January 14, 2016 - "Moo! - Boo!"

While visiting the Amish petting zoo, I made several quick sketches and took a few pictures with my phone.  I've enjoyed revisiting these images with the hope of carving a relief block or two, doing a painting or some form of mixed media image for a card. 

Cow sketch - original.  Pencil on 300 series tan Strathmore paper.

The image of the cow nicely filled the 4" x 6" Speedball relief block, so I decided to start there with the sketch, transfer, carved block and print! 

Cow sketch #2 - original

The first cow sketch captures the docile nature of the zoo cow.  Although there are only minor differences, the second cow sketch brings a whole new persona to "the cow."  Doesn't she look mischievous?  I am not sure what I was thinking about when I sketched her, but these two could be the good side/bad side of a cartoon cow making a decision......hmmmm. 

White on white relief print - White Daniel Smith water soluble relief ink on Stathmore 400 series printmaker paper.  Note that some of the graphite remaining on the block migrated into the white ink. 

The third image on this page is actually a relief print that is white on white.  Because the sticky white ink was rolled onto a recently carved block with the soft graphite transfer remaining, the ink picked up some of the graphite remains.  So, now in this triptych we have good cow, bad cow, ghost cow......I guess that means bad cow won!

January 13, 2016 - giraffe 2 - #3

It's fun to experiment with the same relief print on different types of paper.  Below, the first image could stand along as a very simplistic giraffe image.  It involves only 2 materials in addition to the carved block:  one color of ink and toned paper.  The second print is on a little higher quality paper, and the addition of a little more giraffe-like color.  The third image is on a paper with a little more texture and includes even more added color.  Each image could serve a different purpose. 

Strathmore makes two readily-available toned papers; tan and gray.  I frequently pull proof prints on the tan and practically never pull a proof (or do a sketch, for that matter,) on the gray. 

 

Giraffe #2 - Relief print using sepia Ranger ink on 300 series tan Strathmore paper.

I am also partial to mixed media papers, and as you can predict, my favorite at this point in time, is Strathmore.  I am keenly aware, however, that products can change, both in the way they are manufactured AND in the way they maintain (or not) their integrity, over time.

I recently read the blog of a teacher I worked with at Minnesota Center for Book Arts, who has recently shifted her thinking about a sketchbook she has recommended for several years.  She is often looked to for review and critiques of products and materials, and maintains her non-affiliation to each product line.  To check out her January 11th review about Fabriano Venezia journals, check this link:  www.rozwoundup.typepad.com/  

Giraffe #2 - Relief print using Ranger sepia ink on 400 series Strathmore mixed media paper.  Color enhanced with FW  acrylic ink.

Roz's blog is very organized, as well, so if you are looking for additional product reviews of papers, inks, or water-soluble pencils, gouache paint color integrity, etc., check her sight.  From time to time, she also recommends one of my favorite art supply locations, Wet Paint in St. Paul, Minnesota.   (I am also partial to the Blick in Edina, Minnesota primarily because of the fabulous team in the design center!) 

Giraffe #2 - Giraffe relief print on 300 series Strathmore watercolor paper (notice the texture of the surface,) using Daniel Smith relief ink, FW acrylic ink and black India ink. 

January 12, 2016 giraffe 2 - #2

Giraffe #2 - Final stages of carved block with tools and removed materials visible. 

As you can see, I did make the decision to remove the excess block material and plan to repurpose this piece. 

Giraffe #2 - Block ready to pull print #1, with tools and removed material.

Notice in the image above, the variations in the width and length of the removed pieces.  The differences in width are the result of using different carving blades.  The narrow, shredded-cheese-appearing pieces have been removed using "V" blade #1.  The larger, square-shaped strips, have been removed with the ""U" shaped #6 blade.  If you are using these higher number blades, note the subtle differences between blade # 4 and blade #6.  The impact on the printed image can be profoundly different, depending on which of these choices you make. 

Giraffe #2 - Relief print #3 using Ranger sepia ink on Strathmore 400 series mixed media paper.  Note there are still a couple of stray ink marks that indicate material in the open areas needs to be removed. 

January 11, 2016 - Giraffe 2 - 1st full

The first image below, is the original sketch on the second giraffe relief print. 

