an extra layer of colour

This was a bit of an experiment. I printed the Goldfinches onto a more textured paper (Hahnemuhle) than the smooth white Zerkall printing paper that I usually use to give a more open and less densely inked finish. I then hand-tinted the beech and hawthorn leaves and branches with Rohrer & Klingner antique drawing ink in Ginster, Payne's Grey and Astoria Brown. A very relaxing painting exercise.  

Goldfinches amongst the beech and hawthorn

I love these small but striking finches. Unlike many bird with interesting plummage the females and males have equal dibs on the glad rags so they make quite a sight when seen together on the bird feeder or in the hedgerow. This latest lino print will soon be in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

Nearly there...

Phew my latest print is nearly complete. So far I've hand cut three lino blocks, one for the buff colour, one for the red and the yellow and a third for the black. I've printed a few on newsprint just to check the registration, made a few tweaks here and there and printed the buff, red and yellow on good paper. I've just finished cutting a few unwanted high points off of the black block so am ready to do the next and final inking. I'm really tempted to do it now but the red & yellow aren't quite dry so fingers crossed for a quite hour or two in the morning to get this done.

a very short film for monday - cutting the lino

I've been meaning to film a bit of the lino cutting process for a while but only remembered as I was towards the end of cutting this one. Probably a good thing as is took over 5 hours. So here's 60 seconds worth,  at double speed.

PAH - run out of lino

I'm eagerly waiting the postman for a fresh supply of lino. In the meantime here is my simplified sketch for the planned goldfinch print.