Black Swan with Cygnets

Open edition

Image size 36 x 26 cm (approx 14 x 10.25")
Paper size 45 x 30 cm

I originally cut the blocks for this print back in 2010, but pulled them out of retirement to make these prints as a demonstration for visitors during an Artist's Residency in 2016.

A growing family of black swans used to live on a lake just a few minutes from my studio and I would love watching the youngsters in the spring. Unlike the more common white swans, black swan cygnets start out snow white and gradually get darker as they reach adulthood. 

This delicate hand burnished woodcut print is on fine Japanese Tosa Shi paper in teal and black oil based ink. Rather than being passed through a press, the image has been printed by careful hand burnishing from the back of the paper with a bamboo baren. The process was repeated with two plates. This is labour intensive but allows the printmaker to vary the pressure and so achieve stronger and softer effects where wanted. It also means that each print made is unique. 

Tosa Shi paper has two different sides. For this print the smooth surface was used to achieve a crisp and detailed image.

The title and artist's signature are written in pencil under the image.

Your print will be sent to you carefully rolled in tissue paper and protected in a sturdy postal tube.

Image © Jane Duke 2010