Tom Wagen's Art

 I  First block cut  Second block cut Third block cut I have a number of printing blocks that are large (12" x 12")  - previously, ones that I used - I was not satisfied with the results - so I decided to try another approach - drew a depiction of a house in the woods - I then took 2 of these large blocks - one the front of the first block I carved out an image of the house - on the back of the first block, I carved out the intermediary row of trees in front of the house and in the second block, I carved out the image of the trees in the foreground.  I then printed the first image (house) over which I printed the intermediary row of trees; and then printed the foreground.  The result was somewhat satisfactory - but the house was obscured - therefore, I attempted variations by using only 2 of the carved images - one being the house printed lower on the paper and then the foreground cut; and then one using just the 2 blocks cut into images of trees .

Don gave me two novels by Frans Masereel for Christmas (one was entitled Passionate Journey and the other God's Man).  The novels had no text - the story was told by the author using wood cut block prints.  The former novel was written (or rather carved in 1919).  Don thought that the novels would provide a springboard of ideas for me and future block prints.  What I found fascinating was the depiction of people in various types of activities; and the rough lines of the cuts (since the prints were done initially in wood).  I have included some of the block prints to give an idea of what was printed.  Using the ideas generated by the novels - I decided to look for pictures that I felt may translate into a block print using the technique Masereel used in his blocks.    I found a subject for my block print – drew it first as a pencil line drawing and then converted it into a drawing that I will transpose onto a block for cutting. The first few pictures are from