Tortie Girls Block Prints in Black with Red
Posted: April 26, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, cat artwork, cats, cookie, feline artwork, kelly, linoleum block print, tortoiseshell cats | Tags: black and red, block print, cat artwork, cats, feline artwork, linoleum block prints, tortoiseshell cat 2 Comments
The Roundest Eyes, black ink in rice paper, red mat, black frame, 12" x 16"
What enchanted me first about block prints, and what I wanted most to see when I began creating with them, was the clarity of black ink on white rice paper. While I often use other colors and types and even prints of paper, the black on white is what I usually return to.
Even when the image is my tortie girls, usually also tinted with oranges and yellows and green for their eyes, pink for nose as I had designed. When I initially print them they are that familiar black on white, and all the cuts and trims I made on the surface of the block to create their image makes me smile as I remember designing the prints and cutting the blocks. The color completes the design, but I always save a few prints back to leave in black on white.
And when I was studying Japanese block prints and other similar styles of art from eastern countries a certain shade of red often seemed to accompany them, and it still seems appropriate, so I include that rich red mat with a black frame to complete the color scheme.
Each image is 8″ x 12″, signed and numbered, with acid-free rich red mat. Frame is 12″ x 16″ black matte-finish wood frame 3/4″ wide and 1-1/4″ deep, almost like a box with the print on the top.
“The Roundest Eyes” (at top)
Sometimes when I look at Kelly the only feature I can distinguish in all those tortie markings is her extremely round eyes. Find this print in my Etsy shop.
“The Goddess” (below)
Well, everyone knows a fat cat who knows she’s beautiful, and Cookie would tell you that a woman with a round shape was once most desirable and an object of worship. That’s why I call her “The Goddess”. Find this print in my Etsy shop.
The Goddess, black ink on rice paper, red mat, black frame, 12" x 16.
The Roundest Eyes, hand colored.
And the usual colors
You can also find the hand-colored prints in my Etsy shop, though they have different mats to coordinate with the hand-coloring, and a slightly larger frame. Find the girls in my Etsy shop under “Prints”.
I have also printed the girls on white t-shirts. You can also find these in my Etsy shop under T-shirts.
I also occasionally have other items, usually textiles, printed with the tortie girls. In the past I’ve had curtains, placemats, tablecloths and runners, and I’ve been working on those at the same time as these prints. You’ll see them soon.
Awakening, matted and framed, linoleum block print © B.E. Kazmarski
And another block print in black with a red mat
While I offer this print both black only and hand-colored, and in a variety of mat colors, I still like it best in black and white and it’s striking with the red mat. This combination was popular at Valentine’s Day so I’ve prepared a few more to have for any time of the year. Read about “Awakening” or find it on Etsy.
About Block Printing
I really enjoy working in this medium and I can free myself from the traditional media and a greater realism in rendering. Linoleum block printing is a technique wherein the artist carves the surface of a piece of artist’s linoleum, leaving raised areas which will become the image. Ink is rolled onto these raised areas, then a piece of paper is pressed against the block and when it’s lifted away the ink remains, leaving the image on the paper.
The resulting work isn’t a one-time thing, but meant to be printed multiple times–and I do, on just about anything I can think of. They all start out on paper, but they’ve been printed on t-shirts and dresses and aprons and curtains, to name a few things. I will sometimes add color to them with watercolor or dyes to give them extra interest. The resulting work, even though they are all printed from the same block, is a unique print, still handmade by the artist.
Because of the nature of the medium, each print is unique and ink coverage is not always perfect. Most artists consider this random activity to be part of the process of creating an individualized print, and along with the hand-painting makes a unique work of art.
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All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Colorful Handprinted Kitty Gift Bags and Totes for Spring
Posted: March 15, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, cat artwork, cat photographs, cats, feline artwork, linoleum block print, marketplace | Tags: block prints, cat art, cat artwork, cat gift items, cats, gift bags, tote bags Leave a comment
Summery Colors Medium Gift Bags, Tabbies
When I printed gift bags last year, most were experiments with different styles of bags and especially inks/paints and other media to print the image onto the bag. Some worked, some really did not, but some fell in between. I held them back because they didn’t meet my specifications for printing, but I’ve learned to show others the items I’ve made that weren’t what I envisioned. I’ve found that often others see something entirely different in what I see are flaws, and that’s what happened with these bags.
