hummingbird linocut wip

artist proof I, hummin'

I finished the block for my latest linocut print featuring a hummingbird sipping from a flower. I've been seeing hummingbirds outside my second story window. Once the flowers on the trees bloom in the coming weeks, I know they will be frequenting more often.

I still don't have a camera, so I used a photo I took of a hummingbird three years ago and did some line drawings based on that photo. (The photo below was taken with my laptop.)

hummingbird line drawings for linocut

Now I am experimenting with adding color as collage pieces. Rather than carve single circles, I cut a circle from cardboard. Just like I would add printing ink with a brayer to a block, I brayered the ink onto the cardboard circle and then printed the color onto the music sheet. I then cut out the colored circles and glued them to my paper. Next, I printed the hummingbird onto that mixed media collage.

artist proof II, hummin'

I'll spend the week experimenting some more with colors and shapes, before I decide what idea to fly with for this series.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I took a 27 mile bicycle ride today. Each weekend we've managed to do a longer ride now that the days are longer and warmer.

joining sunday sketches