
Would you like a print? (AKA a tiny little giveaway)
I’m learning how to print and Theo is just not impressed with me. 🙂
But me? I’m impressed with myself even if only a little.
Just after Art in Action I decided I’d love to try printing lino cuts, so I gathered some papers, bought a brayer and some sepia printing ink and decided to look up some techniques on YouTube and visit artist’s websites.
It soon became apparent that it was also necessary to have a heavy burnisher for transferring the ink to the paper.
Robert said, “will this piece of brass do?” I said it would be so perfect if only there was no danger of snagging the paper on the rough edge.
Robert said, “There you go, there’s the lathe!”
(Gulp)Are you kidding me?
Actually, he’s the greatest! He started the process for me, got me to have a go once he had it going so I could say I had a hand in the design of my wonderful new burnisher and finished it for me expertly bevelling all edges. It would win first prize for the smoothest thing in the smooth thing competition.
So today, this is what my studio table looks like. (Actually it looks much worse, this has been cleaned ever so slightly so you can see there’s a real table under there.)
These printing blocks are Robert’s mother’s wonderful 1950s plates.
I thought they were lino cuts, but underneath the paint, they are solid, probably lead.
And here is my window sill and radiator. Oh, can’t see them? That’s because I’ve been practising and I won’t stop till I have at least 20 good images that I like.
It’s actually trickier that I thought. There’s a fine line between too much ink and not enough. There’s a fine line between too vigorous a burnishing and too light.
And then, some of the plates are very fine lines and some very solid and some have fine and solid lines mixed up. There doesn’t seem to be a one rule fits all here.
And then I will hurry up and try for different papers before I even know what I’m doing…lol
So if you’re not like Theo and are a little bit impressed and would like to have a 1950s print or two in sepia ink, then tell me and I will send it out to you. 🙂
Unless you’re Chloe and then you have to wait till I get back. 🙂
julochka
yes, please, count me in! and i’m so impressed with your lathe work!! well done! and how awesome that you could use those vintage blocks! swoon!! i’m sure you’ll be carving your own lino cuts soon (i have several blanks myself that i’ve never gotten around to using) and i can’t wait to see those!
Veronica
Ok, Julie, will send them out to you. 🙂 Found your addy.
michellepond
Just like an athlete, you have to practice to develop a feel for the amount of ink and the burnishing. They look wonderful. I’d love to have one.
Veronica
Michelle, email me your addy veroth@shaw.ca 🙂
Gerry Wilson
These are gorgeous! Of course I want one. You’ve been trying some adventurous art-things lately. Makes me want to get my paints out! But then, when would I write? I would want to do ONLY that. Or knit. Or try something totally new, that I’ve never done before. See? How diffuse I’d get? So I’ll leave the art to you, Veronica. Seriously, these are lovely.
Veronica
Thank you Gerry, email me your addy veroth@shaw.ca 🙂
Gerry Wilson
Done. Thanks!
Marian
Me too! Absolutely beautiful! What a great talent your building, you make me feel motivated!
Veronica
Hi Marian, how lovely to have a link to your blog; now I can come visit you. 🙂 Do you feel comfortable emailing me your addy? veroth@shaw.ca 🙂
www.reddancerstudio.com
These are great. You seem to have the hang of the inking and the burnishing. Lucky you to have the blocks.
Marrianna
Kate North
I’d love to have one! I particularly like the one on the text background, but will happily accept anything…
Veronica
Fantastic, Kate! Msg me on FB or send me your addy to veroth@shaw.ca. 🙂
Kristi
I’d love a print! These are so cute! Love them!
Veronica
Hi Kristi 🙂 Send me your addy to veroth@shaw.ca.
rarasaur
Are you mailing to the US, too? Because you know I’d love one! xo!! 🙂
Veronica
For sure Rara. 🙂 Send me your addy on FB or to veroth@shaw.ca.
Daryl
i would love a print on a book page .. how fabulous .. when i was in school (I went to the HS of Art & Design) we did lino prints and wood block prints .. and we did our own wood and lino cutting .. it was great fun, lino is easier but wood is more challenging and prints (in my opinion) cleaner …
Veronica
Terrific Daryl, send me your addy to veroth@shaw.ca and I’ll send out some prints. 🙂 How very exciting, I’m sending my amateur attempts to a HS scholar! Oh, you know what? At Art in Action was a printmaker who carved this most beautiful wooden stamp of a wind-blown tree. It was in a huge piece of oak about 4′ by 2′ and about 3″ think. I so wanted that carving to hang as a piece of art!
Jennifer Chow
That’s really neat! You’re so creative. If you’re shipping out to the US, I’ll take one, too 🙂
cecilia
What a find, those cuts look fantastic, I would love one. Maybe I could give you my son’s address, canmore AB and then it won’t cost much to send them there, He will bring them over when he visits soon. What an excellent idea. Thank you. c
Sara v
Printing has always fascinated me. Those are lovely stamps too. A nice variety. And I think it’s awesome that you were printing them on book pages, makes it all the more interesting! 🙂 I’ll just save you in my inbox to look and enjoy <3