Design
I begin every piece with a pencil sketch. I'm inspired by daily observations - looking for beauty in the everyday.
Carve
Carving the block is my favorite part of the process! I transfer the sketch to the printing block. Then I hand-carve the design.
I intentionally leave bits of the block visible in the background area as I carve. I love the visual 'noise' or 'chatter' they bring to the final piece. This technique is also a wabi-sabi approach to art-making, finding beauty in "imperfection".
When the block carving is complete, I use a sheet of thin Japanese rice paper to create a rubbing of the block. This produces an image I can review and modify the block as needed. Then I print a few 'test prints' using black ink to finalize the design. I print limited editions using professional-grade inks and a variety of archival papers.
