Sweetgrass Braid

I had the honor of having my wood engraving “Sweetgrass” featured on the cover of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass”. It was a special anniversary hardcover edition published by Milkweed Editions in 2020.

My “Sweetgrass” engraving on Robin Wall Kimmerer’s special anniversary edition of her wonderful book.

My “Sweetgrass” engraving on Robin Wall Kimmerer’s special anniversary edition of her wonderful book.

Holding a type-high end-grain boxwood round with the engraved image after it was inked and printed.

Holding a type-high end-grain boxwood round with the engraved image after it was inked and printed.

The boxwood round with a wash of ink to darken it’s surface and the design drawn on with a Micron ink marker.

The boxwood round with a wash of ink to darken it’s surface and the design drawn on with a Micron ink marker.

On the left, the engraving burins used to cut the lines into the block’s surface. What you engrave, prints white. I often use a magnifying glass and some 2.5 magnification eyeglasses.

On the left, the engraving burins used to cut the lines into the block’s surface. What you engrave, prints white. I often use a magnifying glass and some 2.5 magnification eyeglasses.

Engraving in process.

Engraving in process.

I usually use a press to print the block onto the paper, but here, I inked the block, placed the paper on top and then used this burnisher to rub the back of the paper. You don’t need a press to print wood engravings, a spoon will do.

I usually use a press to print the block onto the paper, but here, I inked the block, placed the paper on top and then used this burnisher to rub the back of the paper. You don’t need a press to print wood engravings, a spoon will do.

The engraving also appeared on the Japanese translation of “Braiding Sweetgrass”.

The engraving also appeared on the Japanese translation of “Braiding Sweetgrass”.

Practice Rocks

I engraved a Chris Daunt made boxwood round , images of flint-knapped rocks that I had photographed in Patagonia, Arizona, at Jeanne’s sister’s ranch. I wanted to work out some ideas I had for techniques to use on my larger “Storied Stone” wood engraving.

The engraved boxwood round.

The engraved boxwood round.

The block surface seen with a raking light. When printed the engraved lines will appear white.

The block surface seen with a raking light. When printed the engraved lines will appear white.

The first proof. Here the rocks are seen against a black background. After printing a few more proofs, I decided I was going to remove all the black background away to see how the rocks looked different on a white background (the paper color).

The first proof. Here the rocks are seen against a black background. After printing a few more proofs, I decided I was going to remove all the black background away to see how the rocks looked different on a white background (the paper color).

It takes a bit of an effort to clear large areas of a block.

It takes a bit of an effort to clear large areas of a block.

When printed the rocks look different.

When printed the rocks look different.

"Three Graces" Printed

I printed "Three Graces" and the wood engraving will soon be available at the Artistree Gallery in Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin. I will get to updating and improving my website after I return from spending a few weeks in Washington and Oregon, visiting friends as well as attending the Wood Engraving Network Workshop.

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