Dearly Departed, 1994 - Linoleum Block Print, 9 x 12 inches, 2009

Dearly Departed, 1994 (2009) has to be one of my favorite linoleum block prints of all time.

I created this print for the 15 year anniversary members exhibit at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary. Dearly Departed at the time was a print of fifteen famous, dead people from fifteen years ago.

The really fun part of the block print was asking people if they could name any or all of the famous people depicted. Alas, not one person could even get half way through the list, which makes me wonder what we were all smoking fifteen years ago that we’ve since forgot these people.

Yes, I know my block print might be to blame, but after I tell you the names below, you might change your mind.

Here are all the people on Dearly Departed, 1994:

Top Row (from left)

• Cesar Romero (actor)
• Telly Savalas (actor)
• John Candy (actor)
• Walter Lantz (creator of Woody Woodpecker)
• Kurt Cobain (musician)

Middle Row (from left)

• Richard Nixon (president)
• John Wayne Gacy (serial killer)
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis (first lady)
• Nicole Brown Simpson (allegedly killed by O.J. Simpson)
• Ronald Goldman (allegedly killed by O.J. Simpson)

Bottom Row (from left)

• Henry Mancini (composed The Pink Panther theme)
• Kim Il-sung (dictator)
• Raoul Julia (actor)
• Cab Calloway (musician)
• Jeffrey Dahmer (serial killer)

Okay, so it leaned a little heavy toward the macabre.

I liked this print so much, that I have decided to do a series of Dearly Departed prints. It is truly interesting how are times are defined by the people who have died and how we remember them.

In addition to this series, I am also considering a Newly Arrived series, which will be famous people in the year they were born. This should be exciting. Cheers.

President John F. Kennedy (mono)

Last week I created a etch of President John F. Kennedy. I used the president’s portrait for my design. After marking the hard ground with a needle, I etched the copper plate in acid for about 45 minutes. This gave me a rather deep line drawing.

I inked the copper plate on a hot pad and then removed most of the ink. I used my fingers and Q-tips to tone the plate. Because I have specially toned the plate, this is not a mono type.

Visit my Portfolio page to see a etch of the same print. And don’t miss my latest linoleum block print, Kennedy, Tippit, Owsald, Ruby.

Below is a larger version of the print, which makes it easier to see all the finger prints used to create the plate tone.

President John F. Kennedy (mono)

Check out the Portfolio page for my printmaking works.

I will be adding paintings, drawings and photographs soon. Cheers.

Vincent with Bandaged Ear by M.C. Roman, 2011

In the spring of 2011, I created two Vincent etchings in my printmaking class. The etchings were simple line drawings without any hatching or aqua tint. I created the monoprints with just my finger tips and Q-tip swabs.

The monoprints are 5×7 inches on Rives BFK paper.

My previous web hosting company, Start Logic, was very unreliable and had to go. My server was down several times a day over the Christmas holiday.

Stay tuned for a new design along with more art images.