Harvest Mouse print by Andrea Lauren

Always trying out new techniques, honing my skill, and challenging myself to continue to improve.  Here is a recent print of a harvest mouse completed using various pieces of carved block.  Follow me on my Instagram account @inkprintrepeat

Handcarved cardinal block print by Andrea Lauren

Here is a recently shared multiple block cardinal print which is carved from a rubber eraser stamp blocks. It is nice to be able to work quickly to develop ideas which I will possibly return to later for more developed woodblock or linocut prints.  These rubber blocks, though, do have a fun, quick and easy quality to them which is rewarding.  I am working on a FAQ post and wanted to know if there was anything you were really interested in knowing about this process or my experiences doing this so far. Let me know if in the comments or send me an email: andrealaurendesign@gmail.com

Deer with Flowers Art Print by Andrea Lauren

It has been a recent goal to start a Nuvango shop making giclee prints available of pieces which begin life as handcarved block print designs.  This first design, Deer with Flowers, started as a set of stamp elements which were hand printed in the general style that I anticipated using for the finished digital placement print.  After scanning in each of the elements, creating brayer ink textures which were also scanned, and finding a nice palette for the design, I started working digitally on the layout.  Ultimately the mirrored design appealed to me most for its sense of balance and proportion, but there were a few different variations being developed during the design process.  Check out my Nuvango shop for framed giclee prints, phone cases, stretched canvases prints. I have also made this available in my Society6 shop

Robin's Nest block print in three colors by Andrea Lauren

Being a self-employed creative professional, it is crucial to stay intrinsically motivated. I have personally found that developing many side projects, learning new artistic skills, and finding creative outlets for my imagination to wander have been extremely beneficial to my happiness in this freelance career.  At the start of each month, or in between large commissions, sitting down to brainstorm some ideas and concepts for personal art making has been a great key to staying organized and motivated.  My Instagram account @inkprintrepeat is the place where I am sharing this journey of making art by hand as well as connecting with traditional techniques for making images--linocut, stamping, block printing. 

Here is a three color, hand carved block print design from a recent birds series. The spot color blocks were small shapes which were registered using the acetate sheet method and a simple jig. The print was hand rubbed onto mulberry washi paper using water-based block printing inks. 

Andrea Lauren: Safari Silkscreen Print: Tigers

After carving the safari animal blocks, I thought there could be more opportunities to feature the designs in prints.  Screen printing this design was the best option and I chose black paper made by French Paper Co.  This tiger is printed in three colors.  

 

Andrea Lauren: Reductive Silkscreen Print: Lion

I've been experimenting with reduction silkscreen prints this past month.  The technique is very artistic and free; there seem to be a lot of possibilities since everything is done by hand and able to be adjusted and changed during the making of a print.  I chose some safari animals as my test.  Each of these have five colors which are unified through the series.

Andrea Lauren Process 2/12

Pictures from around my studio in the beginning of February.  It has been fun to be finished with the busy holiday / restocking season and get back to work creating original pieces.  There have been many new linocuts, some large paintings, and I just started working on some reduction screen printing; it has all been highly rewarding.  Here are some photos.

 

Banjo Bear - Mixed Media Original

Banjo Bear, Mixed Media, 12 x 18 on paper.  This framed original will be featured in an upcoming group show.

Alpenhorn Fox - Original Mixed Media by Andrea Lauren

For an upcoming group show I have created a new set of original pieces: two collagraphs, a set of four large mixed media pieces, and a pair of drypoint pieces with goauche.  The next few posts will show the four mixed media works.  I have used a Charles Brand press to manipulate a variety of printmaking techniques and develop pieces in sizes larger than I traditionally work.  The Alpenhorn Fox is 12 x 18 on paper--water-based inks, goauche, and vintage paper ephemera.

  

Painting

I shared a few of my new paintings a while back and have been experimenting further with colors and designs.    Here a few pieces that I've finished up in painting class.  The first was an assignment to paint a portrait of a chair.   The second is an abstract landscape inspired by an aerial photograph of Dover and the third is for an assignment to find 10 colors on a leaf.

On The Water - Illustration by Andrea Lauren

I just finished up a new painting this week!



It's a sweltering hot day today in NYC so it is really feeling like summer finally. I'm looking forward to spending some time outdoors this weekend and getting in to the swing of summer in the city.