It's been almost 3 weeks!

B - 8x8 Reduction Linocut - Complete!

It's been quite a while since I've had a chance to actually do some work.  First on my list was to finish the "B" neon that I've been working on.  I'm happy with the final product, but wish I had done a few things differently.

The only issue that I really have with the print is that the yellows that are printed have less contrast than even shown in this photo.  I feel I've taken some big steps in making the hardware for the neon look more realistic.

As good as the B print went, I then started printing the next color on the Utah landscape piece that I've been working on....things did not go as planned.

This is a detail shot of the newly printed light orange.  As you can see it did not adhere well to the print at all.  I'm really unsure as to what I'm going to do next with this piece now.  Next step may be to actually print white over the green and then try another version of light orange.

I always have issues with the yellow that I use and perhaps now it's time to actually move on from it.  It's generally very thick and when I use tack reducer to loosen it up it almost never works for me.  If you look closely down in the detail areas at the bottom you can also see where it filled in the carved areas and ruined this particular print.

I'm going to keep at this piece, but my happiness with it is not where it should be.

To add to my issues, my brayer that I use most has also acquired an issue.

Generally the brayer is not shiny, but when I grabbed it off the shelf today I discovered that the surface of the roller looked odd.  Parts of it were shiny and slightly tacky.  When I started to try and wipe it with a paper towel I found that it started to slightly pull it apart.  I did a full cleaning with vegetable oil, dawn dish detergent and simple green and managed to clean it all off, but after using it and cleaning it after printing...I discovered that the issue was back.....

Guess I have some looking to do for possibly a new brayer.

I have torn down some paper for a new 3x3 print and hope to start that sometime next week.

#art #printmaking #linocut #lino #linoprint #reductionlinocut #B #neon #brayer #printingprocesses #printingproblems #inkissues