This past summer, I worked closely with my friend John Costello to draw and carve a 4’x4’ woodblock, with the help of a few other members of Peregrine Press. Together we represented Peregrine at the 2019 Steamy Summer Print Jam, where we printed the block using a steamroller that Running with Scissors (the host of the event) had rented. The event is always a blast, this year featured blustery winds sending vendor’s tents flying and the largest number of woodblocks printed at it yet.
To get to the final design for the block, John and I both created compositional sketches inspired by a day drawing at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. We then chose a final composition, and each created a small linoleum cut study. We then transferred my small study onto the 4’x4’ block using transfer paper (after scanning and printing the small study out on 4’x4’ scale) finalized the drawing in sharpie in order to make it clear for other collaborators which areas needed carving, and then carved away, sealed the block to make for easy printing and were ready to go. Already looking forward to next year!
