Today I am welcoming Dennis Gordon to The Sunday Sunshine! Dennis combines digital images and laser engraving to create woodcuts with amazing detail and texture. Dennis inks and prints these on a background painting made with relief inks or watercolor.

After spending months on one detailed pen and ink drawing, Dennis began to think of ways that these drawings could be made into a woodcut.  Using a laser to etch the wood has allowed him many opportunities, not just to recreate drawings and paintings, but to create new work.

Learning about image manipulation software and how to create an image that etches into wood in a way that allows for an exciting woodcut print has been a slow process for Dennis.  Creating an exciting image with photo manipulation software is not too difficult, but creating an image that can be broken down to just black and white for woodcut engraving is another matter.

Below you can see the printing process that starts after Dennis has spent time adjusting his digital file to create the laser etch woodcut.

I met Dennis when I joined the Saline Painters Guild, and we are both also active members of and volunteers for the Huron River Art Collective here in Ann Arbor. I asked Dennis how long he has been purposely creating and how his goals have changed over time.

My art path began with drawing and printmaking classes in college, which led to a BFA in Printmaking and a lifelong love of creating. My goals have not changed much over time: to improve, to inspire, to get my art out where it will be seen. My methods and media have changed over time, and are now a melding of some of those painting mediums with my printmaking.

Was there original art in your home growing up?

There was some original art in my home as a child.  I had an older cousin who was a very successful woodcut artist (and a less successful painter).  Some of his woodcuts were in my house as a child, and have remained with me  in my current house.

What inspires your creativity?

I think the beauty in the world around us is my inspiration, and I find beauty in just about anything - shadows on the ground, snow on a branch, water over rocks in a stream, are all inspiring.

For me, your artwork reflects a dedication to exploring how we view the world. Another artist might take a stunning photograph and stop there, but you take it further and show the hidden variety in the scene. Why do you value your own artwork?

My artwork is an expression of me, and a product of many years of study and work, and a more recent product of attention and energy.  

You have been active with local exhibits, and you are currently in a few national shows. Are you ever afraid to share your art?

Yes, putting my artwork up in shows is always a little nerve-wracking. But, most of my experiences have been pretty positive. 

Tell us more about your current shows and publications|

One is at the Cape Cod Cultural Art Center in South Yarmouth, CT where I have one woodcut and one pen and ink (among the 45 pieces selected out of 684 entries).  

The second show is at Manifest Art Gallery in Cincinnati. I have two pieces in this show, which only accepted 13 pieces out of 265 entries.  The show is all cardboard.  

One of my woodcuts is being published in the printmaking magazine, The Hand, in issue #32 coming out in a week or two.  

The fourth adventure is a printmaking show in Norwalk, CT that limits the size of the artwork submitted to 4 square inches. That has been a challenge. I had to do many trials to find a way to get my normal 18x24 woodcuts to work at 1.7x2.3 inches. At least shipping is easy.

That is a wide range of experiences. I’m interested in hearing more about the cardboard.

I decided to try etching my woodcut images into corrugated cardboard. I noticed that if the corrugation is vertical, the image changes as you walk by. It is also very fragile and I'm hoping that six coats of spray polyurethane will keep it intact for shipping to Manifest.

You recently sold the limited-edition woodcut of an artichoke flower shown below - the same as what you are offering for our giveaway. How do purchases of your artwork benefit you?

They motivate me to produce more, and give me more options on purchasing art supplies, taking art workshops, art classes, and more.

The artichoke woodblock print dennis is giving away is 13x13” and matted.
to enter this giveaway please sign up for Dennis’s newsletter HERE, and leave a comment below!
This giveaway has ended, but you can go to events for current giveaways.
(Shipping is not included with this giveaway due to the size of the print)

Tell us a bit more about the artichoke flower woodcut you are offering for the giveaway.

The giveaway is a limited edition woodcut of an artichoke flower.  The image is engraved into a piece of baltic birch plywood.  Using special relief printing inks and brayers (rubber-like rollers), the ink is applied to the wood surface.  Printmaking paper is placed on top of the inked wood plate and run through a printmaking press, transferring the image to the paper.  This print then has a light and loose wash of watercolor applied.

Thank you, Dennis. Can you tell me what you hope for your artwork?

I hope that my artwork triggers some sort of emotion or feeling in the viewer.  It could be a feeling of calm, or excitement, but something that stimulates

Dennis has two websites for his artwork. His main website where you can see Dennis’ recent artwork is dennisgordonartwork.com and his giclee print website is dennisartist.imagekind.com You can also follow Dennis on Instagram @dennisartist65

Dennis is also running a special promotion!
For the month of April, newsletter subscribers may purchase any black and white woodcut for $100 (if it needs to be shipped domestically, add $20), and any multicolored woodcut for $150 (plus shipping, if needed). Regular prices range from $350-$550. These are hand printed with oil based inks, that take time to dry. It may take 3-4 weeks to print and ship. (excludes four panel woodcut)

Tia Sunshine

If we haven’t met, you can read more about me in my journal HERE and HERE, or visit my Welcome/About with the button below.

This series is inspired by the Artists Sunday campaign that started last year. While I am not a huge fan of specific shopping days, I am a fan of encouraging individuals to buy from artists. This series is my way of participating in the spirit of the movement. www.artistssunday.com

Artists Sunday is "a nationwide art-shopping movement with more than 4,300 members. Participants include 500+ local communities, including arts agencies, cities, counties, state agencies, chambers of commerce, and organizations and 3,800+ individual artists." Their mission is "to encourage consumers to shop with their favorite local artists and craftsmen during the holiday season. Artists Sunday takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Think of it like Black Friday or Small Business Saturday but for the arts. New members are joining daily."

If you are an artist, I recommend joining Artists Sunday - It is free! While you are there, check out my guest blog post: How to Connect with Collectors.

Remember that both Dennis & Matruka have giveaways open until the end of April! I will also be featuring one more artist later this month, JK Bleeg!

I hope you’ll continue to join me as I learn from more artists onThe Sunday Sunshine series in the Artist's Journal.