Etsy :: GarThoma Studio

While making use of the "POUNCE" function on etsy, to browse through the artist's store fronts that have not yet had a sale, I landed on Garthoma.

I have collected woodblock prints in the past, mainly Yoshitoshi, but Garthoma's wood block printing really has special appeal.  Looking at his print of "Wash Day,"  there is a real feel of Americana Folk art.  This print could just as well be an illustration included in a story by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain).

The woodblock print technique is special artistic skill worth noting.  The wood block is designed so that the areas to show 'white' are cut away with a knife or chisel, leaving the image to show in 'the darker color of the ink or paint.' The block is cut with the grain of the wood.

 

Then ink is applied to the block and pressed firmly and evenly on the paper to produce the print. The picture will print "in reverse" or mirror-image.

So this image of "Between the Rows," as well as the other two prints on this page were carved in the reverse or mirror of the image you see here.

 

Keeping the technique in mind while viewing Garthoma's work brings you to a new appreciation for the effort it takes to create such a wonderful piece of art.

Take a few moments to get a closer look at the work of Garthoma, it is quite incredible - here is the link Etsy :: www.garthoma.etsy.com