Goodies!

Yesterday I sent off for some printmaking supplies from TN Lawrences...this morning they arrived! What service!


So no excuses now...I have fresh ink, Zerkall paper to try out, two double-sided maple end grain blocks and a box of mixed offcut practice pieces. I'm dying to get cracking. Last night I finished the sky in my latest block and now just need to finish the figure, dog and ground, with a bit more light texture to the tree side. I also have my first block to print on the press; Charlie our Jack Russell.

Added to that, I found one or two old blocks in my archive that I might tinker with and reprint. You can see one below the press, on the shelf. It's a rendition of Trevethy Quoit in Cornwall, an ancient burial chamber. I also have a block showing a Spitfire plane, which I did as a bookplate for a friend who was well into WW2 aircraft. Might reprint that too as the only print I have is damaged.

(Please note, none of the blocks mentioned have ever been part of an edition, if they had , reprinting would be a no-no.)

But first, I have to finish my 'day job' work. And lunchtime's over...back to work!

An addition to the family!

Here's my new baby, courtesy of Jeremy at AMR in Kendal. It's a Farley proof press, with paper grippers and height adjustment on the roller. Perfick!

Just need to sort out a bench or stand for it; J thinks he might know of one.

So it's in the shed until I can clear the studio but I can't wait to start learning it's little ways. Hooray!

Woodblock latest and holiday sketches...

Here's the block as it stands at the moment...I've almost cleared those bloomin' branches! Making progress......and I have a printing press arriving soon, too! Jeremy at AMR has found me a Farley cylinder proof press and is going to clean it up and deliver it shortly. Here it is:

I'm looking forward to using it.

And the first couple of watercolour sketches I did on me hols...........