Theobroma cacao, hand painted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Theobroma cacao”, hand painted linocut

paper:  Rives BFK

Press:  Richeson Baby Press

Ink:  Daniel Smith water soluble oil based ink.

Cutting tools:  Speedball

linoleum:  Dick Blick Battleship grey on particle board.

Watercolor:  Winsor & Newton

Theobroma cacao, linocut, unpainted

This linocut titled, “Theobroma cacao” was designed and printed especially for the Chocopalooza Festival at Adrian High School.  Adrian High School alumni teamed up to exhibit artwork to be auctioned off during the event.  All proceeds will go towards the Adrian Public Schools.  

I plan to water color this over the weekend and have a finished piece by Monday.

“Theobroma cacao” is the latin name for the Cocoa Tree.  If you are familiar with cocoa trees you’ll notice the flowers are about 10 x their normal size.  That’s called artistic license.  I love the flowers on this tree and wanted to show them in more detail than I could if I put them in proportionally.  Inspiration to do this print came from the Theobroma cacao tree at Hidden Lake Gardens.

Night Heron, linocut, 7×8

 ”Night Heron”, Linocut, 7×8

This is the lino that I cut on the Friday of the Artalicious Festival.  

This design was originally tried as a glaze on a vase during a collaboration with James Freeman.  But the design melted during firing.  So here it is again in lino.  I really like this one.  I used Akua Color again and it is great.  I think I found a new ink.  The paper is Rives BFK.  I use a Richeson Baby Press for printing.  I’m not sure I will color this one.  I like it just the way it is…but who knows.  I change my mind a lot.  

The inspiration for this design comes from the AuSable River, the summer moon over Devils Lake, moonlight and crickets.

Nuthatch for Stubnitz and Artalicious Festival

I finished this print this morning.  It will be the last linocut that I do before the Artalicious Festival Sept 19th and 20th.  I almost called this print “Creepers” because that’s what Nuthatches do and because of the Virginia Creeper at the bottom.  

I’m off to the local frame shop now to purchase materials for framing.  I need to frame this and about seven others.  I’m framing three of these.  One is for the festival, one will be donated to the Stubnitz Environmental Center fundraiser in Adrian, MI and one is for my wife’s dental hygiene office at Dr. Lark’s Dental Office.

I chose to do this print because of my love of trees and birds.  I started a bark photograph collection a few years ago.  Whenever I go to Hidden Lake Gardens I stroll through the Conifer Collection to take photos of bark and pine cones.  I’m also a bird brained birder.  My dad inspired me to learn more about birds.  He has had bird feeders for as long as I can remember.  Now that he lives in Tennessee it’s more of a challenge for him because the Black Bears in his neighborhood are pretty crafty at tearing down feeders and destroying them.  Anyway, this Spring I purchased a “Petersons Birding by Ear” CD and that turned my curiosity into a full blown passion for birds.  This print will most likely be the first of many future bird prints.

Sanctity, Linocut, 8×10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a linocut that I finished back in June for a friend’s wedding.  The inspiration for this comes from various trips to Hidden Lake Gardens last Fall.  

The battleship grey linoleum was purchased from Dick Blick.  I used Speedball cutting tools.  The ink is water soluable oil based ink from Daniel Smith.  The paper is Rives BFK.  I used a Richeson Baby Press to make the edition.  I painted the dried prints with Winsor and Newton brand watercolor.  

My friend Jenna purchased the block so no more prints will ever be made of this.  I did save one artist proof for myself.  This proof will be on display at the Art-A-Licious Festival Sept. 19-20 and then again at Pentamere Winery in November.  After that it will be permanently displayed in my studio.

Nuthatch

“Nuthatch”, Linocut, 6×8

I plan on hand painting this when it is dry.  It should be ready to sleeve and or frame by next months Art-A-Licious Festival in downtown Adrian, Sept 19th and 20th.  I also plan on donating one of the prints to the Stubnitz Environmental Education Center fund raising auction on Sept. 27.

Art-A-Licious Image

I added the side and bottom text in Photoshop for the Art-A-Licious Festival.  This image might be used for a t-shirt design.

Chaloners

“Chaloners”, Linocut, 8×10 

 I finished this quick lino-cut on Friday.  Chaloner’s Tobacco store is in downtown Adrian and two doors down from the LCVA Gallery.  I’ve known the owners since the 80’s.  They are good folks and I love visiting them.  I buy my Fly Tyer Magazines there and always grab a bag of fresh popcorn and cold Coke.  I used to smoke cigars more than I do now, but I did have one this weekend.  My friend gave me a Classic Acid cigar and I have to admit it was pretty good.  I’m tempted to go out and buy a few this weekend, but they seem to taste better when they are free..ha!  Anyway, I did this for the Art-a-licious Festival this Fall.

Chicago Boulevard, linocut, 11×17

I finally finished painting this today.  The ink took a few weeks to dry before I could hand paint this….probably because the furnace has not been running and it’s not as dry in the house as it is in the winter.  The ink is water soluble oil based ink by Daniel Smith.  I only printed three of these because I dont have the room to dry such large prints.

The image is of The Boulevard Market in Tecumseh, MI.  I plan on giving this print to the owners Erika and John Aylward for being so supportive of my work.

 

 

Chicago Boulevard…digitally edited

I took a photo of my latest linocut and edited it in Photoshop.  I still plan on hand painting the original but I needed a working image for advertising purposes.  The Tecumseh Art Walk is this Friday, April 18, 7-9 PM.