Collagraph: Island Fox (after an encounter on Santa Cruz Island)

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Island Fox 7.25×5.25 inch Collagraph with watercolor &
colored pencil on asian paper
Available in my Etsy shop. This one is now Sold, but there’s another one here.
Process shots start at the bottom of this post.
I went on a hike on Santa Cruz Island (part of the Channel Islands off the coast of California) a few weeks ago, and as I rounded a bend on the path, I saw an Island Fox headed in my direction. He stopped on the path and sat down a few yards ahead of me, and we both took a moment to make eye contact, and study each other. The island foxes are dwarfed – and this one was a little smaller than a cat – and adorably cute. After awhile, the little fox got up and scampered off the path, and disappeared through the tall grass. It was a lovely visit, and I’ve been day dreaming about foxes ever since. What encounters with animals have influenced the work you make in your studio?
Adding pigments to the print after the ink dried
Pulling a test print on my Takach press
Cutting into the back of a scrap sheet of mat board
Sharp exacto knife carving angled lines into the uppermost layer of
the reverse side on a scrap of mat board to peel it away, making little wells to hold ink.
Fox doodle as a reference on the left – for the collagraph plate on the right
This little guy was resting on a Eucalyptus trunk, down near the
shore as I was leaving the island. This photo doesn’t give you a sense
of scale, but he was only about 18 inches long. Perfect lap-napping size. 🙂

 Art Quote
Collagraphs are considered to be a form of intaglio (from the Italian word meaning ‘to cut into’) because lines and textures are created on a matrix or plate to hold ink, which is then transferred to paper in the same manner as etching, drypoint and engraving. The intaglio or collagraph plate may also be relief-rolled in the manner of traditional woodblock printing. Both intaglio-wiping (ink is held in the incised lines and textures after the plate has been wiped) and relief-rolling (ink is on the surface of the plate; the incised lines are ink-free) may be used interchangeably – and are often used together, juxtaposing and combining different colors and viscosities of ink for visual effects.
from Practical Mixed Media Printmaking Techniques by Sarah Riley


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5 thoughts on “Collagraph: Island Fox (after an encounter on Santa Cruz Island)”

  1. This is lovely. I’ve never heard of an island fox before, but I sure want one as a pet right about now! How adorable!!!!!

    Thank you for sharing the photo of this cute little creature, and your print is just gorgeous!

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