Lime and Blue Medium Gift Bag, Kelly's Morning Bath
You may recognize the “Tabbies” designs from my Valentine cards, and I also print “Kelly’s Morning Bath” block prints in whimsical colors and in various combinations. Using colored bags opened up the possibilities, printing tone on tone with a darker pink on a lighter pink, a darker blue on a lighter blue and a rich purple on violet, or contrast or complementary colors.
Like many of my hand-printed items, these were a one-of-a-kind project using styles of bags I had found in wholesale and retail shops. They inspired the ink colors which I mixed on the spot from acrylic paints and printed in an effort to get away from oil-based ink, which smells like tar, in printing in surfaces like this.
Houndstooth trim with turquoise, Kelly's Morning Bath.
Unfortunately, the gloss surface resisted the ink, causing puddling in some areas and striations in the coverage where it’s supposed to be solid. That’s what I thought was a failure, but I still liked the overall look of the bag.
But others, not concerned with the printing, liked the overall look.
Block printing is a technique wherein the artist carves the surface of a piece of linoleum, leaving raised areas which will become the image. Ink is rolled onto these raised areas, then a piece of paper is pressed against the block and when it’s lifted away the ink remains, leaving the image on the paper.
Shades of Violet, Large Gift Bag
That’s fine when printing on plain old flat paper, but when it comes to other surfaces, as I am fond of printing on, I always meet up with some challenges.
All these bags and more are available in various colors. You can find all of these bags in my Etsy shop under “Gift Bags”.
Tote Bags
I’ve been experimenting with various iron-ons to see how best to use favorite photographs and artwork featuring the Fantastic Four black cats and portraits of both cats and dogs on canvas bags.
The Natural Canvas Totes
For years I’ve been using several natural canvas bags with artwork printed on them, just picturing my own in its place, especially “After Dinner Nap” and “Peaches and Peonies”. I have two left of my last printing, including “After Dinner Nap”, below.
Canvas tote bag, "After Dinner Nap"
I decided to add some embellishments to these canvas bags, beginning with dimensional fabric paint and adding borders around the artwork, writing in the title below the piece and my signature, and adding a pattern to the edge of the bag opening. In the future I plan to add buttons and decorative trim, but only after I’ve tried them out to make sure they are washable, don’t catch on your clothing, or easily fall off!
Canvas tote bag, "Sophie Keeps an Eye on Things"
Once I find a reliable source of canvas tote bags in a size and style I like, I’ll be printing more, including the black bags with black cats, but for now I still welcome spring with these two patterns. Soon enough I’ll include flowers as well!
You can find these printed canvas bags in my Etsy shop.
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Read about more of the things I create that are inspired by my cats in the category “Marketplace”.
And be sure to visit my Etsy shop to see what’s currently available.
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
The Spring Kitten
Posted: February 16, 2012 Filed under: cat artwork, feline artwork, kittens, linoleum block print, marketplace, my household of felines, prints, spring | Tags: block print, cat artwork, hand-tinted print, linoleum block print, snow kitten 2 Comments
The Spring Kitten, hand-tinted block print © B.E. Kazmarski
I once had a pure white long-haired kitty with pea green eyes and a pink nose named Sally. She was also completely deaf, and completely fearless; without distraction, she lived in her own little world, full of sleep and joy and play. She was the inspiration for many sketches, paintings and photos, and for this little piece as well.
- Detail of hand-tinted block print.
Almost everywhere I’ve lived there has been a quince bush, an old-fashioned favorite for its early bright pink flowers—so early, in fact, that the bush in my neighbor’s yard in the years when Sally was young bloomed every year during the January thaw, and then snow would fall on the bright pink blooms, nestling in the curve of the branches like Sally when she’d found a good cozy spot.
- Detail of block print.
The style of this design was inspired after studying and practicing many illustration traditions, from Asian-inspired block prints and brush paintings to metal and wood etchings and block prints used for books and periodicals. My reference photo (which I kept) shows the branch with the flowers against a brilliant blue sky, and a soft little pile of snow in the angle which became the sleeping kitten.
