woodcut in progress

These photos show the evolving woodcut that i am working on. The preliminary drawings, one on paper, the other on transparent Mylar, is transferred to several blocks, one for each of the colors. I improvise once  I am printing, often leaving out or adding blocks as needed. The image is transferred to a woodblock, usually Baltic Birch, which is then cut using chisels and gouges. Finished blocks are sealed with a medium. The blocks will then be printed in a sequence of overlapping colors, registered one over the other, using Gamblin Oil-based printing inks. Final work will be printed in a small edition in my Strathcona studio either on cotton rag or Asian print paper.