Here are more Monica Poole engraved blocks - amazing!
“Dry September”
The finest details in the deep shadows, the lines so finely engraved.
Some of the larger blocks were engraved on both sides with Monica’s masterworks.
Monica Poole Blocks
During my 2023 UK wood engraving centric travels I had the opportunity to look at and study some of Monica Poole’s engraved blocks during a visit with fellow Society of Wood Engravers (SWE) member Nigel Hamway. I enjoyed seeing Monica’s early “beginners” engravings as well as some of her many masterpieces.
A sweet tiny landscape, looking to be a very early wood engraving.
I had seen a Christmas Card printed with the star on in, but no print of the tree trunk image, this was new to me.
I loved viewing this practice block and recognized the figures, which appeared in Monica’s “Apple Tree” wood engraving.
Here, a detail of “Apple Tree”.
Drawing on the Block - Maíz
Instead of working on my design and tonal study on paper, I am developing the image directly on the toned end-grain maple block, which is 6” wide and 8 3/8” high. My engraving work will be less detailed that this drawing, as there are way too many kernels of corn to portray finely. I most likely will work on a practice block to work out a “corny” method for engraving the kernels. The husks I look forward to engraving, bold and bright and with this image, I will use a stipple technique to portray the volcanic rock metate (a tool used to grind the kernels.)
the oval metate will appear dark against white at the top and light against black at the bottom. This image was inspired by my 2023 visit to Oaxaca, Mexico with family and friends.
Plenty of wood engraving challenges here, the corn cob with the missing kernels is something I will ponder, while I complete another wood engraving that I am working on.
The engraved lines I cut will be much different than these drawn lines, as what I cut away will appear white on the print. There is only black & white in the final print made from the block. What is seen as grey tones are created by engraving tints (parallel engraved lines) or stippling (spots “picked” away with a nicking upward of the very tip of the burin).
Fluffy Detail Work
I’m having fun engraving milkweed and thistle fluff. I’m pushing the detail work more than ever, and will see if the time I am spending with the fine burin work will be worth the effort.
A 5”x7” end-grain maple block made by Jim Reynolds.
A detail photo using my macro lens. Though the areas look light and bright in the photos, much of this will appear as middle greys on the print.
I will use a few different multi-line tools to create lines that I will re-enter with a burin and change the path and thickness of the mark.
Swirls, whorls & fireworks in the negative space between the plants.