Michael: Ashdown Forest linocut II, final stage...?

I've printed a still-darker green over the previous layers.



I fixed that wobbly tree by applying some ink with a brush after printing. I'm not sure if this dark layer completes the picture; I might print a near-black over some of the tree trunks to bring them forward. (There's a bit of glare on this photo; the trees are darker than shown here.)

But previous experience shows that it's the final layer where it's most likely that everything will go wrong...

I'm going to put this print to one side while I think about what to do. Usually when I do that, I lose the linoblock, which makes the decision for me.

Michael: Ashdown Forest linocut II, stage 3

Another layer, in darker green, goes on top of the previous layer.





The trees are starting to be defined, and there's a nice effect of light flickering through the trees; but bother, I've cut away too much of that tree in the middle. It's wobbling.

Michael: Ashdown Forest linocut II, stage 2

A bright green, mixed from cobalt blue and chrome yellow, printed over the sienna layer.





It's hot today. The ink is drying quickly. Cleaning the linoblock after I'd finished printing took much longer than usual.

Michael: Dinosaur

As seen in Ashdown Forest. (Though not recently.)

Michael: Ashdown Forest linocut II, stage 1

Starting another linocut of Ashdown Forest.



I've cut away the bits that are to remain white, and then printed the block with a blend from raw sienna with lots of white, to cadmium yellow with lots of white.

Michael: Ashdown Forest linocut, final stage

The final layer of ink has been applied -- and it's all gone wrong!



Wood Eaves, Ashdown Forest. Five stage reduction linocut, 10 x 10cm.

The colour's too brown and too dark. The trees are confused, and there should have been more definition over on the right.

But I quite like the dark green shadow on the grass. That's the effect of the transparent blue layer that I applied yesterday, so that's a technique I'll try again.

On with the next print...

Michael: Ashdown Forest linocut, stage 3

Another layer of ink: dark blue grey on top of the earlier layers.



This third layer looks as if it is graduated, but it's just got lots of transparent medium to make it thinner, and let the underlying gradients show through.