Running Linocut Prints from Harmony Arts Festival Plein Air Grand Prix

Join me as I spend a day in my mountaintop studio running linocut prints on my Blick II Press.

These prints are from an event I took part in last summer at the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver. The Plein Air Grand Prix is an annual art competition. Artists pull a location out of a hat in the morning, then have a few hours to complete and hang their work. It’s fast and furious, and most participants are painting, but I decided this year to take a swing at creating a linocut print. It was so fun! And I was really happy with my peice. Bonus: I won a nice gift certificate from my favourite store; Opus Art Supplies.

But, with all our travel this year, as soon as the event was over I had to stash the plate in a bag and head for the airport. I’m happy to finally be home with time to run these prints.

I pulled a series of 40 of these, on Arches Rives BFK paper (the most luscious, my new fave!) and Gamblin oil based ink in Portland Black. They came out juicy and gorgeous! I’m super happy with them. They are available in my shop now if you’d like one. Just follow the link below.

Harmony Arts Grand Prix 24

The Harmony Arts Plein Air Grand Prix is set to run again on August 9th, 2025 and you can bet your barens and brayers I’ll be there. I think I’ll probably do another linocut.

If you’re in the area and planning to hit the festival I’d love it if you came by to say hi. I’m doing an Artist’s Talk at the Artspeaks Tent on August 7th at 3pm. I’ll be telling tales about my travels, teaching and art making, and I’ll have both books available if you’d like to pick up a signed copy. It’s just next to the Ferry Building Gallery.

Hope to see you there!