Launch: Seaside Swifts Handmade Block Print

It gives me enormous pleasure to announce the launch of my first block print: Seaside Swifts!

I love the swifts. They return to Portsmouth every year, just before the weather starts to warm up nicely for the summer. It's always a beautiful moment to hear that first shriek, and spot them zooming around the sky like little arrows. 

This print depicts them over the Portsmouth skyline, on the waters edge. 

I cut a soft-cut block with my cutting tools. It took a few sessions. Each time I returned to add more detail, it felt more of a gamble as I could have easily slipped and ruined the block. Once I was happy with the design (and gained confidence from peers to give it a go). I trialled the colour and the blue came out beautifully and was just right for the sky and sea. 

I have hand printed 20 signed and numbered prints onto A4 card, inking the block using a roller, and using a baren to add pressure across the paper before peeling it up. The number and my initials are added with gold pen.

Each one is different. Hand production means there are marks in the ink from the roller, and where pressure varied across the paper. These are things that will improve in time as I get better and get better tools, but right now I love that each on has it's own unique character. 

After meditating on this image for some time, I wrote a little poem to go with it. Every print comes with a copy of the poem.

Seaside Swifts

Fresh, bright blue
of sea and sky.
Under currents swirl
winds whip and curl up
foaming white crests
that kiss the salty air
carrying the cries
of swooping swifts
who tell us
summer’s nearly here.

These have had a short pre-order time extended to friends and those on the mailing lists. I'm pleased to say 6 have gone, so there are 14 left as of the moment of writing this, and as of the moment I share it, the listing is open to the public.

Launch: Seaside Swifts Handmade Block Print.

So here we are, 3, 2, 1, GO! You can get your print here.