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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?
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Adding pigments to the print after the ink dried |
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Pulling a test print on my Takach press |
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Cutting into the back of a scrap sheet of mat board |
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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. |
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Fox doodle as a reference on the left – for the collagraph plate on the right |
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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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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!
@maywyn, thanks for the kind compliment. I’d be delighted if he liked it. Even more so if he’s pose for me again. 🙂
If the fox could speak, then I think he’d thank you for doing him proud in your artwork.
Thank you, @Catharina! 🙂
Beautyful. Love the colours.