See a Master Printmaker Create a Stunning Elizabeth Catlett Inspired Woodblock Print, Step-by-Step
Master printmaker LaToya Hobbs creates a woodblock print portrait of Naima Mora, referencing the sculpture “Naima” created by Elizabeth Catlett, using traditional woodblock printmaking techniques over the course of two months.
How does Hobbs go from a pencil sketch to a gigantic portrait based on one of Elizabeth Catlett’s most famous sculptures of her granddaughter? Watch this behind-the-scenes time lapse of a wood block printing process featuring the former America’s Next to Model winner, Naima, to find out!
Hobbs uses pencils and stencils to create a sketch, based on a photograph of Naima, on a massive wood block. She then moves on to a carving the block and preparing it for printing. This wood block, in turn, is split back into two parts, inked and run through a printing press to create two pieces on paper. Hobbs then joins the two pieces of paper with tape and makes her final touches to display the immense print that references Catlett’s adopted home of Cuernavaca, Mexico by depicting Naima surrounded by Dahlia flowers. See Catlett’s masterpieces along with Hobbs’ newly created work in our exhibition Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist on view March 9 – July 6, 2025: https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2025/elizabeth-catlett-black-revolutionary-artist.html
La maestra grabadora LaToya Hobbs crea un retrato en xilografía de Naima Mora a lo largo de dos meses, haciendo referencia a la escultura "Naima" creada por Elizabeth Catlett, utilizando técnicas tradicionales de grabado en madera.
¿Cómo pasa Hobbs de un boceto a lápiz a un retrato gigante basado en una de las esculturas más famosas de Elizabeth Catlett, inspirada en su nieta? ¡Descubre el proceso en este video con imágenes en cámara rápida del grabado en madera, protagonizado por la exganadora de America’s Next Top Model, Naima!
Hobbs utiliza lápices y plantillas para crear un boceto sobre un gran bloque de madera, basado en una foto de Naima. Luego, procede a tallar el bloque y prepararlo para la impresión. Posteriormente, el bloque de madera se divide en dos partes, se entinta y se pasa por una prensa de impresión para crear dos piezas en papel. Hobbs une luego las dos partes con cinta adhesiva y realiza los retoques finales para exhibir la enorme impresión, que hace referencia al hogar adoptivo de Catlett en Cuernavaca, México, al representar a Naima rodeada de flores de dalia.
Descubre las obras maestras de Catlett junto con la nueva creación de Hobbs en nuestra exposición Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist, en exhibición del 9 de marzo al 6 de julio de 2025: https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2025/...
Elizabeth Catlett:A Black Revolutionary Artist
is on view at the National Gallery of Art March 9, 2025 – July 6, 2025
The Art Institute of ChicagoAugust 30, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Brooklyn Museum in collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago.
Leadership support has been generously provided by Lugano.
The exhibition is also made possible through support from Dr. N. Anthony and Robyn Coles, Sheila Johnson, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and the Henry Luce Foundation.
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