MOON & STARS

"THE MOON" woodcut, after the backdrop for the sky was drawn and carved. We then made a secondary 'shadow' block for the grey stars and moon surface.

THE FARM BARGE

Sloping green-tinted waves push the great red "FARM BARGE" across the rolling sea. Equipped with a green deck, lush vegetable sprouts pushing up from a myriad of folky raised beds, this repurposed ship is a futuristic and self-sustainable mobile farmland. A daydream invention, the "FARM BARGE" idealizes resourcefulness.


"FARM BARGE" is printed from 4 woodblocks (yellow, red, blue, and black) onto Ivory White Somerset paper. Paper size is a standard 16" x 20". Edition size of 100 prints. Pre-order intro rate still available for a limited time HERE and in our ETSY.

PRINTING THE KEY

Printing the key block on the "FARM BARGE" Woodcut ~ the final run through the press! A nice crisp black ink atop all that bright, happy color. We are pleased!

MAMA BEAR WOODCUT!

It was such a sunny day today in Pittsburgh! Had to take a long afternoon stroll in the golden light. And now back to work on "MAMA BEAR" (and "GARDEN" ~ final color blocks being drawn in as we speak)! A couple photos of the carving of the key bear block above and some much earlier shots of the development of this print here. Sort of flying along now and we expect to have a proof to show you in the coming week! And it will be in color!

CARVING ANOTHER KEY

Getting sooo excited to see this print finished! Just 3 more color blocks left to draw & carve! "GARDEN" will be a 18" x 24" Woodcut Print on Ivory Somerset Paper ~ read more about it & pre-order a copy HERE!

GRASS HOUSE

Work on "GRASS HOUSE" is speeding along! Key block is carved! Transfers to color blocks are complete! Color blocks are drawn in and being carved! Should be available in the shop shortly! Sign up for our mailing list on our website to be the first to hear of it's release online! (Work on the "GARDEN" is coming along grrreat too ~ more photos in a bit!)

GRASSY HILL HOME

Since only one of us can work on the "GARDEN" print at a time, we've started on some other small color prints like this grassy little hill home! A fitting addition to our ongoing LIFE OF LEISURE Series. Wood scraps up top are from yesterday's carving blitz of this hill house block, the "GARDEN" block, and another block for a 4 print set in the works.

PRINTSMAS SALE!

Merry Printsmas! It's newsletter dayat Tugboat Printshop! The latest? Now through Friday, December 2, 2011 use holiday discount code "PRINTSMAS" to receive 15% off orders places in our ETSY SHOP! Holler from the hilltops!

PRINT SURPRISE!

Printing up a new block print to be released in our ONLINE SHOP on September 1st! Join our mailing list to receive Thursday's newsletter & pics of this newly finished print delivered straight to your morning inbox!

GARDEN WOODCUT IN PROGRESS

Finding much inspiration in DIY gardening this summer…not only in the fresh, flavorful, sun-ripened bounty but also in the design & layout of daintily orchestrated spaces. Just finished drawing in this handsome little plot…and now carving now begins! The final print will be larger than the key block featured above and in full, rockin' color. This print will be a part of our LIFE OF LEISURE Woodcut Series ~ imaging color like "FOREST" or "RV" or "LIVING ROOM" right now…

Will probably be doing a pre-order sometime soon, stay tuned!

TUGBOAT IN PAPER RUNWAY!

Tugboat Printshop is featured in Issue #2 of PAPER RUNWAY magazine! Read Issue #2 online or purchase a copy of this classy new magazine here! Tugboat Printshop can be found on pages 31, 56, and 57! Enjoy!

LEAF BOAT WOODCUT PRINT!

"LEAF BOAT"

Series: LIFE OF LEISURE
8.5" x 9" Woodcut Print on Ivory Somerset Paper
Valerie Lueth, 2011.

NEW LIMITED EDITION PRINT!
$30.00

Introducing a new little print in our ongoing LIFE OF LEISURE Woodcut Series ~ "LEAF BOAT!" Printed from two hand-drawn, hand-carved woodblocks in a crisp blue green and rich sanguine brown onto Ivory Somerset paper. A looped elm leaf sail and a cupped, spike-edged oak leaf are pinched together by a small curving stick in this joyful image of a simply built, makeshift toy boat. Two smaller, delicate leaves stand in for a flag and an oar tip!

Find this print and others in the LIFE OF LEISURE series in our ONLINE SHOP!

LEAF BOAT WOODCUT CARVED!

"LEAF BOAT" wood blocks are carved! Key block above & color block below. (Print size will be roughly 9in x 8in) Part of our ongoing LIFE OF LEISURE Series. Proofin' time!

LEAF BOAT WOODCUT

About to begin printing this little charmer of a print today! "LEAF BOAT" will be a 2 color woodblock print, much like "HOUSE TREE" another print in our LIFE OF LEISURE Print Series. This whimsical print celebrates the art of using ones imagination to sculpt even the simplist of ideas into reality.

To be the first to know when this print hits our online shop, sign up for Tugboat's mailing list on our website! www.tugboatprintshop

DRAWN IN A DAY

Many thanks to the hundreds of folks that showed up for the opening of last night's (July 15, 2011) DRAWN IN A DAY exhibition at S P A C E in Pittsburgh! Unfortunately, we were only able to snap a few photos at the beginning of the project, and a few at the end of the night and the in-between was a crazy, hectic fun madness of making!

Starting at 1:00pm with the opening of the gallery doors, we (Tugboat Printhshop, Paul + Valerie) began drawing on two 8x8 woodblocks (below). Shortly thereafter, we were carving like CRAZY and by around 5:00pm we were able to start printing the first of the blocks. By 7:00pm the 2nd was carved and being inked up and by 9:00pm we had at least 100 prints of each (all printed by hand with brayers!), chopped on the paper cutter (yes, we brought along a paper cutter) and ready to post up on the wall in the shape of a spiral corn maze!

We weren't able to completely finish our project…so we'll be returning to the gallery sometime very soon to wrap up the design. We'll post a little gallery tour afterwards of our finished piece and the other awesome projects that were happening at the same time!

What a labor of printmaking! We learned a whole lot about pace and what we are capable of doing in a 7 hour day!

DRAWN IN A DAY is up at S P A C E Gallery through September 4, 2011.

NEW BEAR PRINT IN PROGRESS!

Just one of the new bunch of woodcut prints we've started on of late ~ this one will probably take a while to develop, but here's some photos of the beginnings! Featuring a roaring mama bear with a handful of bear cubs. Pretty big ~ check out that pencil the in pic below for a rough idea of scale.

To be part of our ongoing LIFE OF LEISURE Series.