Big Ink is a traveling printmaking experience that lands in the Bay Area every two years. Eric hosted the first San Francisco Big Ink event in his studio and gallery in 2018. Artists from around California commit to carving a large woodblock, which is printed by master printmaker Lyell Castonguay during the event. Big Ink always pushes Eric’s comfort zone, and the work that it inspires is featured here.
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Back in the Bay
Eric rented an hour on a helicopter to capture this view of the San Francisco Bay. Ultraman is in heated combat with Mechagodzilla, getting a shot in the back as it destroys the Bay Bridge. This is the largest woodcut Eric has ever carved.
Back in the Bay (2020)
Woodcut 60” x 44”
Year of the Tiger (2022)
Woodcut 50”x36”
Created to commemorate the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Horoscope. Tiger was also Eric’s nickname when he was a young man, and he often wishes it stuck.
Cloud Dragon (2024)
Woodcut 50”x36”
Created to commemorate the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Horoscope. Using references from Chinese tapestry, carvings, prints, and books, this piece came together with the help of Eric’s wife, Annie Galvin.
Crafting Legends from Wood
Eric meticulously carves each design using traditional Japanese tools, spending 40 to 80 hours on a plate. The reverse carving process presents technical challenges that he masterfully embraces, bringing his art to life.