Blast Off!

Haven't posted much lately, thought I would show something I'm working on for my next print. This one will be a three color linocut. I think I may enter it in a print exchange I've signed up for, and also print it on some journals.

custom order completed!

Here's a picture of the completed custom sketchbook/notebook order I've been working on for a while! I think this was a really unique commission, and I'm really happy with how the turned out.

Have a happy 4th!

Bird card linocut on the vandercook -- printing brown

Thought I would post a little about my press. It's a Vandercook SP15 and this is a picture of the bird card I've been working on. Here the press is inked up in brown and I'm ready to print from the linocuts I completed last week:

And here is the second color being printed. Just a small block for the bird, the wire the bird is sitting on will remain the color of the card:

I'll post a picture of the completed card tomorrow!

periodic table print project -- cadmium completed!

I've finally completed my cadmium print for the Periodic Table Print Project. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I printed on both heavy white paper and this brown card stock, but I think the brown color is better. The white paper I used had too rough of a texture and it grayed out the black a little too much for me. If you are interested in seeing the progress of this project, check out the flikr group for this project.

periodic table project linocut

Here is a look at the linoleum block I'm carving for my cadmium print. This is the finished block for laying down black. I'm about halfway through the second color block -- hopefully I'll be able to print something this week.

periodic table print project #2

Here is a sketch of what I'm planning to carve for the periodic table print project. Its just a rough drawing in Corel of what I'm planning to do. I've got the block so now all I have to do is carve!

i'm a bad poster

Real life got in the way of blog posting, but I hope to be more reliable soon. In the meantime, here is a picture of a new card I'm working on. It started out as a piece of art I created for the house, but I thought it would be perfect for a card. It's going to be a #10 business size with a nice Kraft paper envelope.

periodic table print project

I've joined this new print project that Azure Grackle has started, its called the PERIODIC TABLE PRINT PROJECT. Basically different printmakers each choose an element to make a 6x6 block print from, and they will be assembled into one giant periodic table! I chose Cadmium. I'll post pics of my blocks here as they are carved. By the way, here are still elements available if there are any interested printmakers out there!

to do list

Here are some things on my spring to-do list:

• Work on some #10 size card ideas to go with some cool kraft paper envelopes I have -- see my earlier tiger post.
• Start going to the first thursday of the month craft get togethers at Young Blood Gallery.
• Print a backlog of some Christmas card designs I made last winter but didn't get to print before the holiday.
• Promote commissioned letterpress posters at the car shows this summer.

new etsy store

I just accomplished one of the things on my list -- to create an etsy store with the designs I have already completed. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. (I'll also have to post my list of things to do later on.) The new etsy store is papastudios.etsy.com. Check it out!

Here is a pic of one of the things I added, its a Moleskine journal that I printed. I used to do some book making, so I'd like to try making something similar from scratch next time, instead of buying the Moleskines.

first post

Since this is my first post, I should explain what I am trying to do with this blog. Basically I'm trying to keep myself focused on all of the letterpress, printmaking, and craft projects that I am currently doing or want to do. I'll use the blog to keep a record of my progress and that way I can keep myself honest, and also show others what i am doing. Let's see if this works!


Since I always like to see pictures on other people's blogs, here are some for the first post...


This is Dutch, my buddy. He provides moral support:







And here is a letterpress card I did using him as an inspiration. I link to think of this as the Dutch graffiti tag version -- sort of Dutch as Andre the Giant: