This series of photos shows, transfering the design to the piece of plywood with tracing paper and carbon paper. The second photo shows the carving of the block. The third photo is of inking the block. Note that the same block can be inked with more than one color. The fourth picture shows the block and the print after going through the press. |  |
The photos above show how one block is made and printed. Usually, I use four blocks. The following photos show how the four blocks are printed alone and then together to make the print "In The Garden."
The first step is to make a colored pencil drawing or watercolor study of the image. Cut four pieces of birch plywood the same size as the study and each other. Stain them light brown so you can see where you have carved. Then trace the image on tracing paper, turn the paper over to reverse the design, and transfer it to one of four pieces of plywood using carbon paper. The key block is carved first, and usually printed last. It should contain the most details. Outlines of the all color areas should be left on the block at this point to transfer to the tint blocks and then some can be cut away before the edition is printed. After the key block is printed transfer the image to the other three blocks, the tint blocks, by offset printing. Print the key block on tracing paper and then carefully line up that print ink down on the next block and transfer the ink with a press or by rubbing with a wooden spoon. Repeat for each block.
Make a list of all the colors and make sure each color can be printed on one of the blocks. I use four blocks because I can print an area three times and leave it alone once to print up to it. Usually the first block prints backround colors and dark colors in the shadows, the second prints the overall medium tones, the third prints spot colors and highlights, and the fourth , the key block, prints the outlines and details.
You can make your own oil based ink by adding EXTENDER made by Graphic Chemical & Ink ( a link to them is on my printmaking links page) to oil paint. You can make it more transparent by adding WINTON OIL PAINTING MEDIUM made by Windsor Newton and more EXTENDER to keep it tacky. I used transparent white to print the snow on Winter Storm Warning, and transparent brown to print the water on The Trout so you could still see the bottom of the creek.