- The Spring Kitten, block print © B.E. Kazmarski
Also inspired by the idea of a book illustration, it’s just a little thing, image is 5″ x 3.5″, with mat and frame outside dimensions 10″ x 8″.
I offer a framed hand-tinted print on Etsy, and the other variations listed below in the Marketplace on my website.
Print only, $15
Hand-colored print, $25
Matted and framed, no color, $30
Matted and framed, hand-colored, $40
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All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
The Artist’s Life: Still Inspiring
Posted: February 12, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, cat artwork, cat behavior, cat stories, cookie, linoleum block print, marketplace, prints, senior cats, the artist's life, tortoiseshell cats | Tags: art inspires nature, block printing, block printing on textiles, cat stories, cookie as the goddess, developing animal-themed merchandise, linoleum block print, original block prints Leave a comment
Cookie, "The Goddess" block print © B.E. Kazmarski
In the last two months Cookie was with me I suddenly had orders for the t-shirt and print with this image, both directly to me and from wholesale customers, even customized versions of them. I will always think of this as a great sendoff for her, this favorite image immortalizing her and traveling out all over the world. And, of course, came the stories of the favorite torties who had led people to Cookie’s image.
The interesting part was that I didn’t actually have any prints or tees for sale at the time—none listed on Etsy or even on my website, though I had the image displayed as I always do. These people made special requests, checking to see if I had any or when I would have tees or prints. So I got busy and made up more of them to fill all the orders, and then made up more again, happily spending time with this image that is a favorite of mine, and in all that printing and painting it helped me have happy and positive thoughts about Cookie.
So in this article I have stories of Cookie and her inspiration, of the tortie lovers inspired by The Goddess including lovely photos of them, and I explain how I developed the hand-painted print including a little bit about block printing and testing fabric swatches, plus the new things I’m designing around my tortie girls as they continue to inspire.
In the studio
Cookie in her favorite bed, my rag basket in the studio, from October 2011.
Cookie always loved to be near me when I worked and she loved the “new” studio, heading there every day in her last few months for her long daily nap in the rag basket as you see in this photo; this was also a sketch in the months before I began posting them and a plan for a painting. I just loved to see her there.
The night Cookie died we were all in my studio and I painted new t-shirts for a while in an effort not to be too upset around her; me working on something and her watching me work was a lifelong activity we shared, and in her last few hours was likely a great comfort to her. For me, any creative work in my studio was relaxing and fulfilling and helped me to accept what was happening, and I’ve no doubt it was timed perfectly for me to be done and to catch that last truly conscious moment with her, when she looked into my eyes and put her paw comfortingly on my hand.
Cookie’s portrait
The Little Sunflower, pastel © B.E. Kazmarski
Because I paint commissioned portraits, people look for the portraits of my own cats. I will admit that I don’t have portraits of all the cats who’ve lived with me, though I have the missing ones planned.
But Cookie, my studio cat? Well, I painted one of her many years ago called “The Little Sunflower” (you’ll need to scroll down on this link). To anyone else, this may not be recognizable as Cookie, but because I adored this moment when Cookie had a sunbath every sunny morning, I loved her shape and her shadow, and the feeling of joy emanating from her when she quietly sat there, teaching me a lesson in yoga I’d yet to learn, it is the Cookie I took with me every day. In time, this led to her joining me outdoors, and anyone can see what a joy that was for both of us.
But I also have this block print, and while I exaggerated her shape for greater humor—Cookie was well-rounded but she was never that fat—her face, her expression and her markings are all the best portrait of Cookie I could ever have created; farther into this article I have a comparison between my reference photo and the print. After all these years, I still laugh when I look at her, the way a portrait should touch you.
Recent stories
Here are a few of the recent stories from people who contacted me about prints and tees in the past two months and who I thought about as I worked in my studio (authors have given me permission to print).
Rosie from the UK
Rosie from the United Kingdom
“I found your print of “The Goddess” and think she looks like my cat, Rosie…I live in the UK and was wondering if it was possible to get a print without the frame… If they’re not coloured, would it be possible to get one coloured like Rosie if I sent you a photo? I’m assuming not but thought I’d ask! (Of course I could, and the finished print is below.)
