still life blue, the transformation

I'm trying to convert my 'still life blue' design (3rd image below) into a Japanese style woodblock print for a commission. I spent all yesterday afternoon working at this table sketching it out (it will be bigger this time) and putting the design onto blocks.

It's a lot of fun sketching out the design onto the wood but because this one will have 5 colours it needs 5 different blocks and super careful registration to make sure it all lines up when I print. The bonus is I recently ordered some moku hanga style shina plywood from Japan (thanks to baren forum and an old contact I had from my Japan days in Tokyo - Woodlike Matsumura) and it arrived a little while ago so I have plenty to work with. No more scrimping and placing designs on the unused ends of old blocks.

And the end result will look something like my giclee print (above) but because it will be a woodblock print it will have a very different character. Anyone like to guess just how many weeks 5 blocks will take me to carve? I like to take things at a leisurely pace.

PS. my giclee print is available to buy in the OZ Bushfire Appeal etsy shop. All funds raised go to the Australian Red Cross to help the 7000 people who were displaced by the fires last week.

march of the teapots

And then the teapots began to take over.....She was found breathing (just) and buried deep beneath a pile of tea leaves.

Or at least that's what it feels like at the moment with these new giclee prints. It's like I've overdosed on tea (preferably earl grey) and it's done something to the creative part of my brain. Anyway, I've put a paler version (more retro green-blues) in the shop and am toying with putting this much brighter one in soon. I like the desert feel of the orange and vivid blues. It seems to echo images of our current Australian drought. The funny thing is it finally rained in Melbourne last night and is threatening to hail as I write this.

three pots of tea

Gosh 2 posts in one day! Just wanted to share this new giclee print of mine with you. It will be available in the shop soon. Promise.

under the tree

A new giclee print from me. I'm going to New York for the first time ever in June and because I'm thinking about it so much little images of it are starting to appear in my work.

If anyone has any tips on galleries that are a must see in NY (other than the big ones like MoMA and the Whitney), especially if they carry works on paper, can you please let me know? Or other places that an obsessive printmaker and art fanatic might like to see in NY. I'll be there for 3 whole weeks!