Dark Violet and 2 colors to go!

Decided after some issues that I've been having with this print to just go ahead and print the next color which was dark violet.  The color creates the shadow areas on the violet neon tubing.  It did seem to print okay, but there was some slight movement and it's registration on almost all prints is just off slightly.  I don't think it's too bad, but when shooting for perfect registration it does kind of drive me crazy.

I only have 2 colors to go - a light blue for the sky and a dark, dark grey for the glass pieces that hold the neon tubing off the surface of the sign.  I will be honest that I do not know what they are actually called.

The block is already carved down as well and is ready to go once this ink dries.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlinocut #neon #neonsign #FuelandFuddle #PittsburghPA #FU

Next color for OT

Just printed the 3rd violet for the OT reduction linocut.  I really like how it's starting to turn out and though I still have 3 colors to go I'm starting to consider using only 2 more.  What I'm considering is leaving the current dark violet as the shadow that lays on top of the orange background which gets printed next.  I'm going to have to take a little bit of time to weigh the options, but I think that I kind of like the idea.

Excited to have finally gotten past the procrastination hurdle with this piece.  I just didn't know how well my registration jig worked during the first pass.

I can be pretty honest that I was never overly fond of this piece or it's composition, but now that it's moving along I'm very happy with it and can't wait to see how it works out.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlinocut #motel #OT #neonsign #neon

Almost ready to print

I got some suggestions on how to work with my "FU" print and hopefully those will fix my current issue.  I've been working on those prints so there isn't too much to show at this point.

I will say though that I've been looking through my photos for new kinds of projects to work on and I have a feeling that I may move away from neon for a little while to work on.  I've also spent a little time travelling around looking for vintage signs and found that I really like the Motel part of this sign.  Depending on sunshine and weather on my next 2 days off I may head back to this location for to take a couple better shots of this sign.  So until I get some printing done tomorrow...have fun.

#vintagemotel #clairton #pittsburgh #rt51 #JeffersonHillsMotel

I'm pretty sure this....

So I printed the next color for the FU print.  This a darker violet that makes up some underneath shadowing on the outside neon tubes.  For some reason this print is wrestling with me and I'm pretty sure that this thing does not want to be completed.  Just 3 colors away from completion and I'm struggling with it more than any print that I've ever made.

I assume that there are many reasons with my issues in making this print and I'm sure that they fall into:

A.)  I've never made a 12 color print before

B.)  The block has probably been smashed down due to the number of times passed through the press

C.)  I've over inked areas that have created a texture on the surface

D.)  I accidentally smashed part of the print early on and didn't realize it until I had cranked it through the press...this caused an indention in the block, but oddly that area isn't really in any of the majorly affected areas.  Go figure.  It'd be really easy to just blame that.

Below is an image of how this latest color printed.

If you look at the dark violet there is a small outline that goes around it.  I lightened the pressure on the pressure on the press thinking it was just pressing too hard, but I still go this result.  Guess I'm going to have to try and find out from others what causes this...over inking?  Pressure?

So...until I figure out what's happening, my ink has been packed up and a color swatch created so I don't forget what the color inside looks like.

Sigh....12 colors....I don't think I was quite ready for that.  I suppose it's a good learning experience.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionprint #reduction #violet #ink #FU #inkingproblems

Back to work

 

These two have been waiting some time to be worked on.  The one of the left is an 8x10 Lilypad image that I used for a smaller 4x6 test print a year or so ago.  It worked out well enough that I wanted to give a larger version a try.  I also like that it's completely different than what I normally do.

The right side is of the "OT" from a motel sign.  Added in the second color finally.  I took some time off from this one because I've been focusing in on the "FU" piece so much.  I was also very unsure of the registration with this piece.  This piece happened to be the first one created my new registration jig which allows for pieces larger than 8x10.  The "OT" piece is 9x12 and I'm happy to say that registration was pretty good - not perfect, but definitely not bad.  I've also already carved away the printed sections of this piece so it's ready to go as soon as this ink dries.

#art #printmaking #lino #linocut #reductionprint #neon #violet #waterlillies

The F's Shadow

Spent my breaks at work last night carving away the red background and didn't really expect that previous layer of ink to be dry, but this morning it was actually dry to the touch.  I decided to just jump right into the next color and since it was already pre-mixed that helped me move right along.