“We got Rosie when I was 11. My dad told me we were going to mum’s boss’s house to pick something up and asked if I wanted to go with him, and as Annie, the boss, had two ginger cats my sisters and I loved to play with I went. When I got there I saw a tiny purring little bundle of fluff and claws and played with her for about an hour. Then dad came in and told me to pick her up, we were going home!
“15 years later, and we’ve moved to another city. Rosie is still going strong, mum had a terrifying moment a few years ago when she felt a lump in Rosie’s belly and [went] to the vets with the instructions to not allow her to be in pain….The vet sent her back with a packet of diet cat food. She’s a wonderful purry old thing, with a beautiful temperament—she had to have one to grow up in a house of 3 little girls and all the neighbourhood kids!
Polly as The Goddess
“Whilst we got Rosie as a kitten, Polly is the tortie who holds my heart. She was much more than a cat and was my constant companion for the two years we had her. I adored her, she adored me. Then one night she escaped, and my housemate forgot about her and didn’t let her in. I returned home to find her missing and we spent 4 days looking for her, I was distraught and couldn’t cope without her, but then we got a phone call from the vets, Polly was found by a lovely lady (who was also owned by a tortie – Mitzy) who realised how sick she was and took her to the vets. She lasted 2 days before dying of anti-freeze poisoning.”
Kitty
“This cat on the tee looks so much like my cat “Kitty”. She was a rescue cat..she just showed up at my door, and I took her in. I loved her..she slept with me..back to back, lol. But because of my allergy I needed to give her to a good home. I miss her so much..but it was something I needed to do.”
Kitty’s mom ordered a tee to remember Kitty.
SadieCat relaxing among the library books.
SadieCat
SadieCat’s mom bought a hand-colored print for herself as a birthday gift.
“…I especially love the pictures of the tortie cats. When I saw the block print of “The Goddess” my heart stopped. Three years ago I rescued a starving little kitten who soon became the love of my life. I couldn’t help myself from attaching a couple of pictures of SadieCat (seen here). Someplace I have a photo where she looks exactly like your print, but I couldn’t find it.
Now there's a face!
“[Sadiecat] will only consent to being held when she’s in the mood and she’ll bite if you’re late with her dinner, but I love her and wouldn’t have her any other way. (Well, I could probably do without the biting). And thanks for…putting Sadie out there, I’m too shy. 🙂 She’s shy too, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
Visit the original post, The Goddess Truly Inspires, to read more stories and to add your own.
About creating “The Goddess”
I looked at Cookie on the kitchen floor, on her back with her toes curled, a defiant look on her face, and it happened—that moment of visualization. I could see a linoleum block print in black ink on white rice paper, hand-tinted with oranges and yellows for the patches in Cookie’s tortoiseshell fur and green for her eyes and pink for her nose. I would call the print “The Goddess” for the many women depicted with generous figures in sculpture and painting through the millennia.
Compare the photo and the print:
Reference photo for "The Goddess"
Cookie, "The Goddess" block print © B.E. Kazmarski
From the time I first described it to someone, who chuckled at the idea of the image, I knew Cookie was a winner. And through the years she has continued to bring people and stories to my display no matter where I am—everyone knows a cat who looks like Cookie!
The full block, of course it's in reverse.
Cookie inspired not only a design, but a particular style and technique and a new element to my creative life and my merchandise. With an inspiration that strong, I probably would have done it anyway, but I had other reasons as well. In the late 1990s having my sketches and paintings reproduced was still expensive and not always successful and I wanted artwork that I could reproduce easily and inexpensively myself so that I could have something more affordable than original artwork to sell in my displays.
Closeup of Cookie's face in linoleum block; the light areas are the smooth surface that holds the ink.
I’d worked with small linoleum block prints for years and always enjoyed the medium, but this time I decided I wanted something larger and I might actually create a series—which led to “The Roundest Eyes” depicting my other tortie, Kelly, a few months later. Between the two, Cookie gets more notice and stories, but Kelly sells more t-shirts and prints…we just never let Cookie know that.
