First printing!

My first printing! In last night's relief printmaking class at Highpoint Studio. The teacher gave us an excellently thorough demo (unlike the glass teacher), and it took a while to get set up. 

I only had time to print the first two (of four) panels of "The Moth Burial"--ten prints. The booklet will be folded up, accordion style.
Don't know what I'm going to do with them . . .  * * *Anyone want one?
Lmk--in the comments, or email me (frescadp at gmail).

I'd like to keep making story-strips like this--I've got that movie-making, storytelling, bookish impulse.
I'm the only one who divided their woodblock into different picture-areas--plus used the back.
(As I mentioned, Grateful J literally sawed the block half because I'd carved the pages in reverse. That turned out better anyway, allowing me to space out the panels.)

I hope there's a class there this fall so I can keep using the equipment, plus keep learning in person--seeing other beginners' work, you can see what works and what doesn't.

And it's fun to be around other makers--I loved seeing everyone's prints.
Everyone else carved one picture on their woodblock.
One woman carved a head of cabbage with a slice cut off, revealing the inner folds and curls... Super intricate!
What else...? A diving loon (a wonderful graphic choice--loons have black and white markings anyway); a nighttime camping scene on the shore of a lake; broken windows in a ghost town;
a horned woman with a bird (my friend KG);
the St. John's bridge in Portland, OR; a dragon; a cat's face;
and a fairy tale monster--this by retired professor Jack Zipes, who is famous in that field (Brothers Grimm & Sicilian tales).

Printing on a professional press (there's a big roller drum to my left in the above photo) is a doddle--so much easier than rubbing the back of your paper with a wooden spoon.  Some minor glitches arose––e.g., I applied ink unevenly on the two blocks––but as you can see, the prints are dark and crisp.

I might build a simple home press--like a flower press--I see them online.
Hm, I also see all sorts of DIY hacks--adapt a panini maker! (we get them at the store); use a cold press laminator... Must explore more options.

Today is my thrift-store volunteer day, so off I go to that.
Have a lovely one, everyone!