I have been working on organizing my studio space. I threw away some old pieces of furniture and a lot of other stuff, but I still have a ways to go here.

Here are a few prints that I have proofed. they are not printed up to edition quality (though the framed one is good), but I thought I'd put up what I have.

Please take a peek at the print that I just posted on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8577262

It is this one:

I am asking $22 and $6 for shipping which is basically free when I consider how many hours went into this. I hope someone likes it.

I got this in the mail today

This is the new print

This is the drawing on the block for the larger kites and lightning print.

This is a new print with kites and lightning bolts. I am currently drawing out a large (9"x12") print with similar subject matter.

This is the current state of my press. Here is a list of things to get if you want to make one like this:

-A long 3/8" drill bit (like a foot long) $12 at Home Depot.

-4x4 or 6x4, do not mess with 2x4's

-a bench saw

-a good drill

-way more 3/8" 6" bolts than you think would need (the threading keeps getting messed up) and nuts and washer (3/8")

-a 6 ton car jack (Walmart has these cheap)

-Have HD cut a big 4'X8' piece of 11 ply plywood into 2'x4' sections that are managable for a bench saw

-I used 3 1/2 inch nails, no screws (they caused a lot of problems), and no glue.

_Various fasteners (HD has a great 3"x6" metal nail-in bracer thing that is great to drill the bolt holes through.

I'll add more as I remember

it broke like this

so I started fixing it like this

..and this is what it looks like now. I tried it and it seems to be working.

I fixed the broken part and reenforced it.

another image of my broken press

my press just broke

To much pressure. I need to add sturdiness to get the pressure that I need to make the prints I want to make.

Images of new press and alphabet print

This is my new homemade press with a block, the jack (6 ton) and a print.

This is my alphabet print matted (I didn't mean to make the Z backwards but I like it that way).

Press block and print

Looking a bit sturdier, but not there yet.

My new homemade press

It is not a thing of beauty, but it should work. I will post when I try it.

A lino block of the alphabet

This will take a while to cut, bt it is fun and should produce an interesting print.

Grand Canyon Images

I am sort of starting a stations of the cross project with block prints. I want to use my newish press so the lino will be unmounted. Also I am making an alphabet on a mounted block. The above pic is a bison in a pen at Mormon lake in northern AZ. Peace

This is me at a secret little stream in New Mexico. Some good friends shared their secret cool place with me.

Here is the finished print in a mat!!

here I printed the purple/pink color.

Here I cut another block that will add another color (this seems to work better for me than the reduction method. I chose purple but it was to dark so I ended up with a light purple/pink type color).

Here is the cut block and a proof print

This is my latest print in progress (in the drawing stage). Still working with Islamic patterns and Cubism (Juan Gris).

My work space.

Here are prints drying.

Here is the print.

This is the print with the block, I still need to work with registration.

My next print will include some Islamic patterns ( I researched them a bit on the net and practiced drawing them until I got the feel for them. I am combining the Islamic patterns with a bottle that has a Juan Gris feel to it. I like the combitionation of Islamic patterns and cubism (they seem to have an intuitive connection). I will continue to explore this connection and may add letters and numbers to future prints.

Here is the block with the drawing. I know where to make first stage cuts for reduction print, but it is not marked.

Here is the block cut for the first stage of my reduction cut. I outlined everything with a prismacolor marker so the pencil would not wash away.

here is the inked block

here is an inked block and the red first stage of my reduction print

I just put this print up for sale on Etsy (the last one sold sort of quick so I thought I would keep at it). I am doing open editions because I simply can't bring myself to destroy the carved blocks. Maybe I will try limited editions on the larger ones.

this is the block with the (proof) print. I place a pencil between them for size relationship.

this is a proof print of the large block that I have been working on.

This is a new registration system I put together ( may try some color reduction prints soon).

I put up my first item for sale at Esty today. This is the print:

I made it with good Daniel Smith ink and Japanesse paper, I only asked $5.00 since it is an open edition print (I am finding it hard to come to terms with the idea of destroying my blocks, it seems wrong to me, I may do mostly open editions).

this is a detail of the block

I finished the figure(!) Looks like this print will look pretty great.

3/4 done with cutting (it is going slow because of the detail).

Here I have the top half cut.

I started cutting on this block today, I will get more done tonight.

This a block that I am drawing on, it is 9"x12". I still have to finish drawing and then I will cut it. This will be my most detailed print so far.

I have some prints hanging from Buddhist prayer flags. You can enlarge it by clicking on the pic.

I found this nest with eggs in the pipe that lets the air out of my clothes dryer. I wish I could let them live there but it is unsafe. I put the nest in a nearby tree.

This is a larger pic of the print below

This is my first one with a figure, I may start doing more figures (I think this one works ok except for my lack of ability on the printing process- the cutting was pretty good). With my new inks and better papers I am confident that I will improve. The biggest thing is to complete 100 prints, that is when I feel like I will really be getting it.

I included this print with the block and tool for size relation

This is a box with some cut and uncut blocks and tools in my workspace.

This is my first experiment with reduction printing. I need more work to exploit the possibilities of this technique.

This is an image of the print in the step by step below, this includes the block and a cutter for size relation.

These are some of the tools I am currently using on my prints. I put in an order to Daniel Smith and I will be getting better ink soon, but I am pretty happy with the speedball cutters and brayer for now.

This one definetly needs more work but I printed it at this stage because it is small and easier to print. I put the shadows on the wrong side because I am still getting used to reversing everything. It can still be salvaged and made to look good though.

I need to use some better inks on this sort of print because of the fine lines. I have some Daniel Smith's inks coming this week and they will print better.

This is the print that I have the step by step pics for below. I was thinking of ying yang.

this is another pic of that reflection

This is a reflection off of my iron, I did not set this up, I just noticed it and grabbed my camera. I think it looks like some sort of moth or something. Click on the pic and you will see a blow up of it, the moth looks more interesting blown up.

This is me (with the guitar) and my buddy Brian at a good bye party to the House Studios (a Phoenix art space that fell to
gentrification).

New blog

I am just starting this today, I will start adding my prints as I photograph them and get comfortable with this blogging system.