Sunday, August 23, 2009

Owl after Hiroshige - with a twist


Dark Side of the Moon 3" x 3" intaglio print

I've fallen in love with a little Japanese print called Owl on Maple Branch in the Full Moon by Hiroshige. I saw the print at the Hiroshige - The Master of Nature exhibition in Rome earlier this year. Ever since I can't stop doodling the image of the little owl.

This tiny print was made using a small V-shaped tool to carve the image into a piece of recycled plastic advertising card and then wiped with oil-based ink and pulled through the etching press. This Hiroshige inspired owl is reversed and overshadowed by the dark side of the moon.



Hand coloured intaglio print 3" x 3"


12 comments:

Kate (Cathy Johnson) said...

Your interpretation is quite wonderful~

Anonymous said...

I rather like the non-coloured one. He seems to have one eye shut, a bit like Nelson!

Jennifer Rose said...

really nice version of the owl :) really wonderful job rendering the feathers.

Judith in Umbria said...

It's absolutely charming.

Cathy Gatland said...

A beautiful little owl - both Hiroshige's and yours - he looks very wary of the dark side in the top one! You're making me long to get hold of an etching press!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Simply love your little hand painted print and so interesting to hear how you were inspired. Your little owl has such charm.
By the way, your Dorset landscape brings back such memories - we moved from that English county 8 years ago and I miss the rolling hills, despite loving my new Norfolk countryside.

caseytoussaint said...

Very cool. I'm especially attracted tot he black and white version, but that may be because I'm on a small laptop. Your printz just get better and better.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Kate - Thank you for dropping in with such a lovely comment.

Dinah - I like the dark one best too. But he doesn't have the character of Nelson. I see Nelson is now beautifully framed and off to an exhibition - as he should be.

Jennifer - Thanks. I can't imagine how hard those fine feathers would have been to carve in relief out of wood - as in the original.

Judith - Hello! And thank you. I must get over and see what you've been cooking up too.

Cathy - That 'wary' expression was a lucky accident. I really like it though. And yes, you aren't the only one dreaming of an etching press. I'm so lucky to have access to quite a big one.

Joan - Thank you. And I love the fact that you recognised my attempt at Dorset!

Casey - Thank you. I only coloured one of the prints because I really love the simplicity of the black ink.

Dana said...

Lovely rendering. You have really captivated me with the etching press.

Joan said...

This is lovely, Robyn!!! I like the delicate look of it.

df said...

this is really beautiful. i love the hand colored one.

Anonymous said...

He's glorious and I love the tiny-ness of it.

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