INSIDE TUGBOAT PRINTSHOP'S STUDIOS .....(PLEASE BE PATIENT AS PAGE LOADS + SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW ALL PHOTOS)




(ABOVE) Tugboat Printshop's studios are located at 298 Main Street (Lawrenceville) in Pittsburgh, PA. Tugboat is open daily for sales appointments. Please call 412-621-0663 or E-MAIL US to schedule a visit!





(ABOVE) We print woodcuts on a 36" x 52" Conrad Machine Co. Etching press. This is our cozy little printshop!





(ABOVE) We draw all of our images directly onto blocks of wood and then carve the images out using hand tools. "LIVING ROOM" key block carved & ready to print! A new full color print in the LIFE OF LEISURE Series.



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Tugboat Printshop is the collaborative name for the team printing projects of husband and wife duo Paul Roden and Valerie Lueth. (ABOVE, LEFT) Valerie cutting! (ABOVE, RIGHT) Paul printing!





(ABOVE + BELOW) Blocks for the "BIG, BAD WOLF" print, available in the SINGLES section of our website. We use multiple blocks to create a range of colors in many of our original prints.

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(ABOVE) The carved red block for LIFE OF LEISURE print "RV" ~ 4 blocks total print to make the final image.



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(ABOVE) Two of the three hand-drawn, hand-carved woodblocks used to print "DREAMBOAT" ~ DEEP BLUE SEA Series.







(ABOVE) "WILDCAT" color woodblock print, just carved. Five total blocks were carved & printed for this image.





(ABOVE) Almost finished inking in the key block for "FOREST" here (before carving). The size of the finished print is 20" x 16". (BELOW) Carving in progress! "FOREST" is a new edition in our LIFE OF LEISURE Series (now since sold out, but some AP copies are still available HERE!)







(ABOVE + BELOW): The 4 color blocks for "FOREST" drawn, carved and ready to print! SEE THE FINISHED PRINT!









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(ABOVE LEFT, RIGHT) Carving the "GOLDEN APPLE TREE". The finished print, as seen BELOW, is COMPLETELY GOLD!

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(ABOVE, LEFT) Finished drawing on diamond shaped block for "SKY KITE." (ABOVE, RIGHT) Table full of wood curls during the carving of "THE VISIT" blocks. Yellow block pictured.



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(ABOVE, L) Paul cuts on the blue block for "SHARK ATTACK!!!" (ABOVE, R) "TROJAN UNICORN PEGASUS" key block.

(ABOVE) Key/Black Block for "BONFIRE" Woodcut (Color Blocks Below). Printed together, these 5 blocks make the finished print "BONFIRE!" We especially love how the sky turned out in THIS ONE.



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(ABOVE, L) Carving around the star tailed "BARRACUDA" drawing. (BELOW) One of two "TURTLE ISLAND" woodblocks.

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(ABOVE, L) Rolling green ink onto "KELP TOWER's" key block for printing. (ABOVE, R) Laying paper on the inked block. The yellow green silohuette on the paper is the impression from the 1st block printed.

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(ABOVE, L) Beginning our drawing for the "GALAXY MAP" woodcut in brown ink. (ABOVE, R) Key block almost completely carved out. So many seashells (googly eyes)! (BELOW) Detail of the carved block. We later decided to print "GALAXY MAP" in two toned electric blue.

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(ABOVE, L) Beginning our drawing for "THE ICEBERG" blue block. (ABOVE, R) Rolling up "THE ICEBERG" block with turquoise blue ink for printing. This print is now sold out, but others in DEEP BLUE SEA Series are HERE!

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(ABOVE, L) Tugboat Printshop's prints are made completely by hand. All of our original images are hand-drawan onto woodblocks in pencil, then ink. The blocks are hand-carved with hand-held knives. We use multiple wood blocks to create multiple colors in our images.(ABOVE, R) Paul, the SHREDDER, cuts a block for "MAGIC CARPET."





(BELOW) Valerie draws directly onto the key block for "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" Our woodcut images start as detailed, original drawings on blocks birch plywood. This is "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" in progress.

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(ABOVE, L) Close-up of Hawaiian Islands in "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" (ABOVE, R) The scale of the key block--5 hand-drawn, hand-cut, hand-printed blocks this size make the finished image of "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL."



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(ABOVE) Red block for "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" and Yellow block for "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL." Two additional color blocks for 'AMERICA' (Light Blue, Dark Blue) are also printed before the final key block.



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(ABOVE, L) Print being pulled off the Dark Blue block, the final color run through the press. (ABOVE, R) All colors printed on 'AMERICA' except black/key (Red, Yellow, Light Blue, and Dark Blue). SEE THE FINAL PRINT!

((( WANT TO SEE MORE? Visit our FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM for more photos of our projects in process! )))

© 2006-2012 Tugboat Printshop | All visual media © Tugboat Printshop. All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY