From Watercolor to Woodblock

This is a watercolor sketch I did one morning while staying at the Mable Dodge Lujan B&B in Taos. The setting of the B&B is stunning as it backs right up the the mountains. There were a few small preliminary sketches so I could get a feel for the light and colors. Back in the studio, I decided I liked the sketch and started the process of translating it into a woodblock. The woodblock exhibited at the Coors Western Art Exhibit 2014. The edition almost sold out during the show and has since sold out.

There is always a challenge to translate the mood of a watercolor into a woodblock. Creating a watercolor sketch is a spontaneous reaction to the scene. A woodblock develops slowly over numerous stages of carving and printing. The reduction process helps to keep some spontaneity in the process. 

Below is an image of the watercolor.

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