First proofs are always scary to do. This is a look at my most recent one and the inspiration behind it.

When we were at the awkward stage of growing up, we moved out of the city.

On the weekends, my father would take my younger brother and me fishing on half day boats out of Plum Island. We caught so many mackerels, my mother and the cats eventually tired of eating them. The Surfland sign always reminds me of those summer days.

Here is the first proof of a woodcut featuring the sign.

It’s always funny to carve letters backwards. I always cross my fingers because I can still carve the letter S wrong. I like the texture of the clouds—I used a really rough sandpaper but it looks like I have to do more sanding. I will probably carve a few more whites in the houses.

Stay tuned to see if I get the final look I want or if I totally screw it up.