​Concept Development 1
​Concept Development 1

Early pen sketches.

Concept Development 2
Concept Development 2

Color digital sketch.

Concept Development 3
Concept Development 3

Color digital sketch.

Concept Development 4
Concept Development 4

Color digital sketch.

​Prototype Printing 1
​Prototype Printing 1

I wanted to make sure my color choices and technique were going to work. Before I made the final art I created a smaller prototype version.  

​Prototype Printing 2
​Prototype Printing 2

3-color prototype prints drying.
The technique I used here is called Reduction Printing. It’s a process of building up an image from lightest tone to darkest. I carved the block with an image, printed that image in the lightest color. I then clean up the block carve it again and print the next darkest color. In this case I repeated this process three times.

​Preparing the big block
​Preparing the big block

Sometimes I create a jig to hold the block steady while I carve. In this case the jig will also serve as a registration device when I print the multiple colors and need them all to line up.

Printing the first color
Printing the first color

Drying prints using the first (lightest) ink.

​Carving for the second color
​Carving for the second color

Here I’ve removed more of the block. Whatever I carve away will allow the first light blue to show through.

​Printing the second color
​Printing the second color

Drying 2-color prints.

​Carving for the third color
​Carving for the third color

Here I’ve removed even more of the block. Whatever I carve away will allow both the first and second colors to show through.

​Printing the third color
​Printing the third color

Drying 3-color prints.

​The finished product!
​The finished product!

Final print on Japanese paper.
Edition of four.
Image: 36" x 14"
Paper: 40" x 19"

​Concept Development 1
Concept Development 2
Concept Development 3
Concept Development 4
​Prototype Printing 1
​Prototype Printing 2
​Preparing the big block
Printing the first color
​Carving for the second color
​Printing the second color
​Carving for the third color
​Printing the third color
​The finished product!
​Concept Development 1

Early pen sketches.

Concept Development 2

Color digital sketch.

Concept Development 3

Color digital sketch.

Concept Development 4

Color digital sketch.

​Prototype Printing 1

I wanted to make sure my color choices and technique were going to work. Before I made the final art I created a smaller prototype version.  

​Prototype Printing 2

3-color prototype prints drying.
The technique I used here is called Reduction Printing. It’s a process of building up an image from lightest tone to darkest. I carved the block with an image, printed that image in the lightest color. I then clean up the block carve it again and print the next darkest color. In this case I repeated this process three times.

​Preparing the big block

Sometimes I create a jig to hold the block steady while I carve. In this case the jig will also serve as a registration device when I print the multiple colors and need them all to line up.

Printing the first color

Drying prints using the first (lightest) ink.

​Carving for the second color

Here I’ve removed more of the block. Whatever I carve away will allow the first light blue to show through.

​Printing the second color

Drying 2-color prints.

​Carving for the third color

Here I’ve removed even more of the block. Whatever I carve away will allow both the first and second colors to show through.

​Printing the third color

Drying 3-color prints.

​The finished product!

Final print on Japanese paper.
Edition of four.
Image: 36" x 14"
Paper: 40" x 19"

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