Capturing all Cookie’s freckles and spots and stripes was indeed a challenge, especially when I went to actually cut them out of the surface of the linoleum block.
I have a lot of painting to do.
New items
Success! The washed strip of muslin with thinned fabric paints passes the wash and dry test.
Why does this scrap of muslin stained with orange and yellow make me so happy? Because I’ve finally found the new coloring for my Tortie Girls prints!
Because I hand-paint the color into these prints I print them in oil-base ink, even on paper, because water-base ink is totally water soluble, like tempera paint. On paper I can use watercolor, but on the tees and other textiles I have to use a permanent dye of some sort. I want the wearer to be able to wash these without too much fuss, but in order to be able to create and sell them I don’t want to have to wash the fabric to set the dye, then iron the items for presentation, in part because of the oil-base ink and also because washing and ironing is very time-consuming. In creating merchandise for sale I need to strike a balance between my time and materials and what I charge for a product.
Years ago I found a cold-set dye that I could paint on just like my watercolors. I mixed it up about ten years ago and kept it in an airtight glass jar in the dark, but I’m nearly out of it. I created the tees mentioned above because tees are popular, but I’m not a t-shirt person so I’ve also printed a slew of other textiles through the years. Last year I printed the placemats, table coverings and even pillowcovers and appliques for bags you see above, but did not have enough dye to paint them so they have sat, waiting, since last May.
 First color test with drawing ink. |
 Letting it air dry. |
 Fail! |
After several tries with drawing ink, above—which stains everything it touches and won’t wash out when you want it to, but washed right out when I tested it—various fabric dye substances including full-strength from the bottle and a strong mix of powder in various brands, and various paints and markers, none could both look like washy watercolors and stand up to the wash test.
 Second color test. |
 Second color test air drying. |
 Second fail! Not as bad as the first. |
Until now, using Jacquard fabric paint and screen-print ink. And now I can follow through with all the new products I’d planned last year featuring The Goddess and the little girl with The Roundest Eyes—you’ll see them soon.
As always, Feline Inspection and Quality Control; Mewsette and Jelly Bean have to approve as well.
Above are square muslin tablecloths to be painted and either hemmed or with a decorative stitch added around the edge and fringed, canvas placemats to be painted and possibly stitched, and simply printed squares of muslin ready to be painting and stitched onto bags, pillows, even clothing.
I love to know that I’m sharing Cookie forever with the block print of her, and while some day I’ll do the painting I’m visualizing as well as other paintings of her with other cats, this block print will always be the image I remember.
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All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used in any way without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Colorful Block Print Valentine Note Cards
Posted: January 29, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, black cats, cat artwork, cat painting, cats, feline artwork, linoleum block print, marketplace, valentine | Tags: block print cards, cat art, cat greeting cards, cat note cards, cats, linoleum block prints, pets, valentine card, valentine cat cards, valentine's day 1 Comment
Linoleum block-printed Valentine cards inspired by Valentine Candy hearts!
I usually print these little linocuts in earth tones or “tabby colors”, but I’ve been itching to use brights and pastels and all sorts of combinations with them. Considering the designs, what better time to start with this than Valentine’s day to create hand-printed cards in magenta on pink, violet, magenta and red card stock, embellished with magenta or purple stamp ink, just saturated with color for Valentine’s Day!
This set of 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ note cards features two designs combining my hand-cut block prints with commercial rubber stamps on smooth uncoated 70 lb. cover stock.
I offer them in sets of single color cards with matching envelopes and in one big set of all four colors.
Magenta on pink set.
PINK, VIOLET AND MAGENTA CARDS
A single kitty entitled “Sunshine and Flowers” printed in magenta says “MEOW!” stamped in magenta with a commercial rubber stamp. Inside “You’re PURRRFECT” is stamped in magenta with a commercial rubber stamp.
Two kitties cuddling for a bath say “You’re PURRRFECT” stamped in magenta with a commercial rubber stamp. Inside “MEOW!” is stamped in magenta with a commercial rubber stamp.
Magenta on red with purple stamp ink.
