HOME | DD
mouse2cat — Devotional
Published: 2009-04-07 14:26:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 3399; Favourites: 77; Downloads: 77
Redirect to original
Description
So this is the monster that I have been slowly chipping away at for an entire semester. This is a lino relief print and it is the most difficult piece I have ever done. It is 18"x36" printed on kitakata paper. It is as photographically accurate as I could make it. I tried to carve every twig.Reference image kindly provided by Hint of Plum on flicker
[link]
Related content
Comments: 47
At first I thought those were little bunnies in the tree, but then I saw it was snow :\
I'm surprised that those little lines can hold up in a press
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I have found that lino holds small lines very well. because it is softer and has some give it is more likely to bend then break. If you have had bad results printing lino I would make sure you are using artist grade battleship grey linoleum and don't use more pressure than you need to print.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think my problem it that my blocks were a tad old and dried out. I have't used battleship grey yet, but I'm gonna get some for my next print. Its the only one that comes in the size I need anyways x__x
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The battleship is great. I think you will really like working with it.
Old blocks will sometimes become problematic they get "stale" and dry. I haven't done enough experimenting with it but I have noticed that after printing the oils from printing and cleaning seems to rejuvenate the block a bit. If you have some old lino scraps that you have had these problems with it might be an interesting experiment to oil them and see if that solves some of their problems and softens them enough to work with...
My main issue with older blocks has been that they seem to acquire more surface texture. So it is harder to print smooth flat colors.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yea, I'm having that problem with one of my small blocks, which sucks cause it's part of a bigger piece :\
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Good luck with that. I have gotten very affordable linoleum from Dick Blick Online. I hope you have good printing!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
this is absolutley insalnely amazing. staring at it leaves me with mo words...all the effort really shows!!! keep it up
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you so much. It means a lot to me when people say things like that
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
same here 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
So much detail! My hand hurts in empathy for you. Wonderful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you! After a while you get tougher fingers. I got to the point I could carve for 5 hours straight without any pain.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow. I can't imagine. I have never carved that long straight.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
when it's due for class suddenly you discover hidden reserves of energy lol
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
you are a genius and I envy you your skill and patience
I also worship you for it and thank you HUGELY for sharing your work with us lesser mortals
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow Thanks for the high praise! I hope you like my future work as much
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
sure to!
P.S. I do plan to watch you but I am in the process of switching accounts right now
(;
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is intense. SUPER INTENSE. The whole image is magical. And to cut all that! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I affectionately call that one "Crazy Tree" because it is nuts. I find working with trees in printmaking a satisfying subject because they are always beautiful and evocative.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Beautiful. As good as the cutting is on the bottom (and it really is incredible stuff), all of the white on the top is arguably just as important. Good format choice.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You are absolutely right and it took me quite a few that didn't have enough room at the top to realize that's what it needed.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
this is an incredible piece! well done! god that must have taken forver! it turned out beautiful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
OMG it really did take forever. You have no idea how happy I am to see it done at last! Thank you
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow wow wow. Lino?? You are insane. I would never have the patience for that. This looks really lovely. Well worth all the effort.
If you're ever selling work, lemme know. I probably can't afford anything, but I'd still like to know.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Lino was more reasonable than wood. Heck I don't have the patience for it either I only learned that too late.
You know I will be setting up an etsy shop pretty soon and I will make sure to have a range of stuff on it. I'd have my big ones for $100+ but then I could make some smaller stuff in the $20-40 range.
What do you think would sell well? I can do all kinds of bookbinding so little journals is a yes. Smallish prints, large prints... bookmarks? I'll post a journal entry when I set up shop.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ooh, that sounds great. I'd personally be interested in prints, but I can see things like bookmarks and journals doing really well. Maybe you could do some greeting cards or something, too?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yea! I could letterpress them! I forgot about that.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Whoa, the amount of detail in this is just incredible, you're so talented!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you! Talented? or I just have no life...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
*breathes shallowly*
It makes me tired to look at this.
Amazing and dedicated work!
I'd love to see this in combination with a monotype...maybe in transparent ink?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes! That block looks great with monotype underneath. I did some of that in my 6x6 but you can't tell cuz each is so tiny. I am probably going to experiment with that block until I can't print it anymore.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Awesome! Keep doin your thing, it's working!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD!
Congratulations! You are officially in the ZEN and out of Phantom! (inside joke).
I hope everyone can appreciate the amount of detail you put into this, perhaps you could take a snapshot of a portion of the actual lino for your scraps?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yea that's a good idea. I could do that and I could be put my hand on it so you can get an idea of scale.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oh... my... wow. That is amazing!! I can't even imagine trying to carve every little twig like that. You must have the patience of a saint. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I haven't editioned it yet. It took me 8 prints to realize that it needed all that empty room at the top and by then I was out of paper. Eventually I will edition it and I plan on making about 50 for selling! But I may loose my mind before then and only make 30...
I will never again do a piece that takes that long. I am limiting myself to 2 months max unless I have a very good reason to. I just ended up loosing a lot of steam and it was a lot more than I could chew. But it's nice to see what my limits are.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha, I can see how this image might cause insanity!
I imagine it would be out of my price range, but may I ask how much you're planning to sell prints for?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
$500-ish for that one unframed...
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
*sigh* Yeah, out of my price range. That's totally what you deserve for the image, though! Probably more, considering how much time you put into it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Once I am out of school I will do some fun less-ambitious $20-40 prints and I'll make sure to let everyone know.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I am not sure though so don't quote me on that... and maybe $700 with a frame. I hate framing so much but it makes the pieces look twice as good.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0