Monday, 27 February 2012

Reduction linocuts of LA neon signs by Dave Lefner

I just found this amazing video of linocut artist Dave Lefner. Dave makes linocuts using the reduction printing technique, a high-risk and painstaking process. This video by Ric Serena is beautifully shot and really shows linocut at its colourful best. I love the way Dave is using linocut to capture the beauty of those old neon signs - it seems like the perfect match of medium and subject matter. The final prints look so luscious and the build-up of the layers of ink create a rich, shiny surface which I think mimics the signs really nicely.


The [ahr-tuh-zen] Project: Dave Lefner from Ric Serena on Vimeo.

Dave also speaks really eloquently about his art, what drives him to make linocuts and the pleasures and pains of practising such a specialist printmaking technique. He obviously works really hard and has a prolific output (I love the box of lino shavings that he collected over a year) but I have to admit to just a touch of envy when I saw his beautiful studio and press! Something to aim for...

Enjoy the video and check out the Dave Lefner website

Dave is represented by Skidmore Contemporary gallery if you want to buy his work

Dave Lefner - The Palace, 2008,  reduction linocut

Dave Lefner - Circus Liquor linocut



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6 comments:

  1. Lizzie27 February 2012 at 06:37

    Oh thank you for sharing this - what a fabulous theme for reduction printing; very appropriate for an artist who lives in LA, but still, quite an original project.
    Having just started to learn reduction linocut, I so appreciated what he was showing us in the video. It is indeed a very painstaking process and Dave Lefner's artwork is amazing.
    Thank you for posting this link - I am in awe!!

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  2. Mrs Prink the Printmaker a.k.a Kerry-Jane Warner27 February 2012 at 09:14

    Amazing and inspiring. I too am collecting my Lino cuttings......trying to think of somevway to recycle them!

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  3. beletteprint27 February 2012 at 12:06

    I love it! Thank you for sharing!

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  4. Celia Hart28 February 2012 at 02:34

    Thank you for posting this... what an enjoyable film to watch and fantastic prints too.

    Celia

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  5. Laura Weston Art28 February 2012 at 03:36

    This is a great post - awesome attention to detail in every aspect of the process. Great to see the artist at work in his studio. thanks for posting it.

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  6. printerRosey29 February 2012 at 07:51

    Thank you so much for sharing. Famtastic work. I love it!
    printerRosey

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