Working on a new large scale print

Just printed my first proof of my 18x18 inch plate. Very excited! It turned out beautiful. I will post it next week when it is dry. Stay tuned!

An old drawing becomes a new print!

Metal Plated HeartHere is my latest print! This is an old drawing I created after some heartbreak and thought that a Metal Plated Heart would protect it from more heartbreak. It is ironic that I chose to work on this picture after the previous one, since it is exactly the opposite of the LOVE picture. Everything comes in balance–yin and yang.

LOVE - woodblock print with linoleum print

Here is the Final print. LOVE. The top image of the heart with exploding rays from it is a woodblock print and the LOVE image below I carved out of a linoleum block. I am dedicating this to my husband. Check out the whole series of LOVE images that are for sale in my Portfolio!

LOVE - color linoleum print

Here is my reduction print of LOVE. I am also experimenting with putting this below the heart image.

LOVE - linoleum print

Here is the linoleum cut plate that I will put below my heart image. I have decided to make it a reduction print. A reduction print  is printing up the lightest color to show of the entire plate and after printing a large quantity, then cut out the areas that will remain that color, and continue to print. Each time an area is removed from the plate a color will show, but there is no room for mistakes in this kind of printing, because once you cut the plate, you cannot return to the beginning state of the plate.

I have also begun working on a new heart image. I have made some sketches and will soon begin to work on some plates for printing!

Finishing Touches

Here is the first of a set of this print. I think I am going to do a bit more experimenting with colors and add a few other touches to the image. The title will be LOVE. I have cut a new linoleum plate that I will print and put below this image.

Since this  project turned out so well and I have gotten good feedback on it, I am planning to create a whole series of images involving the heart and emotions. Since the heart is where most people feel the most intense feelings. I am very excited about it. I already have ideas for my next heart image!

Second color plate added

Here is plate three, the red heart! It is turning out really well! I am definitely going to add the 4th color plate to this. The fourth color will be some orange rays coming from the heart. I am also experimenting with printing on a few hand made sheets of paper I made. My new gouges have arrived from McClain's and I am very excited to use them to carve out my 4th color plate!

Color plate added to my proof

Here I have added the first color to my proof. A nice yellow to symbolize the light rays coming from the heart. The more I work on this project, the more I am excited for the finished work. I have finished my next plate so watch to see the next addition.

First proof of my plate!

This is the proof of my master plate! Now I have 2 more plates to carve and then I can start printing the final set. This image is about the feeling of LOVE exploding like light from the heart.

I am working on some new artwork!

I am happy to announce that I am now working on a new printmaking project! It is inspired by my husband! I have finished the plate for my printmaking project. I am very excited to start printmaking again. This is the first plate I have done since college!

Many people are unfamiliar about how printmaking works. It has many steps that could be confusing for some. It is very different from painting. Prints are created from an impression of a plate onto paper, so the artist first must create a plate. In wood relief printing, the artist must carve the image he wants into a wood plate, which is what I have done here. After creating this initial plate, the artist can ink up a plate and place a plate with some paper on top onto a press and roll it through. When the paper is lifted the image will appear. Many people forget this, but when the ink on the plate transfers to the paper the image will be reversed. With my project, I will be using this initial plate as a master plate. It will be the plate I will use to create other plates to add color. Each color has its own plate. So I will be carving out two more plates to create my final image. On each plate, I will carve out the places where I don't want that color to print.

Art by Lisa!

Check out my portfolio of art. Most of it is for sale. If you are interested in owning a Lisa original, please contact: lmetornatore@gmail.com