Self Portrait

Our Granddaughter drew a self portrait just before setting out for school, she is 5½. School uniform: Red or White shirt with Blue shorts

America’s future … as seen below

See you in two weeks

Woodblock trial … #3

Third block all ready to start image carving. Same image to maintain a level of consistency.Material used: reclaimed scientific instrument box made from Beach and Birch plywood.   The surface layer of ply was good but I was not impressed with internal layers and some voids.  I’ve carved about 60% of the line work, the choice of wood/block is not aesthetically pleasing. I have more uses for plywood than you shake a stick at, but, I don't plan on using it for future blocks.  I’ll finish the carving and print a few samples.

Block #3, I finished the carving, except deepening some of the open areas. Blocks 1, 2 & 3

Woodblock #2 .. carving proceeds. New UPDATE

UPDATE:  finished carving the main bock face .. Poplar was easy to carve, but proved to be too soft when working with pigments/water etc. The surface of the Poplar would get fuzzy very easily.  Unable to support long term use.  Back to sourcing “harder/tighter” grain samples …..  Prints are just testing .. warming up the block etc.

Part Deux .. Woodblock #2

Set up ready to cut registration marks and glue down image to carve.

As a step in my quest to find an available type and source of wood for Japanese style woodblocks.  The elusive Japanese Mountain Cherry is like hens teeth. (If only it grew on trees)   I had some Mahogany in my wood stash, it proved to be unsuitable for what I need. (see previous posts)

Poplar, technically a Hradwood,  is extremely common inexpensive and available for me .. so that's on deck to try.  Cross Section End Grain.Image mounted ready to carve.

Link to tech info:  https://www.wood-database.com/poplar/

Common Name(s): Poplar, Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar

Scientific Name: Liriodendron tulipifera

Distribution: Eastern United States

Tree Size: 130-160 ft (40-50 m) tall, 6-8 ft (1.8-2.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 29 lbs/ft³ (455 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .40, .46

Janka Hardness: 540 lb_f (2,400 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 10,100 lb_f/in² (69.7 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,580,000 lb_f/in² (10.90 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,540 lb_f/in² (38.2 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 12.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Pigment Tray, part B

Using a 45 degree mini sled makes chamfering end grain a doddle. I’ll relieve the edge grain sides at 30 degrees by tilting the saw blade.I have a large arsenal of tools form past years .. 1x2x3 blocks various pairs of parallels, makes life simple.Other layout tools to locate and mark centers for large hole drilling (using hole saw) .. note: sample of hole size.Different layout for tray #2 .. not improved just different.Just glue on bottom runners .. Shellac to finish,  then “Robert is your father’s brother.”

Time for part Deux .. Woodblock & Pigment Tray

This Test block #2 .. in Glue-Up .. once ready to carve I’ll post an Update.For various reasons I need to make a second pigment tray .. the first is off to a “better home”. So with another set of six cups, slightly larger diameter, I’ll make this while the Block Glue Up dries.