Reduction Printing

I haven't gotten around to finishing the painting I started during my art class at the Senior Center last summer.  Actually it was the painting my teacher started, I was sort of her assistant in the whole creative process.  My plan was to wait until the course was over, paint over the work with gesso and begin again,  but that would be more unpainting than painting and therefore more unfun than fun.

In the meantime, I read in a magazine about Reduction Printing and it sounded right up my alley.  I already had paper and acrylic paints so I purchased a brayer, some Easy-Kut rectangles, and a carving tool.  Armed with those materials, one magazine article, 3/6 of an acrylic painting course under my belt, and an empty house, I began.

That was three weeks ago.  The magazine article suggested producing several copies of each print, so as of today, I have completed three projects resulting in 18 prints.

Experience is the best teacher and here is what she's taught me so far:

1.  Nike is correct.  Just do it.  Once you start you'll have fun and you'll be happy with the results.

(what to do now with six stiletto prints?)

2.  Don't use the same colors for your second attempt.  You'll get bored and think you lack creativity.

(one of six pomegranates)

3.  If you decide to reproduce a national treasure like Mount Rushmore or Justin Bieber you should carve the block in reverse, otherwise it looks funny when you print.

(what Half Dome sees each morning when she looks at herself in the mirror)

I'm enjoying my first steps into the world of color, paint drips, and creativity.  The work is all mine and I've learned more in my three DIY sessions than in the three sessions at the Senior Center watching someone else paint.  Although I've had some missteps, I'm having way more fun than unfun.