Cat Lino Print (more pictures below)

This is my third lino print and my biggest yet. I'm not nuts about how it printed. Lots of people like the errors and imperfections...but they upset me. I think I can do better now though so I may reprint this.

 

I drew the cat in a sketch book and transfered the sketch onto the lino block and started carving away. It took a nite or two not working really long on it. I only used two gouges out of the Speedball gouge set to cut this. I used the small V gouge and the wide U gouge. In the corners (like his cheeks)...I used an Xacto knife. The block was Dick Blick golden linoleum and the ink was Speedball water based. The whiskers were drawn afterwards with a Lamy fountain pen (medium nib).

 

For a little insight into the illustration...I had been looking at various folk art pieces on the Antique Roadshow and kinda wanted to do my own piece. A common theme that I saw and wanted to emulate was animals acting like people. I like that. I was thinking of My Neighbor Totoro when I drew the eyes on this piece. I think the body was subconsciously copied from an amalgamation of various cats in Top Cats gang. You decide. Also I kinda wish I would've made the instrument a Fender Stratocaster instead of a banjo...Oh well. Speaking of the instrument...the head of the banjo is more of a guitar type head rather than an banjo head...I regret that as well. I was very anxious to carve this and didn't question these things earlier.

 

Also let me say that this piece was inspired by one of my favorite photographers...Thomas Shahan. Aside from being an amazing photographer...he's also a tremendous artist. I'm astounded by his wood block prints and felt like trying it myself. Even though our styles aren't exactly the same...he was HIGHLY influential in the completion of this piece. Thanks Thomas.

 

Check out his art Flickr account here: Thomas Shahan

Done