Harley Davidson Las Vegas Cafe Reduction Linocut - 3rd update

So here I am!  I just finished the remainder of the C and the E this afternoon.  I'm excited to get this one and started and will hopefully get to tearing down the paper tomorrow morning.  I also want to take a day or so away from what I perceive to be a finished initial carving and then come back at it using the reference photo and start verifying that it is actually complete.

 

Here are two detail shots of the initial carving (paper white).  Excited to get this piece going.

On other fronts though....I really need to print the black of the "OT" print to finish it.  I've become a little busy as of late and have other things going on so a couple different projects have taken a backseat to the rest of life.  I've got landscape images that I really want to start to take stabs at.  I want to learn how to them for a new challenge - I've technically made one already, but I really didn't like it very much and I'd like to do at least a 5-6 color reduction landscape.  Hopefully I'll get to that soon.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlinocut #HarleyDavidson #LasVegas #Cafe #Neon #Sign #Update

Harley Davidson Las Vegas Cafe - Carving update

Here's a small update on the initial carving for this piece.  I'm currently carving away all of the white areas (paper color).  The small areas in the letters are quite time consuming so it's taking a little bit of extra time.  I only have so many hours in the morning to work on this piece so I only get a little done each morning.

I did carve out some of the larger areas which lets me feel like I'm actually getting somewhere.  I'm also forcing myself to be very careful that I don't miss any areas and this also takes some additional time.

Here is a detail image of the "a".  For first time lookers...yes...it is backwards.  When printing, you flip the image so that it's backwards so that when the paper is laid on top and removed the image is now in the correct direction.  I'm also using a horizontally flipped image to help with the process of knowing what needs carved and what does not.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionlinocut #HarleyDavidson #LasVegas #Cafe #neon #sign

Harley Davidson Cafe Las Vegas - Reduction Linocut tracing transfer process

It took me a couple days to really have the time to work on this piece for more than 15 minutes, but I decided today that instead of working on my day off I was going to instead do some things around the house that included working on this block.

Below are some pics I took of the process.

 

The upper left (#1) is the finished tracing turned upside down so that the graphic side is in contact with the linocut surface.  Upper right (#2) is what the blocks surface looks like after a single running through the etching press.  The graphite transfers to the lino from the pressure of the press.

 

In these two images the upper left (#3) is where I'm checking the transfer.  I'm looking for areas that did not transfer well.  The "C" in cafe apparently lost a good bit of the graphite while I was tracing the rest of the image even though I took steps to prevent such an occurence.  For areas that seem weak, I very carefully place the tracing back down and rub those areas with a baren to try and assist the transfer.  The upper right here (#4) is the starting of tracing in permanent ink.  I figured since the "C" was already rather difficult to see that that's where I was going to start.  This way it wouldn't be ablet o fade any further.

This image (#5) is the continuation of the permanent ink tracing.  I have to be very careful where my hand lays while doing this.  I do not want to run off any of the loosely attached graphite.  I usually start at an edge and work inward.  As with most artists who use pastels, graphite, charcoal I lay down a sheet of paper under my hand to prevent smudging and/or erasing.

About 1 hour later this where we end.  I'll let this sit for a day or two just to make sure that the ink has had plenty of time to dry.  I'll also be looking for areas that I may have missed and areas that just don't look right.

If you look closely at the inside of the "C", there is a section that was so questionable that I skipped tracing it in ink.  My job now will be to try and freehand what is happening there.  It's mostly shadow and I'm sure that if I can't fix it no one, except those who see this post will realize something is missing.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlinocut #HarleyDavidson #LasVegas #Cafe #Neon

Cafe tracing is still progressing

Here's a current update picture of the Harley Davidson Las Vegas Cafe.  Trying to make sure that there are no areas that aren't under defined for when it transfers.  After I transfer these images to the linoleum there are areas usually that weren't properly defined initially which makes the tracing  in marker much harder than it should be.

I'm really trying to avoid those issues and to make sure that the neon tubing is straight and that it has consistent width.  Though I'm tracing, I am also free handing most of this drawing so it's still important that I get things correct the first time.

Work has been rather wacky this week and I've already gotten 28 hours in two days so time to work on my prints is probably going to be a little limited, but I wanted to get some kind of progress this morning.  I've erased and redefined some areas this morning as well as finished the "a" and got decent progress on the "f".  Now though it's time to get ready for work. =)

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlinocut #LasVegas #HarleyDavidson #Cafe #neon

Hey! Waitaminute....I thought this print was done?? FU & other updates

So.....yeah.  I guess it's not quite done yet.

Carved away the dark grey areas and the areas that now remain will be over printed with a yet to be determined color.  I'm just trying to remove some of the overall contrast from the piece that makes these parts look a bit sloppy.

After a week or so away from this piece though I do find that I like it much more than when I originally stated I was finished, but something still needs done with those areas.  Hopefully within the next week I can come up with what I want to do with this color and get this print completely finished.

I still tracing away at the neon Cafe that I started a little while back.  Progress on it has been slow since I've also been working on other projects (including the FU print from above).

Found a small error in the OT print and decided to try printing over it to get it back to where I feel it should be.  Didn't like the results after 1 print so I've decided that I'm just going to let it go as is.  It doesn't look bad and I simply missed the error while carving and printing.  Not really a big deal.

I have a 9x12 water lily lino that I've started carving.  The only issue with this piece is that I'm also making decisions as I go.  I prefer to have everything figured out before hand, but while working on it I've also been looking at other floral linocuts which have been giving me ideas.  I'm sure it'll all work out....the image is the same image I've used for a test print a couple years back.

