Woodblock

So I finished my first woodblock about a month or so ago, and now I am finally getting around to putting up pictures.
I bought a woodcarving set from Michaels, as well as a block of carving basswood, which I had my dad cut in half for me. I thought hair would look cool as a woodblock print, so I used that as my first image.
Carving was kind of hard at first, it hurt my hands, but I quickly found the methods that work and those that don't. I ordered block printing ink (I got oil based - and just recently bought another that's water based, so I'll see which one I like better) from Utrecht, as well as a roller. My dad let me set up a little work zone in his garage, complete with an old pane of glass for rolling up ink.
I also just bought a linoleum block from Utrecht, and I'm curious to see how that will carve. I am going to start on my second one soon.

London!

Hey fellow printmakers!
To stay updated on me while I'm in London I have made this blog:
http://caitlinlondon.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!

"Don't Comfort Baby With Materialism" - Lithograph

This print is the first in my series on materialism. Materialism seems to be driving our country today. Ads are everywhere - buy this, buy that. People aren't happy unless they have a shiny new car, a cell phone that can do everything for you, or the newest gaming system. We teach it to our kids when they're young. It's a vicious cycle. It isn't always so extreme, but we are all victims of being bound to our material items.

This print shows a baby crying because it has just broken it's rattle. It is getting toys thrust at it from every direction to try to solve the problem instead of actually comforting the baby. The baby is just upset. It isn't thinking "I broke my toy and I need a new one", but that is what people are teaching it to think. The mobile shows what kind of materialism will affect it in the future: money, a car, and a cell phone.

I was really influenced by Sue Coe from the blog. Her prints are so dark, and very detailed. I'm usually very detailed in my prints, but she goes so much further. She also gets her point across very clearly in each print, and you don't necessarily need the title to understand what she is saying.

Being exposed to all these different social artists through the blog is very beneficial. I think it is always good to look at other artists who are doing/did the same kind of art you are doing. you can get inspired, pick up new techniques, or see how they might have solved a problem you are having.

Prints Thus Far

Here are some prints I have made as a baby printmaker...

my first print, drypoint.

2nd print, etched in acid

3rd print, 1st aquatint!

print for my final project, I think this one is close to being done

planning out my aquatint for another one of my final prints

I made a blog!

Hey everyone. I have made a blog. What is going to be on this blog you ask? Artwork. By me. Photos, prints, drawings, etc. Stuff about me relevant to making art. I do hope you enjoy it, and all the images that will soon be on here.

Some Photos

Here are some pictures I have taken in the past ... Enjoy!

The black and white one of the cat with the house in the eye was the one chosen for National Geographic's "Your Shot" contest for March, which can be seen on the site here: http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/yourshot/selects/0703/select2.html