In two months I’ve managed to print two colors of the White Bass, with a reduction cut of the key block in between. The humidity has made registration a challenge, as either the paper or the block has expanded. It’s difficult to tell what exactly is going on, but even a week of air conditioning in the shop hasn’t helped much.
The subtle cutting of the block has made regular cleaning essential in order to hold the detail. The block is cleaned with type wash and a type brush after every eight or so impressions. Here the block is freshly cleaned.
Following completion of the second press run the fish was inked up with black ink, which was allowed to dry, and now I’m engaged in another reduction cut.
Each scale is studied on the computer screen, and it’s portrait engraved, now for the third time. I’m getting to know this fish.
Meanwhile the dogs spend most of the day prone or panting on the cool cement of the garage floor.