Posted on May 21, 2010 [Permalink]

Haven't had much time for updating these progress pages, but here's a recent sequence of photos showing the first carving on one side of the next pair of prints.

As usual, if you are a collector, and don't want to 'spoil' the surprise of opening the package, then you had better leave now ... :-)

(This sequence of photos was shot quite casually, at different times of day, and the colour balance thus changes as we go along ... Apologies for that ...)

Here's the key block, with the hanshita pasted down, and before carving begins. (I have intentionally blurred out the area that will be print #4 ...) These all have clickable enlargements ...

And here's how it progressed ...

I didn't shoot anything during the colour block carving the other day, but it went smoothly. I did a quick test proof this morning (we're working on just the left side of this pair just now, because of the time pressure), and it turned out pretty close to what I want on this one. I'll do a bit more proofing this evening, to finalize some of the colours, but in the meantime, have moistened 120 sheets of paper, and printing will get under way tomorrow, with the first impression coming off my little tabletop etching press ... (??)

Added by: d.moll on May 22, 2010

with the first impression coming off my little tabletop etching press ... (??)

Cliffhanger!!!!!!

Added by: Dave on May 22, 2010

Cliffhanger!!!!!

Was it all that mysterious?

Anyway, it's done now, and here are a couple of snapshots. The paper (dampened the previous day) goes face down on the bare steel press bed, covered by a sheet of normal copy paper, then the (thin) blanket.

I have the pressure set pretty tightly, and the paper is both thinned and calendered.

It comes out perfectly smooth. I am doing this because the design involves some very fine carving work, and I want to be able to print it without 'mashing' the baren into the paper, thus spoiling the delicacy. Having the paper perfectly smooth to start, means that I can use a very flat baren, with only minimal pressure ...

Partway through the job, I had a bit of a problem with the press; the handle became a lot more difficult to turn:

No! Wait, wait ... You're not supposed to see that one! Um ... just a minute ... Here's the one you are supposed to see:

But she was a bit upset with me for some reason, and didn't stay long ...

(Boots' photo supplied by a very alert webcam viewer [who wishes to remain anonymous] ... thanks!)

Added by: Julio on May 26, 2010

Ha, that's too funny...but we all known for years who really runs things at Seseragi Studio...is Boots of course !

Added by: Clive on May 26, 2010

Gee, another couple cranks on the handle and you could have turned Boots into Sandals:-)

Added by: gayle on May 26, 2010

Well, I wasn't expecting that! :-D

Added by: Diana Moll on May 26, 2010

LOL well done! Kitties can be so flexible..... I wrote cliffhanger earlier not from mystery but suspense.......

Added by: Albert on May 28, 2010

http://db.tt/rbCPMm

I know it's a bit behind the times, but here's a link to my Mystique box in context of my print-filled office!