Woodblock Monoprints Brighten Up City Hall Walls

Splashes of marigold and periwinkle swirl with daubs of amber, and hints of crimson play peek-a-boo with evergreen in Fritz Rothman’s latest exhibit The View From Here. On display at the Civic Center Art Gallery at , Rothman’s woodblock monoprints are soothing, fresh, and bright.

A form of relief printing that has been around for centuries, woodblock printing involves taking a block of wood to be used like a large stamp with a raised surface that has the image to be printed raised on it, with the background carved away, leaving a clean, white and non-printing area around the image. Monoprinting means that each print will be different. A monoprint can be created through any technique of relief printing.

After creating a woodblock print, Rothman can alter the paint, individual etching, or layering of blocks to produce a monoprint. After taking a printmaking class in college, Rothman began generating print after print and has continued to for the last 15 years. Through experimentation and practice alone, Rothman said he has developed a technique all his own.

“This exhibit contains prints that deal with the various textures, shapes, and colors found in the surrounding coastal landscape,” said Rothman. “Each print is meant to be viewed from a rather close distance. My hope is that this will allow the viewer to examine the different elements within the overall composition.”

Though all of his prints are printed on 100 percent cotton paper or cardstock, Rothman said that the creation of each print varies. Some of Rothman’s prints are created rather immediately, whereas others can “take days to get just right.”

Encinitas Patch: What is the artistic process of using woodblocks?
Rothman: I usually start with a sketch that I transfer to a block. After carving the overall design on a block, ink is applied using a roller. For many of my prints, I use individual, loose shapes rather than a whole block. This allows me more flexibility in creating a composition. The block or individual shape is then pressed to paper or cardstock to create a print.

Encinitas Patch: Do you reuse the woodblocks to create different or multiple prints?
Rothman: I create multiple prints but I only keep the one that produces the result I am looking for — color, texture, gestural feel, etc.

Encinitas Patch: Is there a certain beach or stretch of landscape in Encinitas you like to go to for inspiration?
Rothman: There in no one spot in particular. I am inspired by many different things within the coastal landscape.

Encinitas Patch: How did you decide to relocate to San Diego and specifically Cardiff?
Rothman: I am originally from Michigan. I relocated to Seattle to work as a graphic designer. After spending a few years without seeing the sun on a regular basis, I moved to San Diego! After living downtown for several years, I moved north to Cardiff.

Encinitas Patch: How many prints are in your collection? Do you have other themed collections aside from The View from Here?
Rothman: There are 20 different prints in my current exhibit, The View from Here. I am currently working on a series of collages. I don’t have a theme yet...

Encinitas Patch: What other mediums do you enjoy using?
Rothman: I enjoy working with watercolor and creating collages from ephemera.

Encinitas Patch: Where do you create your prints? At home in a studio? Do you take materials with you and do them outside in nature?
Rothman: I usually create my prints anywhere I can spread out in my home — either the kitchen table or the living room floor. Although I am inspired by nature, I typically do all of my prints indoors.

Encinitas Patch: Why did you name the collection The View from Here?
Rothman: The View from Here reflects where I am (both physically and mentally) in my life right now. It is my current perspective on this chapter of my life.

The View from Here will be on display and prints are for sale at the Civic Center Art Gallery at Encinitas City Hall now through October 18, 2011.

If you know of another local artist you'd like to see profiled in Encinitas Patch's weekly Resident Artist, please send your suggestions to writer Amanda Andreen at amanda.andreen@gmail.com.