RED CARDS
A single kitty entitled “Sunshine and Flowers” printed in magenta says “MEOW!” stamped in purple with a commercial rubber stamp. Inside “You’re PURRRFECT” is stamped in purple with a commercial rubber stamp.
Two kitties cuddling for a bath say “You’re PURRRFECT” stamped in purple with a commercial rubber stamp. Inside “MEOW!” is stamped in purple with a commercial rubber stamp.
Violet cards printed in magenta.
On the back of all the cards I’ve stamped in purple ink the name of the series of block prints, my logo and my name and contact information.
Each set comes with Soft Pink 70 lb. text weight acid-free envelopes which are inkjet/laser compatible. The set of six, including three each of the two designs, are packed in a clear-top vinyl greeting card box.
Individual color sets come with matching envelopes, and use these links to find each of these sets in my Etsy shop:
Pink cards come with Soft Pink envelopes.
Violet cards come with Soft Violet envelopes.
Magenta cards come with Autumn Red envelopes.
Red cards come with Autumn Red envelopes.
Mewsette, Giuseppe and Jelly Bean inspect each card.
ABOUT THE ART: TABBIES LINOLEUM BLOCK PRINTS
The stripes made me do it! The clarity of tabby cat stripes as they outline a cat’s features and define its shape has always been an inspiration for more graphic designs.
These cards were block printed, a technique wherein the artist carves the surface of a piece of linoleum, leaving raised areas which will become the image. Ink is rolled onto these raised areas, then a piece of paper is pressed against the block and when it’s lifted away the ink remains, leaving the image on the paper.
These two designs are from a set of four, and have always had a sweet and cuddly feel to me. I’d always printed these in natural earth tones but have been planning to print them in bright colors on brightly-colored paper as well.
Please explore my greeting card collections in my shop on Etsy to see all the designs and others too.
"These cats are all covered with funny markings," say the three perfect black cats.
I photographed the process as I printed these—of course, with feline supervision—and I’ll be posting my article soon to explain how block prints are made.
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All images and text used in this article are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Awakening, A Special for Valentine’s Day
Posted: January 27, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, awakening, black cats, cats, kublai, linoleum block print, original artwork, sally | Tags: anatole france, cat artwork, cat merchandise, cats, kublai and sally, linoleum block print Leave a comment
Awakening, matted and framed, linoleum block print © B.E. Kazmarski
Quote reads: “‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’–Anatole France. Dedicated to my prince and princess and all those since who’ve awakened their part of my soul.
Because they opened my heart and awakened my soul, I have a special piece of artwork on Valentine’s Day.
“Awakening” is a linoleum block print, 16″ in diameter, printed in water-based ink on handmade white rice paper. For Valentine’s Day I’m offering a print matted with a rich red mat to encircle your feline loves.
ABOUT THE CATS
“Awakening” was inspired by my close companions Kublai and Sally who ran the household together for about 12 years and who actually slept curled like this. I enjoyed following the inspiration to combine the image of the two cats with the decorative border simply made of shapes and patterns that were both attractive and easy to cut in a block print.
Detail of Kublai
I had seen the quote in a number of different places, and of all the quotes about how animals fill our souls this one, the concept of awakening, I found most moving. These two cats, especially Kublai, the “original” black cat, were a major part of my awakening not only to animals but to love in general.
Aside from the fact that they were both loving, friendly and social, they were complete opposites in the way they expressed this love and were as different in temperament as they were in color and texture as the loose reference to yin and yang illustrates.
In their own ways they nurtured about 30 foster cats of widely differing ages and social abilities, just as they nurtured me in the years they shared my life.
Detail of Sally
“Kublai” is somehow derived from the word for “prince” in Sanskrit, and “Sally” is derived from the word for “princess”—Sarah—in Hebrew.
Block printing is a technique wherein the artist carves the surface of a piece of linoleum, leaving raised areas which will become the image. Ink is rolled onto these raised areas, then a piece of paper is pressed against the block and when it’s lifted away the ink remains, leaving the image on the paper.
I also print this image on textiles, such as t-shirts, curtains, tablecloths, shawls and tote bags! Please check my apparel and housewares categories to see what’s currently available.