Giraffe #2 (Como herd) - 6B pencil on 400 series Strathmore tan paper. 

Giraffe #2 - Relief block.  Image has been transferred and carving has begun.

Giraffe #2 - Nearing completion of the carving of the Speedball relief block.  Carving tool to the left, blade choices above and portions of the removed block to the right. 

The decision will still need to be made about the block material in the upper left hand corner.  As I have mentioned in earlier posts, even when carving larger areas like this, the slightest elevations tend to print and leave what appear to be random, stray marks in the final prints.  There are really three advantages to simply removing the material:
     1.  It's faster than carving, line by line
     2.  Each inking of the block prints cleanly in the upper right hand corner of the image
     3.  A small image can be created for printing with the surplus block material

Caution:  After meticulously carving the image, it is easy to damage the edge where the removal of the material will take place!

January 10, 2016, giraffe 1 - #3

Although created several years apart, you have the opportunity to view two versions of the Como mother giraffe as if they were created yesterday and today.  I spent so much time studying the new baby while I was visiting the zoo to create the second image, that I think many of the features in image #2 look like the youngster.  If the female giraffe has picked up anything from her female admirers, she will be very happy  to look so much younger than a picture made of her two years earlier! (how's that for the ultimate personification????)

Giraffe #1 - Sepia ranger ink on Strathmore 400 series mixed medial paper and painted with watercolor paint and enhanced with black India ink using a Pentel pocket pen. 

I was careful to render both images using the same materials on the same, or similar paper, so that it is the visual image that can be compared, and not the medium or technique. 

Giraffe #2 - Sepia ranger ink on Strathmore 400 series mixed media paper and hand painted using watercolor paints.  Black India ink enhancements added using a Pentel pocket pen. 

Notice that the large forehead protrusion so visible on a male is much smaller on this particular female.  These giraffes are all from the same subgroup.  The variations in markings from one group to the next are varied.  The brownish markings on the males at the Naples Zoo, for example, are much larger and have a lighter spot in the middle of each - different species of giraffes  than the Como herd.  I wonder if their predators can distinguish one from the other??

January 9, 2016 - giraffe 1, #2

The previous giraffe enclosure at Como allowed distant viewing outside and fairly up close, and personal viewing inside - if any of the giraffe family WAS inside.  The female of the group had a tendency to grab a bite of food, then chew away while staring you down.  She could chew for a VERY long time, so the staredown was lengthy.  Since this behavior was so much a part of her routine, I decided I would go with that image.

Como Giraffe #1 - Ranger sepia ink on golden paper.  Black micron ink used to enhance image.  White FW acrylic ink used for highlights.  "Giraffe" made using lettering stencil and black micron pen.

The print below is actually the second or third proof in a sketch book.  As you can see, part of the page is covered with a smear of white gesso.  Although her markings were not black, I like the contrast of this image much more than the one above that is truer to her coloring. 

Como Giraffe #1 - Black Ranger ink on tan Strathmore paper, covered with a thin coat of white gesso.  Color added with Derwent Inktense pencils activated with water and resist created with a white China marker. 

Como Residents - A Mainstay

Some of the best featured animals at the Como Zoo, in St. Paul, MN, are the giraffes. The  park has recently made improvements to the giraffe enclosure and featured the arrival of a baby born at the zoo. 

Giraffe #1 - Pencil sketch on hand gridded tan Strathmore 300 series paper.

Above is an early sketch I did of the mother giraffe several years ago.  She seemed much calmer when I sat to sketch her at that time - perhaps she is such a cautious mother now that she is never at ease.....hmmmm.   I decided to try the sketch into a relief print early in my printing trials, and she was actually helpful in encouraging more "critter" prints. 

Giraffe #1 - Relief print using Daniel Smith black relief ink on tan 300 series Strathmore paper. 

 By creating a straight-on image of just the head, however, I think the most "giraffe-like" features are not present, such as the long neck, cow-like tongue and jaws, and of course the towering height.  My next giraffe relief print attempt, several years later, addresses the jaws and elongated cowish head features, but still doesn't get to any aspects of the height.  I think a larger canvas, with paint, would better address the more giraffish characteristics missing in both relief prints.......haven't started one yet, but.....stayed tuned!