{"id":1943440,"date":"2026-05-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1943440"},"modified":"2026-05-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T21:00:00","slug":"tugboat-printshop-marks-20-years-of-making-meticulously-crafted-woodblock-prints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1943440","title":{"rendered":"Tugboat Printshop Marks 20 Years of Making Meticulously Crafted Woodblock Prints"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1892\" height=\"2263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-8.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a woodblock print of a songbird and a cricket against a gradient sky and plants\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d (2026), five-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 14 x 11.5 inches, edition of 100. All images courtesy of Tugboat Printshop, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Tugboat Printshop Marks 20 Years of Making Meticulously Crafted Woodblock Prints<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-19T09:08:38-05:00\">May 19, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-design\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/design\/\" rel=\"tag\">Design<\/a><a class=\"category-illustration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/illustration\/\" rel=\"tag\">Illustration<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F05%2Fvalerie-lueth-tugboat-printshop-woodblock-printmaking%2F&amp;title=Tugboat%20Printshop%20Marks%2020%20Years%20of%20Making%20Meticulously%20Crafted%20Woodblock%20Prints\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#69561a1c0b030c0a1d543d1c0e0b06081d4c5b59391b00071d1a0106194c5b5924081b021a4c5b595b594c5b59300c081b1a4c5b59060f4c5b5924080200070e4c5b59240c1d000a1c05061c1a05104c5b592a1b080f1d0c0d4c5b593e06060d0b05060a024c5b59391b00071d1a4f080419520b060d10543d1c0e0b06081d4c5b59391b00071d1a0106194c5b5924081b021a4c5b595b594c5b59300c081b1a4c5b59060f4c5b5924080200070e4c5b59240c1d000a1c05061c1a05104c5b592a1b080f1d0c0d4c5b593e06060d0b05060a024c5b59391b00071d1a4c5b594c2c5b4c51594c505d4c5b59011d1d191a4c5a284c5b2f4c5b2f1e1e1e471d01001a001a0a0605061a1a0805470a06044c5b2f5b595b5f4c5b2f595c4c5b2f1f08050c1b000c44051c0c1d01441d1c0e0b06081d44191b00071d1a010619441e06060d0b05060a0244191b00071d04080200070e4c5b2f\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"474157\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>When Valerie Lueth of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tugboatprintshop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tugboat Printshop<\/a> sets out to make a woodblock print, it\u2019s rare that she only uses a single block. Instead, sometimes up to five distinctly carved pieces are incorporated, each containing different details that, when combined, create a total image. To make the prints, which are usually limited to editions of 100 or so, Lueth rolls the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/tugboat-printshop\">meticulously hand-carved<\/a> blocks with colorful ink, layering them precisely in order. Black outlines define flora and fauna, for instance, which are first laid down as colorful shapes.<\/p>\n<p>Tugboat Printshop is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and for a limited time, there\u2019s a discount on original woodcut prints in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tugboatprintshop.com\/shop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the shop<\/a>. Keep an eye out on the studio\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tugboatprintshop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a> for updates about future editions, and Lueth is always sharing loads of making-of images on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tugboatprintshop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flickr<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-7.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"Printing process of \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Printing process of \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Printing process of \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1181\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-7.jpeg\" alt=\"a woodblock print being pulled back from the inked block\" class=\"wp-image-474164\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Printing process of \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-6.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"One of five woodblocks used for \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"One of five woodblocks used for \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"One of five woodblocks used for \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1875\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-6.jpeg\" alt=\"one of a number of carved woodblocks used to print a scene featuring a bird and plants\" class=\"wp-image-474163\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One of five woodblocks used for \u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-5.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d (2024), five-block woodblock on BFK tan paper, 24 x 15 inches, edition of 100\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d (2024), five-block woodblock on BFK tan paper, 24 x 15 inches, edition of 100\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d (2024), five-block woodblock on BFK tan paper, 24 x 15 inches, edition of 100\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1075\" height=\"1621\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-5.jpeg\" alt=\"a colorful woodblock rint of a large rose with a glowing aura around the blossom\" class=\"wp-image-474162\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d (2024), five-block woodblock on BFK tan paper, 24 x 15 inches, edition of 100<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-3.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"Blocks used to print \u201cGlowing Rose\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Blocks used to print \u201cGlowing Rose\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Blocks used to print \u201cGlowing Rose\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1327\" height=\"1599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-3.jpeg\" alt=\"a series of carved woodblocks used to print an image of a colorful rose\" class=\"wp-image-474160\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Blocks used to print \u201cGlowing Rose\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-4.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d being pulled from the final block\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d being pulled from the final block\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d being pulled from the final block\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1247\" height=\"1679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-4.jpeg\" alt=\"a woodblock print of a rose being pulled off of the printing block\" class=\"wp-image-474161\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cGlowing Rose\u201d being pulled from the final block<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"\u201cDangling Grapes\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 20 x 14 inches, edition of 100\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cDangling Grapes\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 20 x 14 inches, edition of 100\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cDangling Grapes\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 20 x 14 inches, edition of 100\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1640\" height=\"2348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-1.jpeg\" alt=\"a woodblock print of a slightly abstracted, giant bunch of grapes\" class=\"wp-image-474158\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cDangling Grapes\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 20 x 14 inches, edition of 100<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-2.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"Blocks used to print \u201cDangling Grapes\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Blocks used to print \u201cDangling Grapes\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Blocks used to print \u201cDangling Grapes\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2021\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-2.jpeg\" alt=\"woodblocks used to print a geometric image of a giant bunch of grapes\" class=\"wp-image-474159\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Blocks used to print \u201cDangling Grapes\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-10.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"\u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 11 x 14 inches, edition of 100\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 11 x 14 inches, edition of 100\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 11 x 14 inches, edition of 100\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-10.jpeg\" alt=\"a woodblock print of a green turtle amid an oval-shaped area of small waves\" class=\"wp-image-474167\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 11 x 14 inches, edition of 100<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-11.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474157\" title=\"Four woodblocks used for \u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Four woodblocks used for \u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Four woodblocks used for \u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1144\" height=\"1269\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tugboat-11.jpeg\" alt=\"four woodblocks used to print a graphic turtle woodblock print\" class=\"wp-image-474168\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Four woodblocks used for \u201cSteadfast Turtle\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" 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post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/05\/zendaya-spike-jonze-on-apparel-advertisement\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSongbird &amp; Cricket\u201d (2026), five-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 14 x 11.5 inches, edition of 100. All images courtesy of Tugboat Printshop, shared with permission Tugboat Printshop Marks 20 Years of Making Meticulously Crafted Woodblock Prints May 19, 2026 ArtDesignIllustration Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark When Valerie Lueth of Tugboat Printshop sets out to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1943440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1943440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1943440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1943440\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1943440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1943440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1943440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}