Since 2006 Pittsburgh-based husband and wife Paul Roden and Valerie Lueth have run the Tugboat Printshop, a traditional printmaking studio where everything is made by hand, starting with the giant slabs of wood into which each of their images are carved. The Moon is their largest hand-carved relief print ever coming in at 36″ x 32″ (91 x 82 cm) and will printed using two colors. The beautiful illustration  is now available for pre-order, and I also recommend checking out their other prints. (via cloud junky)

NOTABLE GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES ON “THE MOON” WOODCUT

DRAWING & CARVING “THE MOON” WOODCUT

First, we made a drawing of just the moon on a block of 3/4″ birch plywood in black pen. The size of the block is approx 36″ x 32″. Then, we carved out the drawing in low relief with hand-held chisels, gauges and knives. The blue night sky was then drawn in around the moon on the same block and carved out as well.

(ABOVE) We drew the night sky backdrop of “THE MOON” in a color we thought might look nice (blue), and then carved that too. Before printing, we jigsawed out the moon shape from the blue backdrop. Below is the finished key block, completely carved and ready to print.

PRINTING “THE MOON” WOODCUT 

(ABOVE) The finished key image was transferred to a second block that was then drawn & carved to create grey shadowy tones beneath the key block detail in the finished print. This block is printed onto paper first. A thin layer of oil-based ink is rolled onto the surface of the wooden block carving.

(ABOVE) The key block is printed last. The starry backdrop and the moon shape are inked seperately. They were designed to fit together on the press bed before laying paper for printing. Paper is then carefully registered onto the inked block and run through the press. (BELOW) Pulling a finished print off the key block! Paper is torn to size, numbered, titled and signed when prints are dry.