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Leaf Mandala

06/05/2019 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Pattern, Printmaking

Leaf Mandala–the 5-color reduction print was finally completed a couple of weeks ago at Santo Press. Master printer Brent Bond did a truly phenomenal job on this print and though it took longer than I anticipated, it was worth waiting for. Leaf Mandala is comprised of a laser-engraved key block (the black lines) with 2 hand-cut linoleum blocks for the 4 colors printed in reduction. The resulting image appears to be 6 colors because of overlapping color areas. It is exactly as I envisioned it would be, so I couldn’t be happier.

Leaf Mandala (color); 2019; 5-color laser-engraved and hand cut multi-block linocut; 16 inch diameter on 23 x 22 inch paper; edition of 10; $650.00.

Leaf Mandala (color) detail; 2019; 5-color laser-engraved and hand cut multi-block linocut; 16 inch diameter on 23 x 22 inch paper; edition of 10.

In case you are interested, here is what the colors looked like prior to printing the key block. This is a working registration sample, and was not one of the finished prints. 

 

There is also an edition (of 5) in black ink:Leaf Mandala; 2019; laser engraved linocut; edition of 5; 16 inch diameter on 23 x 22 inch paper; $400.00

And don’t forget, there are many iterations of this print that are hand-painted with watercolors. You can see 5 of them all right here but this one is my favorite–so far, that is. I’ve got 5 more to paint!

Mandala 2 (Leaf) VE 5; Hand-painted laser-cut relief print; 22.5 x 22 inches; 2018; $750.00

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Mar 13 2017

My Newest Edition from Santo Press!

13/03/2017 | Comments: 2 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, How To's, Pattern, Printmaking, Uncategorized

This one is so new it is not even signed yet! Just printed and published by Brent Bond and his marvelous and incredibly busy Santo Press, this 3-color reduction lino print was both laser-cut and hand-cut. It also has some offset hand inking using sheets of wrinkled wax paper.

While trying to come up with an unusual background texture for this print, (and many failed attempts) I was inspired to create an unusual way to crease the wax paper. It dawned on me that I could try creasing the wax paper the same way silk is creased to form wrinkles in Shibori textile dyeing. This provided an unusual and delicate pattern on the wax paper which I call  Shibori-esque. I rolled a sheet of wax paper on a narrow wooden dowel and then pushed the paper down exactly like the pole-wrapping  technique (minus the string) used in Japan to dye textiles.

Brent masterfully incorporated the wrinkles of the wax paper with it’s lacey creases in an overlay of pale yellow on a darker orange ground. This print is the second of what will be a series of three 3-color reduction linocuts published by Santo Press. You can read about Web Mesh, the first print of the series here.

Web Pathway, Print by Janet Towbin, Web Pathway; 2017, reduction linocut; 10″ x 8″ on 14″ x 11″ paper; variable edition of 30; published by SantoPress.

Shibori technique wax paper sampleA close look at the Shibori-esque wax paper filled with delicate crinkles and patterns.

Brent Bond placing the wax paperPlacing the Shibori-esque wax paper on inked plate for 3rd color off-set.

Brent Bond using a roller to off-set print the 3rd colorBrent using a roller to offset print the 3rd color. The hand pressure exerted by the brayer causes the crinkled wax paper to push into the ink, leaving it’s crazed, lace-like markings in the ink.

brent 3The wax paper is removed, taking away a layer of ink–and leaving the crinkled impression behind. The 2-color print is then run through the press transferring the Shibori-esque, crinkled texture of the wax paper as the third and final color.

 

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Circle Swirls: Drawing and Linocut

27/08/2016 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, drawing, Pattern, Printmaking

My newest relief print is based on the drawing “Circle Swirl” from my Patterns of Obsession series. Printed in an edition of 10 by Brent Bond at Santo Press, it is another laser-cut linocut. It amazes me how precisely the laser-cut can be on the linoleum’s surface. I am pretty thrilled with how it turned out. Soon I will be adding a digital color layer to the print making it into something else entirely. Can’t wait to get that started! It’s going to be so much fun to see how it evolves with color.

First, the drawing:

Circle SwirlCircle Swirl; 2016; graphite on Stonehenge paper; 16″ x 16″ image size; 22″ x 22″ paper size. POR

And the print:

Circle Swirl by Janet Towbin Circle Swirl; 2016; Laser-cut linocut; edition of 10; 16″ x 16″ image size; 23″ x 22″ paper size. $400.00

And here is a little teaser for you…my computer rendering (it’s a work in progress–the specific colors may change) of how I intend to add color to the print. Keeping my fingers crossed it will compare to what I can do in Photoshop.

 

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