copper engraving

Sister Hog, Brother Tree, and the Voice of Copper: a Celebration of Long Labor and Process

sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper01 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper02 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper03 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper04 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper05 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper06 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper11 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper07 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper08 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper09 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper10 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper14 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper12 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper13 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper15 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper16 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper17 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper18 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper19 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper20 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper21 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper40 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper22 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper23 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper29 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper30 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper27 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper26 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper28 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper24 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper25 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper42 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper41 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper31 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper32 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper39 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper33 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper35 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper34 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper36 sister-hog-brother-tree-and-the-voice-of-copper37

Provision

provision01

I have been printing an edition of Flying Fish, a copper-plate engraving about the miracle of provision experienced by Thor Heyerdahl and his crew in the Pacific Ocean on their balsa log raft, the Kon Tiki.  This print is for sale at the Baumwerk Etsy store.

provision04 provision06 provision03 provision07 provision09

…a Walking Man drawing for my friend Steven.

provision10 provision02

The Dove and Rings

Dove and Rings Engraving

The Dove and the Rings, copper engraving, 2003

dove detail

I have been rephotographing some of my work as I update the pages here at The School of the Transfer of Energy.  I always forget about this engraving that I did back in 2003 for the wedding announcement of my greatest friend.  There is nothing in my experience to compare with the quality of line that comes from engraving copper.   My poor example here is nothing compared to the great masters of this art, both living and dead.  All the same I breath a deep breath of satisfaction at seeing the beautiful lines brought about by such force and intensity as the cutting of the copper and the pressure of the press.

Copper Engraving Progress

Here are some more pictures of the engraving process, and the second proof as work continues on a small copper plate of Walking Man observing and drawing a comet.

Engraving lines in the copper using a burin.

Detail of a small curl of copper being plowed up by the burin.

The plate after being inked and rubbed for printing.

The printed proof of the plate- revealing the progress thus far.

Copper Engraving Proof

This is the first proof of a new copper engraving, fairly early in the process, printed to give an idea of how the values are shaping up.  Obviously, certain areas such as the pants and vest of the figure are more developed than the head, which consists mostly of reference lines.  The plate/image size is 3″x4 3/8″.

Here is the plate with the two proofs.

And a detail of the plate