Year Of The Tiger Print

The official (for me) Year of the Tiger print for the Baren Forum Chinese New Year's Card Exchange. I had delusions of color, but decided I liked the black and white image just fine. I have two more tigers carved, in woodblock and test printed. This Bengal tiger is the one going to travel around the world, however. (If you want a tiger to travel to your house, drop me an email and I'll send one packing as soon as I get the exchange prints on their way.)

The Exchange Rules:

Baren Forum began sponsoring its annual New Year's Card Exchange for the 2000 new year and has continued this popular exchange in each subsequent year. The exchange prints are to be designed around that year's Chinese Zodiac Animal. Each year, members sign up by providing their name and mailing address, then print and mail a card to every other participant by mid-February of the new year. Prints should be hand-pulled, about 4 x 6 inches and may be in any media (not limited to woodblock). There is no 'moderator' -- you are on your honor to mail a print to each person on the list just as each of them are on their honor to mail one to you.

4" x 6" Lino block print
Hand rubbed with wooden spoon on Masa paper
Daniel Smith water-soluble relief ink - Lamp Black
Open edition

The Art Furor Continues

Another day, a new painting. A housewarming gift for a friend and his wife. Also a late wedding gift. :) Hey, you can't rush art. Or some artists, it seems.

I think I've also forgotten how to photograph paintings. I did remember to cover the flash to reduce the glare from the varnish, but it left me with a funky red glare in the middle. Ah well. I'm just happy to have a digital camera and instant gratification.

Big Horn Autumn
16 x 20 Acrylic on Canvas


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Lino Block Print of the Month - February

In response to a challenge from a friend - and to take a break from carving other prints - I did this lino print in a few hours. It was drawn directly on the block, carved and printed as soon as it was finished. The carving took the majority of the time, as my hands got tired quickly working on the unmounted linoleum. It wanted to buck and buckle and leap out of the bench hook at the most inopportune times. But several cut fingers later (Note to self: Keep tools sharp!), I was ready to print.

The carved lino block - 8 x 10 inches

The objective was to 'go with the flow' so to speak, and not be so uptight about the art. The drawback of being a drafts(wo)man, is getting anal at times about sketching and drawing. No guts, no glory with this print. Marker to block, and carve away. Scary, and a little bit traumatic, but I seemed to have survived. Will I make it a habit? Um, a definite maybe?

Finished print 9 x 12 in
Black water soluble ink from Graphic Chemical
Hand rubbed on unbleached mulberry paper
with a bamboo baren and wooden spoon
Open Edition

Inspecting For Aliens Part II - The Landscape

Last week was devoted to the wildlife I see in our occasional outings to the remote regions of my part of Wyoming. While the eagles are always inspiring, the scenery plays a big part in my fascination with Wyoming.
At times otherworldly, even in the winter it can be beautiful and scary at the same time.
From sweeping vistas
To oddball little details like frozen foamTo the obligatory image for my neck of the woods.
There's wildlife and other things Out There, hiding in the treesbehind red hills
At the foot of the Tower

and between little clumps of dried up grasses
Of course, the military is out there too, checking behind every shrub and pine, scanning the skies for nefarious doings
While missing out on the strange beauty
of a late afternoon

in rural Wyoming

where all roads lead to a far distant horizon.



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