PRINTING "YOUNG PINES"

Printing the "YOUNG PINES" woodcut this week! Edition of 100 prints, coming right up! Still a chance to pre-order on our site & get on board for the first mass mailing. Buy an original print HERE!

"RUBY RED ROSE" RETURNS!

"RUBY RED ROSE"
14" x 11" Woodcut Print on Natural Kitakata Paper
Valerie Lueth + Paul Roden, 2016. 
2nd Edition of 100.

The flower of romance & love, the color of passion & heart. Just back up in our online shop!

"RUBY RED ROSE" is printed from 2 hand-drawn, hand-carved woodblocks by the artists onto 14" x 11" Natural Kitakata paper. 

FAVORITE FRAMES

Some shots of the "DAISY BOUQUET" woodcut on Kitakata paper. Paper size is 20" x 16", the artwork is printed from 2 woodblocks. Framed here in pickled maple with spacers & museum glass. (This is how we typically frame our prints for exhibition, with the hand-printed paper displayed object-like in a simple and elegant hardwood frame. Walnut & pickled maple are our current favorite woods!)

"OVERLOOK" SKY FINISHING

We transferred the sky drawing/carving from our 1st "OVERLOOK" blue block to the 2nd "OVERLOOK" blue block and then drew in some more sky details. The overall effect will (probably) compare to the sky in the "DESERT ISLAND" woodcut but with all mid-day blue tones.

(Carving is almost done, too! Forgive us for being behind in posting & documenting a bit...we're about to bring another tugboateer into our little Pittsburgh family! Baby 2 any day!)

2ND BLOCK FOR 'DAISIES'

The 2nd block for the "DAISY BOUQUET" woodcut. 

Prints all of the white-tinted flower petals & dots in the centers.

See the 1st printer's proof HERE!

BIG RED!

The red block for the "OVERLOOK" woodcut is now carved, making 3 color blocks. We just proofed the 3 together with the key and now begin the process of going back to each of the blocks to refine, carve more, and fine tune how the colors will layer in the finished print. Throughout this process, we'll also be making one more block, which will add shadows, more greens, and a deeper dimension to space within the tiered landscape. Shouldn't be too long and we'll have a solid 1st proof to share! 

BLUE, RED, YELLOW FOR OVERLOOK

1, 2, 3 color woodblocks so far for the "OVERLOOK"! Plus the key block makes 4 (the key is the detail block, printed in a dark tone, see that on our site). Shouldn't be long & we'll be headed to press to begin the process of inking & proofing! Size of this print will be about 44" tall by 28" wide, bleed off the paper edges. 

Everything we make is totally handmade, drawn & carved & printed by hand. This process takes time, but yields really dramatic results! The blocks above will be carved even more as the print develops on press. An additional 4th color block will be carved to add even more rich color tone after we see these three above proofed together with the key. 

THE NEW "LOG" IN COLOR!

Introducing the new "LOG" woodcut in vivid, wild, glowing color! Printing is going so smooth & the print itself is looking so dreamy. Delightful!

4 woodblocks make "LOG", each an impressed layer of woodgrain color. (See all of the blocks here.)
Printed on 16" x 20" Natural Kitakata Paper. Edition of 100. 

In joy, we're extending the earlybird intro rate until Monday (4/26)! Last chance for "LOG" special!

YELLOW BLOCK FOR "LOG"

The final piece of the "LOG" woodcut puzzle--the yellow block! 4 blocks together make the final artwork. More about that & all the blocks (and first proof!) here.

BLUE FOR LOG!

We're making 4 color blocks for the "LOG" woodcut. Here's the blue! This block is the first to be drawn & carved.  When this block is completely carved out, we'll transfer this image back to our other color blocks (since there is some information here that is not on the key, but we want on other color blocks). Should get exciting in the color very soon & we hope to head to press shortly! (See the key detail block below)

"LOG" will be a 5 block, 16" x 20" woodcut print.

www.tugboatprintshop.com/woodcut_log.htm

CARVING THE "LOG"

Mushrooms & ferns & and all sorts of smallish forest-y things being carved! "LOG" is now available for special limited time pre-order HERE.

MAKING COLOR BLOCKS

We've rolled the 1st ink onto the "OVERLOOK"  key block. This first inking was done to create the 4 color blocks (now drying & soon ready to start drawing in!) Printing the edition waits until all of the color blocks are drawn & carved in full. Stay tuned for more on this process as it develops!

T.B.P.S. HOLIDAY SPECIALS!

Let us know what we can do for you this holiday season! We're in the spirit of giving!

Having lots of fun matching orders with free surprise prints! Take advantage of this special holiday opportunity and do some shopping at www.tugboatprintshop.com! (Good through 12/25!)

FREE U.S. SHIPPING! 
FREE INTL. EXPRESS SHIPPING for orders over $500!

A SPECIAL HOLIDAY POP-UP!

Tugboat Printshop + Moop + Reiko Yamamoto Studio! 

We're joining up with our besties & fellow Pittsburgh makers for a special Holiday Pop-up Shop! Mark your calendars & come out to shop some of the highest crafted woodcuts, bags & ceramics that the region has to offer! See you there!

December 13, NOON-5pm
831 W. North Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15233

>>>FB EVENT PAGE

CARVING OVERLOOK TREES & LEAVES

Round the clock, night & day, carving the 28" x 46"+ new block in progress. The "OVERLOOK" will be a full color print, our most ambitious project yet. Almost done carving on the key block & then onto the color!

DRAWING "OVERLOOK"

It's been a long process, 2 whole years in the making! And the "OVERLOOK" drawing is now complete! Well, we still have some photos to take to really show you how the block wrapped up...but here's a sneak peek of the last few days spent penning in fields, mountains and trees, trees, trees.

More about this new work in progress HERE>>>

TRADE UNION: A CURATED TRUNK SHOW

(This weekend! Find us & all our latest prints!) 

Trade Union is back for the first A/W Trunk Show! Like the first event in spring, Trade Union seeks to bring together the best of established & emerging brands, redefining the ‘Made in Pittsburgh’ moniker as one rooted in creativity and quality.

Take in all the sights of the event alongside killer riverfront views in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Mon Wharf! October 4, 11am-5pm!

Featured Vendors:

x Mid-Atlantic Mercantile Found Home Collection
x Royal Establishment
x Kicky Feet Vintage
x Merissa Lombardo / Pete Johnson Studios
x Homestead Supply Co.
x Studebaker Metals
x PERRY AND CO.
x Tugboat Printshop (<<< that's us!)
x Bones and All
x Sapling Press
x Red Pop Shop / Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer
x Modesto Studios
x UpTo Know Good Pop Up Creative Firm
x Spaces Corners
x Highway Robbery 

Exclusive previews from soon to come food concepts: 

x Täkō: The newest Downtown venture from the Meat & Potatoes team to feature globally inspired tacos.
x 4121 Main: A mixed-use space featuring handmade goods, art, workshops, events and an espresso bar coming soon to Lawrenceville.

DJ Sets by VIA including:

x Tom Brown 
x Anthony Susan

More details & join up to the event page HERE!

"VALLEY" CARVING (CATCH-UP!)

It's been challenging to find time to write about what we're working on lately (sorry, blog!). Lots on our fall schedule & lots going on in the studio! 

Shown above is the "VALLEY" woodcut in progress. We're now in the process of editioning this print! Shown above are the 4 color blocks, in progress. For the first time, we used paint to create wide brushstokes of color on each block to layer & build a rainbow of sky. We carved following the strokes and then added additional dashes to emphasize the cup of the valley. This edition is next to print…see the first proof color HERE!