Tuesday, November 25, 2008

"Twenty" - My Best Work?

Autumn flies into winter and no mistake!



Indoors I have finished engraving the block for the Society Of Wood Engravers portfolio.


With a larger block such as this, I use "Red" the 1902 Albion handpress:


Here is the block held firmly in the bed of the press and inked ready to take the first impression.


I am really very pleased with the first print pulled from the block. This is unusual for me as my heart usually sinks. Being pleased is a good thing. It still took five "states" before I was sure that everything was good. Here is the first printing of the final impression:


The various states are hung to dry:


It is time to print the edition of 100. The first twenty-five will go in the portfolios that will be offered for sale. Impressions numbered 26-50 will go to the artists and the remaining fifty will be available from me late in 2009.

The edition is to be printed on a particularly fine paper: The Edwina Ellis paper from the Zerkall mill in Germany. Each sheet yielded six prints. This called for some careful folding.


I then used a breadknife to cut the sheets giving a slightly ragged edge called "false deckles"



Here is the final engraving. A and J play the piano in our dining room. It measures 5 x 5 inches. Click on the image to view a larger version.
Other family members are suggested in the photographs atop the piano. The central "photograph" is just 6/8th inch across:


I am really pleased with this. Perhaps it is the best thing that I have done. Works that involve my family are always very important to me.

Outside, it is getting colder. My pots of Sempervivum contain remnants of snow:


Finally, a recent visitor that A spotted just outside the studio. A toad. It was happy to sit and pose and I plan to make an engraving from the photographs early next year.


Monday, November 17, 2008

Cards For Christmas

This year I am collaborating with A to produce a range of Christmas cards for sale.

They are printed by hand on "Red" the 1902 Albion Press from my original engraved blocks. We used 300gsm Canford card and each one has a high quality "Conqueror envelope.

The cards are blank for whatever seasonal message is required.

Here they are:



And here are the images in more detail:



These cards are available here