THE WHITELINE WOODBLOCK PRINT                                 

The Whiteline Woodblock or “Provincetown Print” was invented in 1915 by a group of Provincetown and Cape Cod printmakers who were devoted to the woodblock printing method. The Whiteline print is considered one of the only true American art forms besides Jazz.

The image is cut into a piece of Poplar or Clear Pine.

A line drawing is made on the board. Then the image is carved using a matt knife or x-acto or drill or any tool that will leave a groove in the wood.

When the image is complete a piece of handmade paper is positioned at the side of the board and pinned down on two corners.

The paper is lifted and coloring the block begins. Each color is filled in; paper is laid over it and burnished with a wood spoon or brayer. The paper is lifted (still attached) and the next color is applied. This is repeated until all colors have been applied and printed.

Each image is completed before another paper is added for the next print.

I do not edition my prints as each one is unique.

When the print is completed all the color areas are surrounded by the outlines originally cut into the block, hence the “whiteline woodcut”

The result is a unique print with strong line imagery qualities.

These prints are printed one at a time and may have slight variations from one print to another.

Therefore they most resemble a Monoprint as no two are exactly alike.

They are marked with a var/number instead of an edition number, for that reason.

They are known as a “variant” All work is titled and signed.