Another boaty block print!

This new linoleum block print is called Heading Out, and the perspective is from the cockpit of a small open sailboat on the west coast of Florida, heading for the pass. My source is a composite sketch of some video stills and photos of 21' Sea Pearls sailing with the West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron; possibly the perfect, small production sailboat for these waters. I just wanted to capture that joy in breezing up on a fine afternoon and having other sailors out there, sharing a glorious sail.

After my last multiple block magnum opus, this is only a one-block, one-color enterprise. (Thank goodness...)

I did a marathon carving session to get it done in time for the Roycroft jury; from 5:30am on a Tuesday morning, I managed to get it completely carved, proofed, carved some tweaks and then pulled a final proof print four scanning just before going out to dinner the next night to celebrate my anniversary on February 29th with my husband — a total of 14 hours of carving. Ow.

The next morning I dried the proof with a hair dryer, scanned it and sent the disk off, postmarked by the 1st of March. I already had my four required images ready, but I really, really wanted to include this one for this year's jury.

Approx. 10"x7"; this one is hand-pulled using a wooden letter opener and spoon to burnish. Oil-based umber ink on Hosho Japanese paper.

"Permission To Come Ashore?"

My latest color block print is finally ready and is now in edition! I've done several other projects in the last six months or so since I started this, but it's been a real education in carving multiple blocks, color mixing and registration on the press. Feeling pretty good about this one!

I've made the final color adjustments and printed the first six of 15 (including an Artist's Proof I'm keeping for myself for exhibitions). I sent a scan of a state to the Roycroft Artisan jury last month and there's a framed one of these currently in the Dunedin Fine Art Center's S+M Show but I'll really debut the final print next week at the Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival at Craig Park, March 31st-April 1st.

10"x8"; nine colors on five linoleum blocks. Oil based-inks on cream Rives B.F.K.