I own some out-of-print, antiquarian books about wood engraving and other relevant topics that I would like to make available here. Here I am offering John Farleigh’s 1954 publication, Engraving on Wood in a virtual book format that allows you to flip the pages back and forth with your mouse. In some strange way, a […]
Timothy Cole is another master wood engraver whose technical proficiency amazes me. He spent his entire career in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s interpreting the work of master painters like Constable and Hogarth. I happen to have in my possession his engraving of Mona Lisa, signed by him in pencil. It’s printed on a […]
Here’s another profile in the family of wood engraving tools – or cutters. Note that the sides are not straight but rather bowed like the hull of a boat. When incising a line with this tool a skilled engraver can vary the width of the line according to the depth of the cut. Some engravers […]
One of my wood engraving heroes is Canadian artist Eric Bergman (1893-1958). He lived out his career in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city dear to my heart. Although he pursued other forms of printmaking he settled on wood engraving exclusively in 1924. He said the following; “I find wood engraving a help in forming my own […]
Relief printing using an etching press offers a very doable solution. I don’t own a massive old iron press that I covetously see in some studios, like the famous Albion Press for example, or better still – a sweet Vandercook proofing press. Although I would love one of these for my studio, My etching press […]
This engraving titled Growing Corn by Paul Landacre recently sold at a Swann Galleries auction in New York for $7,200. Measuring 8 3/4 X 4 1/2 inches it was made in 1938.
A short discussion of material used for making a quality block for the purpose of making a wood engraving. Boxwood is the wood most preferred for this purpose.
I’m so fortunate to own this Paul Landacre wood engraving titled “Siesta’ which he made in the 1930s. The image is quite large for this technique measuring 7.5 by 9 inches – the print quality is stunning. At a distance, you might be tricked into thinking it is a mezzotint. I was so happy to […]
Here’s a wood engraving of mine I found amongst my stuff in the studio of a baby moose. This is a very small postage stamp sized print ( 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 inches). I did this one a long time ago but it still seems attractive to me. As you can see it is […]
Here’s a short clip showing how I make a wood engraving. Notice how I push the end grain block into the graver by pivoting it on the engraver’s pillow. Sorry, there’s no sound.