Woodblock Wednesday - advanced, week 1 (of 2)

Techniques that are "on the menu" include betazurie (flat uniform printing), bokashi (different types of graduated printing) and Kakenase, using dark pigment over light pigment for an impression of transparency -

Some of the class were drawing up and cutting their "mountain and moon" woodblocks, as we did last term, while Carol showed us kakenase (on the left) - possibly next week we'll do the hakkake and stencils (on the right) -

 First, "quite a lot" of white pigment is laid down, and printed -

 Then the dark pigment

once that's printed (over the white), more pigment, halfway

A line (ichimoji-bokashi) turns the mountain into a mountain behind the lake, which holds the reflection of the moon.

Over to us -

I'm using one of the unprinted blocks from the plates prepared last term. Simple cuts in the sky evoke clouds. At the moment I'm not interested in having realistic clouds - these abstract ones use the process, tools, and materials of mark-making, different gouges, and the wood itself ... the making uses the available materials and processes in a "natural" way.

Which is not to say they are under my control, quite...

The first print was done in indigo, and I hoped adding an ultramarine layer would even up the sky -

first layer

ultramarine added

The second print has an indigo bokashi at the top, and ultramarine mostly at the bottom -

On the third, I was trying to mask off some lighter "clouds" by laying torn paper on top of the pigment ... not terribly successful! -

And that's the extent of my actual printing!

After class, a walk over the hill to N8 (Alexandra Palace in the distance)

to check the garden - wallflowers out, tulips about to bloom, much weeding and replanting needed...

 and to hang out with the grandbaby -