"Ornamental"

I submitted my wood engraving “Ornamental” for the Society of Wood Engravers (SWE) 82nd Annual Exhibition in 2020 and it was selected. The exhibit occurred during the SWE’s Centenary celebration, unfortunately it was postponed right after it opened due to Covid-19. At the time of the exhibit’s opening, I received an email from Simon Brett which included a photo of the signage at the Bankside Gallery in London where the showing premiered. “Ornamental” was the featured image, it was a wonderful surprise! Here are some in process photos of the making of “Ornamental”.

My initial drawing of the design with a fine marker on the end-grain maple block.

In process, engraving parallel lines to depict swirling skies behind the leaves.

A closer look at the engraved tints (parallel line cuts) and stippling (point-like marks) on the block’s surface.

I was honored to receive the SWE Prize for “Ornamental”.

The exhibit signage on display at the entrance to the Bankside Gallery. Thanks Simon for the photo!

The Bankside Gallery generously mailed me the poster they used for the exhibit.

Felix Senger Studio

As I work on my Barometer Earthstar mushroom engraving, the thicker black lines of my design remind me of the tracery of some of the stained glass windows I worked on at the Felix Senger Studio in Milwaukee, during the mid-1970s. It was my first and favorite job, Felix & Emma were a remarkable creative team, both emigrating to the US from Germany after World War II. Felix already had been to the states, as a German prisoner of war. As we worked together I heard many stories from them about their lives in Germany & the US.

Emma and Felix Senger. Behind them some icons that Felix painted.

Behind Emma, a cartoon of a slab glass window I was making at the time.

Me, mixing epoxy resin for making one section of the window.

The completed window, 36 feet high, All Saints Mausoleum, Des Plaines, Illinois.

Glass that I cut on the light table. This for church tower windows, St. Raphael’s Cathedral, Madison, Wisconsin.

Some of the completed windows installed.

Windows I helped make (acid etching glass, leading) for St. Raphael’s Cathedral.

Sadly, the cathedral was heavily damaged by a fire and demolished in 2005.

Barometer Earthstar Mushrooms

I’m back after a long hiatus, and plan on making postings of my work in progress more often. Currently I am engraving an end-grain maple block, the subject matter decaying Barometer Earthstar mushrooms seen walking on the Bearskin Trail in northern Wisconsin.

In progress, the final print most likely will be presented in a vertical orientation.

I’m currently laying a bed of pine needles under the mushrooms and twigs.

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.

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.

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.

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”.