Piney Creek Block Print

Piney Creek Block Print

This linocut artwork was handcrafted by Mike Blackburn and inspired by WVLT's Piney Creek Preserve featuring several beautiful waterfalls along with miles of recreation trails. 

This artwork was also featured on the Piney Creek Bourbon label produced in collaboration with Bullock Distillery in Charleston.

Donated by: Mike Blackburn

A note from the Mike: I am an artist, Landscape Architect and part time WV Land Trust employee.  I love WV and am inspired every day by the varied landscape we get to call home. This artwork was used in the West Virginia Land Trust Clean Water Series collaboration with the Bullock distillery as Piney Creek Whiskey and Moon Rocks Moonshine labels. Each piece features a preserve owned by the WV Land Trust. 

Each piece is a linoleum block print.  A relief printmaking technique, also called linocut. After visiting each preserve, taking photographs and making paper concept sketches.  The image is transferred to a linoleum block.  Then the image is cut or gouged from a sheet of linoleum, which is softer and easier to carve than wood. The linoleum surface is inked, paper laid on top and printing accomplished by pressure applied in a roller press. Finally, each print is then individually hand rendered in Prisma color pencil.

They are numbered and signed by me, the artist and come to you framed in a custom frame, ready to hang. The frames are made by me, using a salvaged piece of old growth yellow poplar lumber.  The rich patina comes from the wood sitting around over 130 years as the backing boards to an old built in cabinet in my 1887 home. No stain was applied just a coat of polyurethane.  You won’t find a frame like this at your “big box” store!