I've been looking at landscapes lately and I really want to take a stab at them again.  My last one left a somewhat sour taste in my mouth as it didn't turn out nearly as nice as I hoped.  I've been looking at others and have so many trips from my trip to Nevada, Utah and Arizona last September as well as other images from around where I live in Pennsylvania.  They are somewhat of a challenge for me, but that's no reason not to keep trying.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionlinocut #studioupdates

Rhythms - Juried Exhibition - Greensburg Art Center - Greensburg, PA

 

Got the call the other day that two of my prints had been accepted into a juried exhibition in my hometown of Greensburg, PA.

I submitted 3 pieces and thankfully two of them got accepted.  Bought my frames last night and have to run and get some mat-board properly display them.

Woohoo!

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionlinocut #exhibition #GreensburgArtCenter

Carving the Orange out of the OT lino

Above are some pics that I took while carving away the entire background for the "OT" block.  It took approximately 45 minutes to remove the entire background.

I start with the smallest gouge that I have and go around the areas that I'm not carving first so I can create some type of line to follow.  I'll usually carve with that tool twice - the second pass is usually carved just to create additional space between the area that is going to be carved and the area that's going to be printed next...don't need any slips or mistakes.

I did notice a small mistake that was made earlier and I'm going to attempt to fix it before proceeding with the black.  I accidentally did not carve an area that was intended to be light violet/purple, but since I forgot to carve it...it's now orange.

OT Neon Reduction Print - Update - New background

So after not being thrilled with the last background color I decided to re-mix and print again.  I got a much smoother surface this time and the color is bit brighter, but not too much.  I actually like the color better now.  The original color grew on me, but I still tried to create a lighter and much brighter version of orange.  After mixing it up though, I decided that I did not like it and used some of it to create the color that I now have (it was actually fairly red and I did not want that).

I now have a lot of carving to do with this block and then I can print the final color.  I actually have to carve away almost the entire background.

#art #printmaking #reductionlinocut #linocut #lino #neon #sign #shadows #orange

Finally complete! FU reduction linocut

8x10 Reduction Linocut - 16 Layers

Well, it's finally complete.  I'm happy that it's done and see a lot of good things in it, but I'm not completely happy with the end result.

I learned quite a bit while doing this piece, but wound up carving too much at points or carving areas that shouldn't have been carved.  I'm really, really happy with the yellow neon tubing.  It turned out incredible with the variations of shadows on it.  The yellow tubing could've been a little more yellow though.  The first couple layers really went down wonderfully, but once I made the hiccup by forcing the block through the press when I couldn't see what the problem was, the problems just started to build up on me.  16 layers is quite a lot for someone who hadn't printed that many before.  Still have some nuances to learn before trying something like that again.

Even though I'm very critical of it at the moment, I'm sure that in a couple days or a week or so I'll be able to look back at it more objectively.  I literally just finished printing and cleaning up after it.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlinocut #neon #PittsburghPA #FuelandFuddle #woohoodone

Fuel and Fuddle neon sign final color!!...almost.

 

Ssssssooooooooooo close.

Yet not close enough.  Used a previous dark grey from the Oaks Theater print this morning and added some white and black so that I wouldn't run out of the color before printing ended.  I printed a proof and then a second proof (which I cut apart to use as a mask) and printed on one of the prints that will not make it into the edition.

Once printed I discovered that I didn't really like the dark grey and felt it needed to go darker for me to be happy.  Unfortunately for me, I started too late and even now I'm in the process of getting ready for work.  The ink is now completely pre-mixed and ready to go.

I should have this print finally completed on Thursday morning.

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

Sky Blue and 1 color to go!

Got around the printing the sky blue color for the FU neon print.  Last week was very hectic at work and didn't really allow me much time outside of working, sleeping, getting ready for work and rinse & repeat.

Realized this morning that I was down to 5 days until this piece and 2 others need to be submitted for a juried exhibition.  Hoping this blue dries fast as I need to print the dark grey probably in 2-3 days from now.  Shouldn't be a problem though.

It'll be an accomplishment to get this piece finally complete.  It has truly tested my skills and patience.

#art #printmaking #lino #linocut #reductionlinocut #print #neon #FU #patience #almostdone #PittsburghPA

Cafe - 9x12 Reduction Linocut - Harley Davidson Las Vegas Cafe

 

Started a new 9x12 reduction print today.  This piece is from the Harley Davidson - Las Vegas Cafe on the Strip.  I was interested in doing the whole sign, but I don't have access currently to a press that would allow me the option of doing a very large piece.  I instead decided to focus on the Cafe part of the logo.

I also have some other shots from Vegas that are currently in my folder of things to work on, but this one may take a while to trace so I'm just going to work on this one before beginning another.

The "OT" is still drying and the "FU" print is ready to go, but with limited time this morning and a good bit of humidity in the air I've decided to hold off on printing.  I have a little over a week to submit my works for the upcoming juried exhibition so I can't hold off for too long.

#art #printmaking #lino #linocut #reductionlinocut #LasVegas #HarleyDavidson #Cafe #neon #sign

Orange OT - not quite as planned

Printed the next color for the OT print which was orange.  I mixed up a beautiful orange that I was very happy with.  Unfortunately, their is almost always some transparency.  It took this beautiful redish-orange and turned it into something darker and not so pretty.  I will probably now have to wait for the ink to dry and try again by adding some white to a red-orange mixture in hopes of getting what I wanted.

The image above has been modified in Photoshop to try and get the actual color and not the color my camera was seeing.  Even this color is not as dark and dull as the one on the paper, but it's much closer to reality.

The picture below is my setup I made so that when I woke up I would have everything ready.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #reductionlino #print #orange #nottherightcolor