Doggy artwork for the Imaginary Creatures contest by @zeroooc

Hello My Dear Steemit Friends!

Today I'm posting a doggy for @zeroooc's cool new independent art contest, Sketch Off - Edition 1- #imaginarycreatures - creative drawing contest, aimed at all the artists here on Steemit!

I'm very curious what will the entries be like. I actually can't wait! I'll be helping @zeroooc with evaluating the entries, so it's really exciting. I wish luck to all the contestants! <3

I liked the theme so much myself that I decided to show my support with my little doggy! My artwork is a linocut, and you can see the scan of it here:

Doggy Linocut, 21 x 29,7 cm

Few words about the progress of artwork

This artwork was made by me some time ago, so unfortunately I cannot show you the whole progress of my work. Fortunately I have the original drawing on which my lino was based.

As you can see below, my first step towards a lino is a pencil sketch (and sometimes a complete drawing, depends on the topic and the intricacy of the pattern). When I create a base drawing for lino, I always make sure that my sketch is well defined and bold, because I want my linocuts to be very precise. Hence the strong sketch below.

In this case I modeled the dog's head with shading, because I knew it will be quite difficult for me to portray it accurately with black and white only. This way I prepared myself to the conceptual part of the lino.

After I finished the drawing, I transferred it onto the lino using a carbonpaper.

Now then, I used linoleum bought in a DIY store, as well as craft knives and chisels. I prefer to buy my linoleum in DIY stores, because it's cheaper, it can have a greater surface if I need it too, and it's much softer and easier to cut than the artistic one.

Psst! I have a tip for you, if you're into linocuts - before you start chiselling, treat your lino with a sandpaper first. This will make lino's surface less slippery, and much easier to chisel with precision (and safety as well! those chisels can be sharp, my hands know that very well!).

In the photo you can see some of my tools and the ready lino after it's been used to print the pattern on some cotton bags.

My weapons of choice and the linocut after printing the bags

And in this photo you can see my linocut printed on the cotton bags with the help of a graphic press. I really like the texture of a handmade print. 'Tis the magic of linocut- they're all the same, but different.

Cotton bags with a doggy in their natural habitat - Shiny Forest

In the drawing the doggy looks sweet and concerned I'd say, but on the lino it's expression is fierce and calm. Quite a transition!

And a finished doggy lino once again :)

Thank you guys very much for reading! I hope you liked my lino ;)

I warmly invite you all to enter the Sketch Off - Edition 1, if you're interested! There are many cool prizes and lots of fun ahead! Hope to see you there :)

Love,

Klaudia