Tugboat Printshop Marks 20 Years of Making Meticulously Crafted Woodblock Prints

When Valerie Lueth of Tugboat Printshop sets out to make a woodblock print, it’s 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 meticulously hand-carved 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.

Tugboat Printshop is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and for a limited time, there’s a discount on original woodcut prints in the shop. Keep an eye out on the studio’s Instagram for updates about future editions, and Lueth is always sharing loads of making-of images on Flickr.

a woodblock print being pulled back from the inked block — Printing process of “Songbird & Cricket”

one of a number of carved woodblocks used to print a scene featuring a bird and plants — One of five woodblocks used for “Songbird & Cricket”

a colorful woodblock rint of a large rose with a glowing aura around the blossom — “Glowing Rose” (2024), five-block woodblock on BFK tan paper, 24 x 15 inches, edition of 100

a series of carved woodblocks used to print an image of a colorful rose — Blocks used to print “Glowing Rose”

a woodblock print of a rose being pulled off of the printing block — “Glowing Rose” being pulled from the final block

a woodblock print of a slightly abstracted, giant bunch of grapes — “Dangling Grapes” (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 20 x 14 inches, edition of 100

woodblocks used to print a geometric image of a giant bunch of grapes — Blocks used to print “Dangling Grapes”

a woodblock print of a green turtle amid an oval-shaped area of small waves — “Steadfast Turtle” (2025), four-block woodcut on BFK tan paper, 11 x 14 inches, edition of 100

four woodblocks used to print a graphic turtle woodblock print — Four woodblocks used for “Steadfast Turtle”

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