

Approximately 3000BC!!
Statuette of a Woman "The Stargazer"

 

George Bellows - Stag at Sharkeys & John Sloan

 

William Turner - Claude Monet

 

Vincent Van Gogh - Ed Hopper

 

Charles Sheeler - Georgia O'Keefe

Jackson Pollock

 

Andy Warhol

#art #museum #Cleveland #ClevelandMuseumofArt #AndyWarhol #JacksonPollock #GeorgeBellows #Monet #VanGogh #Ohio

Fears abated....somewhat....

Decided to take the jump that I've been fearing since printing the red on the Heinz Field print.  Registration was better than I thought....in a couple instances there are small glimpses of the red underneath, but overall those glimpses aren't bad enough to ruin the entire edition.  Makes me feel good about my registration system I have going on which is nice.

As per plan, I have 1 color left, but a part of me is saying that I need be in need of one more.  I honestly think that I may like to torture myself with all these extra colors.  This print was supposed to be 6 colors and right now I'm sitting on #5....I'll have to see what I have going on after carving and printing the next layer.

Below is the color proof that I pulled before printing over the red.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reduction #edition
#signs #Heinz #HeinzField #PittsburghSteelers #Steelers #Pittsburgh #412

Back on the horse!

Initially I was going to use the light purple of the neon tubing as the color for the clear(ish) glass pieces that hold the neon tubing off of the surface of the sign.  After looking at it, I decided that it was too purple for my liking and so I decided to add another color to this project.  I mixed up a light grey and printed that over top of the purple...as you can see it still allows some of the color beneath it to show through.

I'm hoping that the addition of this color doesn't prevent me from entering this piece in a local upcoming exhibition, but I can always start using driers in the ink if I feel I'm not going to get it done on time.

 

After printing the light grey on the Fuel and Fuddle (FU) piece I started altering the grey into a much darker grey for the next color on the Heinz Field logo piece.  The ink is ready, but unfortunately today didn't turn out to be the day I got to print.  Had some errands to run this morning and other things to do before getting ready for work.  Hoping to print tomrrow - and I can definitely say that I'm terrified of printing this color.  Thinking I should've held off with the red.....if registration goofs up even slightly the red will show all over the print and just not where it should be.

#art #printmaking #ink #reductionprint

#pittsburgh #412 #fuelandfuddle #universityofpittsburgh #neon 

A small side trip - Columbus Museum of Art

Took a small trip with my with to Columbus, OH the other day just as a small getaway.  Decided to stop at the Columbus Museum of Art on the 2nd day.  I had been looking for something other than the zoo to spend some time at and after seeing the Ed Hopper painting (pictured below) I knew that this was the place I wanted to go.

They have a great collection for what I consider to be a not overly large museum.  Below are some of my favorites.

Should be back to printing tomorrow morning. =)

Ed Hopper

 

Roy Lichtenstein (left) - Maya Lin (right - w/ wife for scale)

 

Unknown artist for me - Deborah Butterfield

 

Jackson Pollock - Norman Rockwell

 

Georgia O'Keefe - George Bellows

  

Dale Chihuly - Claude Monet

 

John Sloan - Mel Chin

#Ohio #ColumbusMuseumofArt #art #museum #Columbus #EdHopper #Chihuly #Monet