Marsha Sweet
Cleveland, OH
Divine, Wood Engraving
14 x 11
“Divine” is a wood engraved block that was printed on Rives BFK white and hand-colored in 1997
MATRIX PREPARATION
Sand shine off type-high end-grain boxwood block with very fine glasspaper.
Darken block with a wash of medium value colored ink.
Draw image on block with black india ink and white gouache.
Place the block on a leather sandbag and rotate it when cutting.
Cut the block with assorted wood engravers’ burins.
Rub french talc into the cuts to observe progression of cutting.
PRINTING
Roll-up block with fine film of black oil-based ink using a hard rubber brayer.
Place inked block face up on the bed of an etching press.
Support the press roller with type-high wood strips at the edges of the bed.
Place dampened paper over the block.
Add felt blankets and pull the print in one pass.
Dry prints on wall by securing with pushpins.
Clean block with mineral spirits.