Autumn in Big Sur

 

Gordon Louis Mortensen

  1938 - PRESENT (biography)

2012  

reduction color woodcut printed in 28 colors 

20 1/8 x 15" image 

pencil, lower right 

numbered 45/100 

pencil dated, titled, and editioned 

 

ivory Arches 88 wove 

published 

artist 

GOMO181 

SOLD

Big Sur, located in Monterey County, California, is a majestic stretch of land off the Pacific Coast Highway, bordered by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The area is famous for its breathtaking views of the coastline, towering redwoods, and hiking trails. Gordon Mortensen commented on the process he uses: "Only one woodblock is used. On it an image is drawn in India ink. Before the first color is printed, any areas that are to remain unprinted (white or the color of the paper) are cut away from the surface of the block. Then an oil base ink is used to print the first color on all of the sheets of paper that are to be used for the edition and proofs. After the first printing the block is again cut, removing any surface of the block that is to remain the first color in the finished print. After each subsequent color is printed, the block is cut, the process continues until the print is finished and most of the surface of the block is cut away."