Because of the nature of the medium, each print is unique and ink coverage is not always perfect. Most artists consider this random activity to be part of the process of creating an individualized print, and along with the hand-painting makes a unique work of art. ”
Mat and frame for print.
ABOUT THE PRINT
Mat is an acid-free rich red, my favorite shade to coordinate with plain black and white block prints; not too bright, not too dull. I cut the circular mat myself in my studio; the narrowest portion of the mat is 1.5″. The frame is a 1″ wide plain black matte-finish wood. The final framed size is 21″ x 21″.
I have two matted and framed prints available in my Etsy shop.
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All images and text used in this article are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Valentine Tabbies Note Cards: Sneak Preview
Posted: January 15, 2012 Filed under: animal artists and illustrators, animal artwork, cats, christmas, linoleum block print, the artist's life | Tags: animal-themed merchandise, block printed note cards, cat valentine cards, cats, feline valentine note cards, valentine note cards 3 Comments
Block-printed Valentine note cards!
I had such fun today printing little note cards for Valentine’s Day I couldn’t wait to show them off! These two are from my series “Tabbies”, “Sunshine and Flowers” and “Let Me Clean You Up” and have always had a sweet and cuddly feel to me. I’d always printed these in natural earth tones but have been planning to print them in bright colors on brightly-colored paper as well.
These are printed in magenta on flourescent pink and blue card stock, are blank inside, and I have a rubber stamp to print the necessary information on the back. They are 4.25″ x 5.5″, blank inside and come with a coordinating envelope—I couldn’t get the ones I wanted that matched the paper stock, so I have to settle for ones that are more pastel, but they actually look nice.
I’ll finish up these sets, and I’ll also have a few other cards to offer as well. I’ll be posting this week.
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All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Pensive Kelly
Posted: January 8, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, cat photographs, cats, daily photo, kelly, linoleum block print, original artwork, pastel, photographs, senior cats, tortoiseshell cats | Tags: cat art, cat painting, linoleum block print, original pastel painting, pet photography, photography, tortoiseshell cat Leave a comment
Kelly ponders things by her favorite window.
Kelly’s tiny little face rests in deep thought as she sits in front of her favorite window on a winter afternoon.
I always associate this window with Kelly, even though she also spends time on the bathroom windowsill and the casement at the top of the stairs, and this year decided to visit my studio as I was working in there.
But since she began mingling with the house she’s been devoted to this side window with the bird feeders right outside and the lilacs where the birds perch and the butterflies visit. She was such an inspiration at this side window that I’ve done two pieces of artwork featuring her here.
Winter Window
I painted this in 2002 as a quick pastel while little Kelly was, again, pondering in front of the big north window on a winter afternoon.
Winter Window, pastel © B.E. Kazmarski
Kelly pauses in the stark pastel light of a winter afternoon through the big north window in my studio, absolutely still in contemplation as she watches birds flit about at the feeders or Buddy the squirrel making a fool of himself. Kelly is petite for an adult cat, making the window seem vast, and the light is so diffuse that nothing has a hard edge. It is a scene I remember even in the heat of summer.
It’s available matted and framed in my Etsy shop.
Kelly’s Morning Bath
And, of course, there’s Kelly at her morning bath.
Kelly's Morning Bath 1, linoleum block print © B.E. Kazmarski
Kelly gives herself a complete bath every morning after breakfast on the table in front of the window in my studio, her every move full of purpose and industry.
This print captures an autumn morning, when the leaves on my maple trees have colored and filter the sun, speckling the table with splashes of sun and shadow. I print this on various types of rice paper with leaves or flower parts embedded in shades of yellow, green or warm brown. You can always find a print or two in my Etsy shop.
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To see more daily photos go to “Daily Images” in the menu and choose “All Photos” or any other category.
All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used in any way without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Tortie Girls Block Print Tee Shirts
Posted: January 5, 2012 Filed under: animal artwork, cats, feline artwork, linoleum block print, the artist's life, tortoiseshell cats | Tags: animal artwork, cat artwork, cat merchandise, feline artwork, linoleum block prints, pets, tortoiseshell cats 4 Comments
Cookie, "The Goddess" block print © B.E. Kazmarski
I’ve had several requests about my tortie girls t-shirts lately, so I thought I’d add the ones I have back to my Etsy site. While I am low on sizes I had put them all aside until I could print more and have all sizes available. But considering I print these in oil-based ink and clean up with turpentine I usually wait until I can have the windows open or I can print outdoors, which is March at the earliest. So for now, they are either very large or very small.
