Woodcuts

The Woodcut Process

The woodcut prints are often made with the subtraction technique, where a light color is printed then the block is cut away and the next darker or contrasting color is overprinted, using a series of blocks. Usually the key block is darkest color and is printed last. The prints are made up of between four and fourteen layers of color.
I begin by preparing solid planks of Pine or Cherry wood. I prefer flat-grain Sugar Pine for the larger multi-block prints. I often use Cherry for smaller blocks as the grain is tighter and allows for finer detail.

I first carve the key block and make proofs. The key block defines the structure and some of the values in the print. The next block to be cut is the lighter warm color block (light yellows would be printed first). Second to be cut is the cool color block (light blues would be printed first).

At this point I decide on a fourth block and what colors would be printed with that. After the lightest yellow is printed I would cut away the wood where this color will remain and another darker color is printed from that block (a light reddishsh-orange for example). Light blues, then darker blues and greens, reds and so on till the composition is complete.

The print “Stand or Move” has been run through the press 12 times using four blocks. “New Grooves Version D” has was printed with four runs through the press with four blocks.

New Grooves Version D Yellow Block in the press

New Grooves Version D Key Block in the press