All of my prints use what is referred to as the ‘reduction’ process, which derives its name from the block being carved away (reduced) as each new color is added to the print. As a result of this process, the block is destroyed with only the final ‘run’ (color) usable by the end, so the edition number for each print is truly all that will ever exist. The majority of the prints I create have between 8-10 colors used (sometimes more), so when viewing a final print, it is worthwhile to note that you are actually looking at as many as ten prints layered on top of each other to comprise the final imagery. Below is a quick animation showing the progression of 6 layers that make up the Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness print:

desolation_animation

Due primarily to circumstance, all prints are created without the benefit of a press, which results in each print being truly unique due to variations inherent in the labor intensive process of transferring the inked woodblock to the paper by hand. I only use woodblocks in the process, as I believe that while they can be more difficult to carve than linoleum (rubber) blocks due to the direction of the wood grain, the end result contains subtle patterns from the wood that would be unattainable otherwise. The wood I prefer is a high-grade plywood produced in Hokkaido, the northern-most island of Japan.