Owl lino prints

I have been busy proofing a lino block of owls, drawn from the Natural Science collection at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.  They have an amazingly interesting and varied collection of specimens and it has been a real privilege to be allowed into the stores to draw them.

This block took a while to carve as I wanted to keep the 'drawn' feel of the original whilst turning it into a lino print - all the lines and no tone, a bit of a leap of faith that all the cutting out would pay off, but I am pleased with how it has come out.  Next stage is to print it in gold on lovely black Stonehenge paper which will change how it looks all over again...

a chink of blue...

Not big enough to make a sailor a pair of trousers, but it was there...

First printing session of 2012

Isn't it great to get back to 'real' life after all the partying...or maybe the partying is the real life bit?  It's all so confusing.  Whichever way round it should be, too many parties stop me printing and that starts to make me twitchy after a week or two (or maybe that's all the parties too?  Aaaagh)

Anyway, printing has been done.  Owls have emerged.  If only daylight levels would rise a bit I would take some proper photos and put the 'Running Owls' into my Folksy shop,  but here they are in all their dingy, bloggy glory instead.

This is my companion on my printing table this week and it really is the smelliest plant I have ever had.  That is a good thing, obviously.

Hope you are managing to keep your hat on and the insides of your wellies dry!