Back to Printmaking

I received this beautiful Pooki Press from my darling wife Jo for my birthday. Looks like I’ll be doing some more printmaking!

It’s been over 5 years since I moved over to the UK and I haven’t been doing much printmaking. It was hard without the proper physical and mental space. Last year Jo and I got a place out near Glamis Scotland that allows us the creative space we need, and it’s so inspiring living out here.

I was digging through some old blocks to test out this new printing press and I came across this one titled “Working Waterfront”. I carved it back in 2018 when I was living in Portland Maine. I miss Portland so much, and the Old Port will always have a place in my heart. I miss hanging with my friends at Flatbread Pizza, seeing some of my friends play at Andy’s, or watch the Casco Bay ferries docking on the Maine Stare Pier.

This was my first time running a block through this new press, and it didn’t quite turn out how I’d hoped. I’m still working out the pressure, blanket placement and overall setup. Watching the footage back, I realised I may have had the blanket folded, or it could’ve been the depth of the press set too low, or maybe the block is just showing its age. Either way, this is part of getting back into printmaking. It’s a process, not a destination.