"Lao Tzu"

 
Yesterday I finished cutting the block for this relief print, and printed five copies on two different papers.

This was the inspiration for the print: a very fast sketch of an elderly Chinese gentleman I met on the metro:

 

Below is the developed drawing from which I did the print. I actually like it better than the print, for its softness, and the lower contrast. Technically the print is better than the last one I did. I'm learning things, and that's good, and was the point of this latest exercise.

A fault of mine: I always tend to hurry, because I never have enough time for all the things I need or want to do. I can often feel this hurriedness in my body, and then I know I need to slow down, relax, take some deep breaths, and do one thing at a time. It's not tension, per se, it's just an inner sense of rushing. In printmaking, rushing can be fatal because one slip can ruin the whole block. You can also cut yourself badly! When pulling the print by hand, you have to prepare the oil-based ink properly, watch what you're doing when you ink the block, and then rub the back of the rice paper deliberately, carefully, and thoroughly to get a good impression, but not so hard as to break the delicate paper fibers. So I enjoyed the process of carving the block and making the prints: slowing down, breathing, cutting with energy but care. I'd like to become good at this, it's a wonderful and satisfying artistic process, right through all the steps, and well-suited to a graphic designer like myself.

As I worked, I thought about the man I'd drawn originally, his quiet calm manner, and the kindliness and wisdom in his old eyes. And he reminded me of Lao Tzu, who then reminded me: "Nature does not hurry, but everything is accomplished."

Comments

[Nic Sebastian]

Go you, Beth - love this.

[Beth]

Thanks, Nic! Delighted that you like it!

[Peter]

Wow! That print is one of the finest original works I've seen online.

[hal lewis]

Great job Beth, wood cuts are the end.
Has anyone taken a look at The Library of America's two volume boxed set of Lynd Ward's six novels in woodcuts? Expensive but beyond belief. Each woodcut of each story is printed on the right hand page only. He worked on these from the depression to the outset of World War II. Ward is considered America's first great graphic novelist and a socially committed storyteller.

[Beth]

Thank you so much, Peter!

Hal, do you have a link to any of Lynd Ward's novels online? (Well, I can Google them). Thanks for the suggestion. I have been looking at woodcuts, linocuts and wood engravings for a long time; they fascinate me but I don't know a lot of the great artists. I'm a big fan of German expressionist prints, but often find the subjects and treatment too dark. Their use of the page and positive/negative space was superlative though.

[Beth]

Oh yes. I think these are mainly wood engravings and they are very fine. http://www.google.ca/search?q=lynd+ward&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=3rZ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnsbo&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0_dOTvHjFuf50gGH5KjhBg&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1046&bih=619

[Natalie]

Beth, that's great! You would really blossom as a printmaker if you had time to devote to it. I love both the drawing and the print.

A few examples of linocut prints by Yaron, an Israeli artist and friend whose work I'm sure you'd like:
http://www.yaronlivay.com/yaronsong.html

And a line-up of German expressionist woodcuts:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=expressionist+woodcuts&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=XLF&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9PlOTsGRC4m2hAfV6ez9Bg&ved=0CCUQsAQ&biw=1306&bih=652

[john]

i know nothing about Art but i know quite a bit about the"rushed" feeling.Okay i did go to a Art gallery/museum in Hamburg a couple of years which seemed to feature expressionist art which seemed dark.Don't go dark Beth

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[Beth]

Don't worry, John, not much chance of that -- dark isn't me!

[Martine]

I love this piece, Beth! Can't wait to see it in person.

[hal lewis]

Beth:

The Library of America is the web site for Lynd Ward's books. Go to loa web site then authors and Ward, Lynd and it lists the books. The page listing the books show a number of his woodcuts.

Art Spiegelman of Maus fame edited each volume. Ward did study in Germany. Ward discovered a copy Die Sonne by Frans Masered who is considered the person that invented the woodcut novel.

Most of the book published by The Library of America are top of the line and I have many but these two are the finest they have produced. The two volumes are over 1400 pages.

[Robert]

Further to the previous comment, that should, of course, be Frans "Masereel", Belgian master of the graphic novel in the early 20th century. His wonderful work was admired by many -- including, if I remember correctly, Thos. Mann, Hermann Hesse and Stefan Zweig.

[Robert]

PS Congratulations on the woodcut, Beth.

[Sandra]

Holy shziint, this is so cool thank you.

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