A tradition

 STEAMROLLER Printmaking, 2016 has now come and gone. 

It has been an Anacortes Arts Festival event in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016.

It's becoming a tradition 

silk ready to lift off lino, Kathleen Faulkner

 

Printing a 3x4' linoleum block is not easy.  

This year we worked with white silk.  Wind was a factor but:

Three days, ten artists and volunteers per day

and good teamwork got the job done!

My print, 'Baker's Dozen' 4x3' woodblock ink on linoleum,  printed on silk.  In the background: Dee Doyle's two herons print;   Kathleen Faulkner                                                                                            

progress

in process 4x3' lino;  Kathleen Faulkner

The Anacortes Arts Festival is coming up.  A group of us will be printing 3x4' linoleum blocks using a steamroller during the festival.  This year is different in that we will be printing on fabric.  They will look good as banners.

Friday I will be printing mine.  Saturday and Sunday I will be in the print booth helping others make their own smaller version.  Maybe I'll see you there.

STEAMROLLER PRINTMAKING

in process: linocut 4x3'  Kathleen Faulkner

It's almost time for  STEAMROLLER PRINTMAKING!  

Anacortes Arts Festival has, once again, invited a group of artists to participate in this fun event.  This will be our third year.  We will be printing all three days: August 7th through the 9th, 10 to 5pm down by the port dock on Commercial Ave.  It's quite a sight to watch.

As you can see, I have a lot left to do.  I'd better get to work!

more

Things that go bump in the night

'Bandit' linocut, 4x6"; Kathleen Faulkner

I grew up on science fiction and Twilight Zone. 

The first time I heard a raccoon in the night it scared me and, of all the urban wildlife in this area, raccoon is still my least favorite.  

There's something about their presence in the dark that makes me 

nervous.

I stay inside when I know they're around.
I wish them well, though.

My Excellent Adventure

July was an interesting month.  My computer was dead but I didn't miss it one bit.  Instead I spent 60 hours carving a 3x4' linoleum block (among other things) to be printed by a steamroller during the Anacortes Arts Festival.   

Upon receiving the linoleum, I immediately went into shock: the largeness of it was a bit overwhelming so, I started carving and carving and carving.

Virgin linocut

The bottom half is starting
to look like something.

Here I'm adding Mt Baker to the mix.

Finished and ready to ink..

Then the day came for the printing. We worked in teams.  Jean Behnke and I were the scheduled artists for our two hour time slot and had help from many friends, without whom, it would have been much harder and definitely not as successful.

Here we are inking the lino.. a dirty job,
but somebody's got to do it..

Ready to print

We are placing the linocut  and will then
cover  it with the paper.

Here comes the steamroller!

Artist Proof

A friend generously offered space in
her workshop to hang my prints while they dry.

Looking up at a couple of prints drying.

This project was made possible by a grant from the Anacortes Arts Festival.  Nine artists participated in this two day event.  All materials were provided including, of course, the linoleum,  the best oil based ink (Daniel Smith) and Lenox paper not to mention gloves, aprons, rollers, the steamroller and everything else needed to make this happen including lots of encouragement!  

Two prints from each artist will be auctioned off by the Festival to provide funding for future events such as this.  For anyone interested in viewing all the different artist's prints and possibly bidding on any, I will post the auction details when I receive them.

It was a great experience and I'm so glad to have been a part of it all.  I'm looking forward to  next year!