With wineries all around, seeing the beauty of it all and not averse to
a nice drop, it only stands to reason to also translate it into images.
I intend - over time - to make more woodcuts with viticulture as a
theme. This series of pictures shows how to get from a photo in
the vinyard to a woodcut print.
Once I completed the design
on a piece of vellum I flipped it around and with carbon paper
transferred it to a block of solid kauri. Carving completed, including
the registration marks, I made a print of this keyblock on very
light paper. This print in turn was used to transfer the image to
a block of solid cherry (I had to try out cherry). I drew the leaves
straight onto this block for outlines, veining and dark accents. After
carving and adding the registration marks I pulled a print of that. The
colours were planned on that print and subsequently transferred to five
other blocks of kauri ply. I used the reverse of some blocks and even
one face turned upside down to save on the amount of blocks used. All
again with the corresponding registration marks. Then it was time
to pull a few proofs in order to adjust the registration marks,
where needed.
The
printing you see here was on paper which I
believe was too heavy for this particular print with watercolours
straight out of the tube as well as sumi ink and a fair deal of
frustration. But now, I have the right paper and the
right pigments - alas not the time. However in the next couple of
weeks I may even find some of that.
I
did find some time now. I had to mix up pigments, then prepare the
required colours and make one change to the outline of one leaf as well
as adjust the registration mark - kento - that was seriously out as can
be seen on one of the photos. So now it is printing time.
There
are not enough hours in the day to complete the planned edition of
forty prints. The first five blocks have been printed. All the prints
are kept overnight between moist newsprint ready for printing the final
two blocks the next day.
I
did plan an edition of forty but managed only 28 good prints and it took me two days of hard work to do just those.
However I wiil do another edition next week but with a lower
and lighter background and a lighter yellow ochre in some of the
leaves. Thus it will be two separate editions.
all pictures copyright © to acw ten broek
