Here is another linocut I thought I was happy with. That is, until I got to thinking about it. Below is the original version of One Way Ticket, of which I’d editioned ten and then stored in my plan chest.
Then I made the mistake of opening said plan chest and accidentally looking at them. I found I didn’t like that female figure at all and also, well, where are all the people? Tooting Broadway is a very busy tube station after all……
So with the help of my trusty repair kit, I added three more figures – a couple walking by, hand in hand, and a man striding into the other station entrance. I thought I’d just change the woman in the foreground too – make her hair longer and tone down her top – and add some floor tiles inside. Okay, that’s better….
Hmm – I’m sorry but it’s all so dark. I know, I’ll lighten the sky – make it daytime instead of evening. Oh, and while I’m at it, I’ll change her top again…
I still don’t like her top though – let’s try a different pattern – and, well, why not make the sky yellow and the interior of the tube station blue?
No, sorry, I don’t like any of that and what’s more, I’m not sure if it’s not all too crowded now. Perhaps I should take out one of the figures?
Okay, that will have to do – surplus male removed, blue sky and yellow interior re-instated, and I’ve gone with the original top. And if you think this was a lot of work, I can assure you this is an edited version….
Oh Gail, you do make me laugh! I'm constantly amazed at your persistence, dexterity and skill, but as we know there are endless possibilities – however, you're not obliged to try them all.
This shows me one of the (few) advantages of reduction printing – there is no scope for a change of mind as there's no lino left by the end
Thanks, Colin, and you've hit the nail on the head again! With lino I have no choice but to cut back on the detail (otherwise I'd be not only trying put the train driver in, I want to include his moustache).
But to compensate for this, I do feel compelled to try every possible combination….
Don't change! I think I enjoy your journeys just as much as the end results – SO interesting to follow the struggle.
Thanks, Colin 🙂
Hi Gail
Great to see how your print is evolving.
How did you add the people in – did you cut extra lino blocks of them and then use them to print over the top of the original?
Jacqui
Interesting question, Jacqui – I cut away and removed sections of the blocks on the areas I wanted to change and glued new lino in place. Then I drew the new people in, cut them and printed the prints again from start to finish. As I use multiple blocks, this is quite possible, if a little laborious.
If you were to use the reductive method, then, as you say, the only way to alter a print once it's finished would be to over-print but I imagine the outlines of previous ink layers would show through….