Carving Lincoln’s Pursuit (48” x 36”) in my Dover Plains studio.
Once a year, I return to the source technology and the source imagery used in my paintings—woodblock prints. This is a logical transition because my paintings look like woodblock prints. Woodblock printing technology has not changed in centuries. There are no software updates!
It takes a while to create a reversed drawing. Lines can’t be too thin. Expansive black areas scratch easily. Carving a 3 x 4-foot cherry veneer plywood block takes about three months. A pause between carving sessions allows time to find and correct errors and sweep the floor. In 2018, I honed my printmaking skills and found skilled craftspeople to walk me through the process.
Lyell Castonguay and Carand Burnet of BIG INK, LLC transport a large mobile press capable of printing blocks up to 40 x 90 inches to art centers across the US. Their online lessons cover all aspects of creating large woodblocks. Six to eight participating artists team up to handle the press and paper. We proofed “Lincoln’s Pursuit at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH, in June 2019. The link below will bring you to the BIG INK archive, where you may buy this artist's proof.
See the printing process in this Instagram video clip.
Lincoln’s Pursuit, 2019, edition of ten, 48” x 36” block, printed with Lyle Castonguay at his studio in Newmarket, NH. Photo by Carand Burnet.
The short video below summarizes the work involved with completing the edition: trimming, numbering, title, signing, chop emboss and finally bagging.
I'm excited to be a part of the first ever Black Ink Weekend. My piece entitled 'Lincoln’s Pursuit' is featured alongside hundreds of other beautiful woodblock prints. Purchase my work from BIG INK. Fill your walls with awesome artwork and support this great project!