Several new print projects are in the early stages, but here is one that is now finished. It's a linocut titled "Solitude" and it's hanging from a drying rack that I made this morning.

Printmaking Drying Rack - Hoisted Up

The inspiration for the rack came from printmaker Maria Arango, when I saw a print hanging from an ingenious rack in one of her Facebook photos. I spent several weeks contemplating the design with my wife's help and then researched online how people construct similar racks for drying clothes.

Printmaking Drying Rack - Hanging Down

I came up with a two-pulley design to fit my studio's needs. It can be lowered to about head height so I can easily pin my wet prints as I pull them off my adjacent etching press. When the print run is done, I can hoist them to the ceiling to get them out of the way, which is invaluable since my studio space is small. It can be built for about $35.

You might notice the middle rope hanging down...I should explain. It doesn't provide any support for the rack and isn't under tension, it's only for emergency. Should the rack system fail and drop from the ceiling, the middle rope would catch the rack so the prints don't drop to the floor. The pulleys are rated to 420lbs so I think I'll be ok!

It's been an exciting, busy June. I took a little time off but am slowly getting back to work. A couple prints are in progress - Mt. Tam and Oakland Port linocuts. It was also fun tinkering with my studio setup and was able to double the amount of bench space and set up some pegboard for tools and a long shelf (see the photo below).

I'll be vending at El Cerrito's July 4th Festival where I'll also demonstrate carving at my booth. I hope to see you there.

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday on a hot, sunny day! It was great fun and I met some fantastic people. I've posted some photos on the Boarding All Rows Facebook page.

For those who don't already know, consider following Boarding All Rows on Facebook for updates on new prints, works in progress, printmaking recommendations, and upcoming events.

Albany Arts & Green Festival - May 6, 2012

I'm very excited about these upcoming events in the San Francisco Bay Area in May. I have a couple linocut prints in a large group show at San Francisco's STUDIO Gallery starting May 2. I can't wait to see the other exhibited work by local artists.

Then on May 6, I have the first of two art and craft fairs where I'll be selling my latest work. More event details can be found at the links below. I love talking with people about printmaking so I hope to see you this month! I'm taking a little time off in June with the birth of our second child...times will be changing...

West Coast Linocut Print

STUDIO Gallery - SF Etsy Show

May 2 - 27, 2012

Opening Reception: May 12, 2 - 6 pm

STUDIO Gallery

1815 Polk St

San Francisco, CA

Albany Arts & Green Festival

Sunday, May 6, 2012

11 am - 3 pm

Memorial Park, 1325 Portland Ave

Albany, CA

Art Beat Bazaar

Sunday, May 20, 2012

3 pm - 7 pm

The Starry Plough Pub

3101 Shattuck Ave

Berkeley, CA

Today was sunny with a high around 80F - probably the warmest day of the year so far. I decided to do some carving outside and worked on the second color of the Tokyo reduction print. I'm planning four colors total. I did a little filming and hope to later edit a short video of the carving.

Some people geek out over smartphones, others, designer shoes...me, a new 8-inch, 28-durometer, Japanese printmaking brayer (i.e. the roller in the photo). Yes, I just wanted to use the word 'durometer' in a sentence...great Scrabble word, isn't it. I can't wait to see how this thing rolls out ink. Below is a sketch I'm working on for a new 8"x10" Tokyo-themed woodcut.

A new shipment of paper arrived yesterday, the house is now quiet...it's time to work.