NEW! - Racer Roller Coaster - Kennywood Park - Pittsburgh, PA

Racer - 16x34"

This has been a piece that I've been kicking around since mid-summer.  Wasn't sure whether I wanted to do something this big or not.  I have done two 18x24" pieces previously and though this one is 2 inches shorter in one way....it's also 10 inches longer.  It definitely one of the largest undertakings that I've taken since getting my Blick 999 press and this print is pretty close to my printing limits.

For those unfamiliar, the Racer is a 1927 dual "racing" roller coaster located at Kennywood Park, just outside Pittsburgh, PA.  There are two trains that are released at the same time and run practically side by side for most of the track.  At one point or another one of the trains takes the lead and whoever returns first to the platform...is obviously....the winner.  I've ridden this ride more times than I can honestly remember.  It's one of a couple iconic roller coasters that Kennywood has...the other two being the Jack Rabbit and the Thunderbolt.

The idea for a larger piece started this past summer when I delivered my Diner print to a show and the juror of the show commented that she thought that the print was going to be larger.  At the time I made the Diner print, it was not only the largest I had done at home, but it was also the maximum size that I could do at home and I was proud of it.  I drove home from the drop off that day thinking "I'll show you....I'll make something big....real big!!!!"  HAHA!

I just didn't know what.

I have reference photos of so many signs and even considered remaking one of my prints into a much bigger version, but also figured that wouldn't be much fun.  When I came across the Racer facade on a visit to Kennywood, it was lit just right by the sun so I took a pic and really didn't think too much about it.  I figured that I would make a print of it, but I wasn't really thinking about one this size.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionlinocut #signage #rollercoaster #racer #kennywood #pittsburgh #pa #printingprocess #biggestprojectever

Orange Ice Cream and some new projects

Ice Cream - 20x16"' - Shadow Orange

Got a lot of things happening and moving forward so first off is my current large project.  I wasn't sure how this piece was going and doubts usually start to form....then....you add in a color that adds a bit of contrast and most of those doubts disappear instantly.

This past weekend I printed this orange color which acts as the actual shadow on the cone and a faux shadow on the lattice work of the cone.  Thought not my initial plan, I discovered that I also liked how it looked as the shadow for the neon tubing that goes around the edge of the cone as well.

 

                                  

The addition of this new color has re-energized my excitement for this piece.  I've already managed to carve most of the lattice work of the cone and the major shadowed areas away.  There are a few little bits in between the actual Ice Cream letters that I'll have removed shortly.

Green Street - 8x10"

So I'm still slowly making progress with this piece.  As mentioned above there are times when doubts surface...this piece embodies that completely.  I recently printed the olive green that makes up the trees, bushes and grass.  I really thought that it was going to create an excitement, but instead I still see errors and areas that I'm unhappy with.  Keep in mind though that a lot of the colors that are going to add some contrast have yet to be printed. 

I still have 3 or 4 colors left to print on what has become one of the most difficult pieces I've ever attempted.  I'm hoping that the next color, a medium grey color, really makes this piece pop.  Guess I'll just have to wait and see....There is still hope though and registration has remained fantastic for this piece.

I've also been taking this block to work so that I can get it carved as quickly as possible.  I would like to print the next color as soon as possible so that I can see where this piece is headed.  =D

NEW Bottle caps!!!!

I little while back I completed a 3x3" Coca-Cola bottle cap for a show.  It was a fun little test that I wasn't sure how far I wanted to run with.  Well, I've been collecting bottle caps off of glass bottles sodas for a little while and finally decided that I wanted to expand my mini-print collection.

The Pepsi and Orange Crush were easy to find, but it took my wife and I going on vacation for me to run into the Dr. Pepper one.  Glass bottle sodas (pops) are not always easy to find these days, though they do appear to be making a small comeback.

These are practically ready to print.  I just need to cut the linoleum down to the proper size and begin the carving on them.

#art #printmaking #linocut #reductionlinocut #icecream #neon #disneyland #californiaadventure #lightandshadow #printingprocess #greenstreet #houses #bottlecaps #pepsi #orangecrush #drpepper #lino