Read about the tees and about creating these prints on Portraits of Animals Marketplace.
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To see more daily photos go to “Daily Images” in the menu and choose “All Photos” or any other category.
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.
Donation to Animal Rescue League’s Paws and Prints
Posted: October 21, 2011 Filed under: animal artwork, awakening, black cats, cat artwork, cats, linoleum block print | Tags: animal rescue league of western pennsylvania, donation to shelter, linoleum block print 2 Comments
"Awakening", block print © B.E. Kazmarski, matted and framed.
The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania is hosting their annual “Paw and Prints” fundraiser on October 22, 2011. I’m donating the above piece, and I hope the bidding is high to benefit the animals in both the shelter and the wildlife center!
“Awakening” is a linoleum block print, 16″ in diameter, printed in water-based black ink, and here it’s on handmade white silk paper with gold and silver flecks (see last image for detail). I enjoyed following the inspiration to combine the image of the two cats with the decorative border simply made of shapes and patterns that were both attractive and easy to cut in a block print.
Awakening, detail of text
Quote reads: ” ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’–Anatole France. Dedicated to my prince and princess and all those since who’ve awakened their part of my soul.”
“Awakening” was inspired by my close companions Kublai and Sally who ran the household together for about 12 years and who actually slept curled like this.
I had seen the quote in a number of different places, and of all the quotes about how animals fill our souls this one, the concept of awakening, I found most moving. These two cats, especially Kublai, the black one, were a major part of my awakening not only to animals but to love in general.
Aside from the fact that they were both loving, friendly and social—even that in their own styles—they were complete opposites in the way they expressed this love and were as different in temperament as they were in color and texture as the loose reference to yin and yang illustrates.
In their own ways they nurtured about 30 foster cats of widely differing ages and social abilities, just as they nurtured me in the years they shared my life.
Detail of Kublai
The Prince and Princess
Kublai was named while I was in college studying the romantic English poets, in this case the poem Kublai Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the one that begins, “In Xanadu did Kubla Khan/a stately pleasure dome decree…” No what cat doesn’t decree his home to be a stately pleasure dome? Especially this particular black cat who was constantly frustrated by the fact that I regularly treated him like a cat despite the fact that he had more intelligence than many humans I’ve met in my life.
But Kubla[i] Khan was also a price of his people and the name “Kublai” is somehow derived from the word for “prince” in Sanskrit, while “Sally” is derived from the word for “princess”—Sarah—in Hebrew. So they really were prince and princess, but I didn’t need to do any research to know that!
Detail of Sally.
Block printing
Block printing is a technique wherein the artist carves the surface of a piece of linoleum, leaving raised areas which will become the image. Ink is rolled onto these raised areas, then a piece of paper is pressed against the block and when it’s lifted away the ink remains, leaving the image on the paper.
I also print this image on textiles, such as t-shirts, curtains, tablecloths, shawls and tote bags! Please check my apparel and housewares categories to see what’s currently available.
And in the case of this print, I also colorize a few in various styles using watercolor or colored pencil.
Awakening, colored
I also custom mat and frame, and while I have the donation item above in black, a safe choice for a large crowd, I also love the mat the black and white version in bright, bold colors, red being my personal favorite.
Because of the nature of the medium, each print is unique and ink coverage is not always perfect. Most artists consider this random activity to be part of the process of creating an individualized print, and along with the hand-painting makes a unique work of art.
Availability
As with other block prints, I have printed this on just about anything that will hold still long enough. Available printed black only or with hand-colored border, print only, matted with circular mat, or matted and framed.
I have this posted in my Etsy shop, and as my opportunities for printing outside arise I’ll be printing more of these on various items.
Also, I finally have all my current block prints posted on Etsy. Visit these galleries for more information:
and a few entries in Household.
The Creative Cat 