I find that this piece looks kind of weird since the "F" has a neon shadow, but the "U" does not.  I thought maybe I had made a mistake when working on the drawing, but after looking back at the photo discovered that this is actually how it looks.  The "U" does have shadow that falls into the light yellow, but it doesn't touch the red anywhere.  Must have just been the angle of the light.

Only 3 more colors to go until this piece is complete.  Excited to get to that stage.  Hoping that this layer of ink dries just as quick.

Below is a picture of the block after my carving last night.  The next stage of carving should go even quicker since there is very little to carve this time around.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionprint #neon #sign #FU #Pittsburgh #FuelandFuddle

So they say that the 3rd time is a charm....

Okay, so this is the result of the 3rd printing of red.  I only planned on printing the ones that didn't cover completely, but then discovered that my new mixed red was a bit darker than the previous one.  I reprinted all 9 good pieces and they are finally good enough to move on with this piece.

I've already pre-mixed the red shadow color which will come next and just need to carve the block down and wait for these to dry.  I still have a couple weeks to finish this piece before I need to submit it to one of the exhibitions.

I'm glad I got back to this one.  Since finishing the Heinz Field lino a week or two back I haven't gotten much done.  Part of that procrastination is coupled with the issues that I was having with this piece.  I find I step back when the an issue pops up multiple times and it really knocks me off course.  The issue of the red not printing properly really caused me to procrastinate on all my current projects.  Tomorrow though is a new day and I've already gotten my stuff together to start the next color of the "OT" (M "ot" el).  I've also bought some new unmounted lino to start some larger pieces.

I guess sometimes you just gotta get back on the horse to make it go forward again.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionprint #FU #FuelandFuddle #Pittsburgh #neon #sign

Looking back - 1st actual linocut - 4x5 Zebra

So as I am currently waiting for ink to dry and working on cropping photos for new projects I decided to post this old photo of my first ever actual linocut that I made on linoleum.  I had seen a similar image of a zebra somewhere and figured the best way to learn the carving process would be to find a simple black and white image.

I went through all of my photos from the zoos that I've visited and found an appropriate image from a couple years back from the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium of one of their old zebras.  I took the image into a photo editor and cropped it to look like the image I had seen.  What I did forget to do was flip the image...so when it's now printed it's in reverse of the original.  I really think that this was a good starting point, but it was going to be almost 2-3 years later when I would actually get deep into linocut and reduction prints.

#art #printmaking #linocut #zebra #wildlife #PittsburghZoo #zooforall #zebralinocut #justgettingstarted

Going to revisit an old friend.

Shortly after learning to do reduction linocuts I started to create a neon "M" from a vintage YMCA sign in Pittsburgh, PA.  Shortly into creation the project was cut short because the Sharpie lines had washed off (a problem I've never had).  I was a little upset because from what I had, the project was looking pretty good.  I had had issues with the inks I was using and really didn't like how they were laying on the paper and on top of each other.  Now that I've gotten a really good oil-based red I think I'm ready to give this one a go again....only larger.

The last attempt was 4x6 and this time I want to make an 8x10 out of it instead.  Tracing for this piece should begin sometime this week and the transfer to the block will occur shortly thereafter.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionprint #YMCA #M #neon #nextproject

Fuel and Fuddle - 2nd red application

 

So after my last semi-failed attempt at printing the red I decided to try and again.  I also chose to go a little darker than the first time by adding some violet to the red.  I was much happier with the color and managed to fix some of the failed attempts, but 2 other attempts still decided to not print.  I'm going to try just those 2 again fairly soon, but the ink is still drying.

 

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionprint #FuelandFuddle #Pittsburgh #Oakland #neon #sign

Ford Mustang linocut block

After searching around for a bit and going through older prints the only item I can find for the Ford Mustang lino is the block.  I don't normally throw away test prints, but apparently I did for this one.  Once I finish my blocks that are currently in progress I'll try printing this one again.

As you can see though, I cut the lino to watch the cars shape.  I'm not totally sure why I did that.  It looks to me now like a registration nightmare though I'm sure that I can find other ways to make it work.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #Ford #FordMustang #Mustang #cars