"LATE-AUTUMN IRIS"

These simple woodblock prints are in honor, memory, and respect of Harlan Hubbard - Kentucky shantyboat captain & artist who used simple tools in his woodcuts & printing.
www.amazon.com/Woodcuts-Harlan-Hubbard/dp/0813118794/ref=...

Title: Late-Autumn Iris
Image area: 2-1/4" x 4-1/4".
Block: pine - crafter plaque. I'm amazed at how it holds up to detail.
Ink: Speedball water-based printmakers ink.
Paper: Japanese Hosho.
Binder: methyl cellulose (powder form mixed with distilled water).
Method: Japanese moku hanga, but with block pressed onto paper.

My waka/tanka poem:

Returning again
to a warm late autumn,
graceful iris--
reflected in an artist's mind
a respite before the frost.

Bette Norcross Wappner (b'oki)

"OUR WINTER CHERRY"

These simple woodblock prints are in honor, memory, and respect of Harlan Hubbard - Kentucky shantyboat captain & artist who used simple tools in his woodcuts & printing.
www.amazon.com/Woodcuts-Harlan-Hubbard/dp/0813118794/ref=...

Image: 2-1/4" x 4-1/4".
Block: pine - crafter plaque. I'm amazed at how it holds up to detail.
Ink: Alizarin Crimson gouache & brown Speedball water-based printmaking ink.
Paper: Japanese Hosho.
Method: Japanese moku hanga. I tried something different by using a small simple shoe brush, perhaps like Harlan Hubbard might use, to apply ink to block. it only shed a few bristles. less than i thought it would.
Printed by pressing block to paper.

Accompanying tanka poem:

Only raindrops
cling to the empty stems--
our winter cherry;
tears will fall while you're away
and my art will seem fruitless.

Bette Norcross Wappner (b'oki)

"BURNT UMBER"

This simple woodblock print is in honor, memory, and respect of Harlan Hubbard - Kentucky shantyboat captain & artist who used simple tools in his woodcuts & printing.
http://www.amazon.com/Woodcuts-Harlan-Hubbard/dp/0813118794/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259726116&sr=8-5

Image: 2-1/4" x 4-1/4".
Block: pine - craft plaque. I'm amazed at how it holds up to detail.
Ink: Burnt Umber gouache.
Paper: Japanese Rice Hosho. (I bought a tablet many years ago at Michaels Arts)
Method: Japanese moku hanga, but tried something different by trying a simple tool as perhaps Harlan Hubbard might have used, brushing ink to the block with a small shoe brush. It worked better than I thought with only losing a few hairs and only cost a couple dollars from CVS pharmacy.
Printed by pressing block to paper.

My accompanying waka/tanka poem:

Late autumn maple
bare to the high noon sun--
burnt umber cattails
slowly sway with the lake,
a koi sinks in meditation.

©Bette Norcross Wapner (b'oki)

"chi"

The carved block is on the left above. The print is on the right above. The image is a woman with her arms stretched upward with air or water energies flowing around her. This was a small and quick "experimental" woodblock print and also a fun, spontaneous carving.

Title: "chi".
Size: 1.5" x 4".
Block: pine.
Water-based ink.
Paper: Strathmore Bristol vellum 100 lb.
Semi-wet technique.
Hand-burnished with bone burnisher.
Carved with Micro Dockyard 1.5 v-gouge

Printed September 2009.

MONARCH

This is a photo of the first proof.

I like the simplicity of this print design.

--In memory of my brother Larry who passed away June 27th, 2009.

Paper size: 5" x 7"
Image area: 3" x 4.5"
Paper: Strathmore Bristol vellum 100 lb.
Ink: acid-free pigment inks
Technique: soft-block printed images and hand-lettered haiku.
Blind embossing outlining images.

My first print with my newly carved chop!

View the photo log for this print:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bette_norcross_wappner/sets/72157621810477524/

BIRCH SPIRIT woodblock print

To see more photos of making this print, click on BIRCH SPIRIT Photo-Log link in the right hand column.

Moku hanga Japanese method.
Print title: "Birch Spirit".
Paper size: 6.5" x 15";
Blocks: Birch plywood.
Paper: Japanese handmade Washi- Masa Dosa.
Inks: Black - neri zumi
and Guerra pigment dispersion.
Fine mica powder mixed into inks.
Hand-rubbed with Murasaki baren.

Tanka poem handwritten on print:

Lady of the woods
a beacon to the stream
this white birch tree--
her parchment bark poems
float into opal twilight.

Bette Norcross Wappner (b'oki)

2009 NEW YEAR'S PRINT

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF MAKING THIS BLOCK AT:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bette_norcross_wappner/sets/72157612531532508/

--Blocks: Poplar plank.
--Print paper size: 4" x 6"
--Paper: Japanese shin-torinoko.
--2 color ink: black neri-zumi (concentrated sumi-e) and silver metallic water-based ink.
--Fine mica powder mixed into both inks.
--Non-edition: 53 prints

Haiku:

Venus and Luna
press into the ink-black woods
first poem print

Bette Norcross Wappner (b'oki)