Magpie

 Much maligned and not everyone's favourite bird but an absolute gift for a printmaker. Given the subject matter probably not my most saleable print.

Magpie

190mm x 170mm

6 layer reduction linocut.

Edition of 10

1st Proof

 

A more experienced engraver than myself would have known not to bother taking a proof from the plate at this stage. I still find it hard to look at the image engraved on the plate and judge how it will look on paper. A mezzotint plate always looks more finished than it really prints. 

Fieldwork

 A couple of pages of drawings made yesterday at the RSPB St Aidens reserve in the Aire Valley between Leeds and Castleford.

Black necked Grebes, Pen and Ink and Pencil and Watercolour.

Moorland Bridge

 

Moorland Bridge

Wood Engraving (on Maple Wood)

100mm x 75mm

Edition of 50

Printed on 145gms Zerkall Smooth with Hawthorn Printmakers Dense Black Ink.

This simple but elegant footbridge stands beside the Pennine Way footpath about quarter of a mile north of Blackstone Edge Reservoir.

Starting a new print

 On one of our regular local walks exploring the moors near our home. My daughter Carly and I came across this little stone bridge crossing the feeder canal to one of the moorland reservoirs. I made a quick pen and ink sketch and then back home in the studio made a more careful pen and ink scraperboard cartoon in reverse ready to transfer to the Maple wood endgrain block. The final photo shows the block with the newly started engraving.

Pen and Ink field drawing

Reversed drawing the same size as the wood block in pen and ink on scraperboard.

The newly started engraving.

3rd time lucky

 

Sunny Bank Farm

Linocut

296mm x 209mm

Edition of 9

I finished this linocut earlier today, the first lino print I've made since last summer. Having spent the autumn and winter months working on wood engravings and a mezzotint. This is a subject that has taxed me to say the least though.After two previous failed attempts at making a print of this ruined farm I've wasted more ink, lino and paper on this crumbling pile of stones than any other subject I've tackled. Finally I have an image I'm happy with.

Stepping Stones

 

Stepping Stones

Wood Engraving on Maple 

100mm x 75mm

Edition of 30

Printed on 145gsm Zerkall smooth with Hawthorn Printmakers Dense Black Ink, completed 12th February 2021.