Tom Killion Woodcut Prints - The High Sierra Series

Killion's Coast series is an ongoing work, currently concentrating on Big Sur and the Marin County and Mendocino coasts. Many earlier images appear in the various editions of Tom's book, "The Coast of California". This web page displays coastal scenes from Mendocino in the north, moving south to Point Reyes, San Francisco Bay, the San Mateo coast, Point Lobos and Southern California. More coastal scenes may be found on the following three pages: "Mt. Tamalpais", "Santa Cruz" and "Big Sur". All prints are limited editions, signed and numbered.

Key to Abbreviations is at the bottom of this page.

Key to Printing History Terms is at the bottom of this page.

Tennessee Cove, Marin Headlands

Title: Tennessee Cove, Marin Headlands
Image Size:11.5 x 13 inches
Printing History: Spring sunset pours its golden light into Tennessee Cove on the Marin Headlands. Nine-color multi-block reduction cut w/ pressure printed overlays on sky.Edition of 175 plus 11 a.p.s, completed late March, 2013. Available.
Available
Price: $475.00
to order
[+] enlarge

McWay Rocks, Big Sur

Title: McWay Rocks, Big Sur
Image Size:13x10 inches
Printing History: The view from trail to Tin House north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Multi-block print w/ 5 color layer print completed April, 2013 in edition of 175 plus several a.p.s Available.
Available
Price: $350.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Point Reyes from Chimney Rock

Title: Point Reyes from Chimney Rock
Image Size:14.5x18 inches
Printing History: A view of Pt. Reyes from the headland near Chimney Rock, with Douglas Irises. On the right is Drake's Bay and the fish dock; elephant seals are on the beach below the cliffs. Multi-block reduction-cut print with up to 13-color layers in an edition of 175, plus 12 a.p.s. Numbers thru 56 completed November 2011; #s 57-175 & a.p.s have additional color layers added Feb. 2012 from reductions on sea & sky tint blocks. Only a few a.p.s remain.
Available
Price: $585.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Divide Meadow (Pt. Reyes National Seashore)

Title: Divide Meadow (Pt. Reyes National Seashore)
Image Size:11x19 inches
Printing History: Multi-block reduction cut with 7 color layers completed Oct. 2010 in edition of 175 with several a.p.s. Springtime at Divide Meadow on the Bear Valley Trail, Pt. Reyes N.S. Note this is a LARGE print, but because of its horizontal format it appears smaller in the website thumbnail.
Available
Price: $385.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Muir Beach

Title: Muir Beach
Image Size:14.5 x 12.5 inches
Printing History: The view from Muir Beach Overlook area on a stormy winter afternoon. Multi-block reduction cut with 6 color layers. Edition of 175 with 9 a.p.s completed November 2010.
Out of print - not available

Nicasio

Title: Nicasio
Image Size:14x11 inches
Printing History: Multi-block reduction cut with 7 color layers completed summer 2011. Based on a 1979 sketch done from the rocky knoll behind St. Mary's Church when my father, Leo Killion, was still alive. Leo always loved this tiny West Marin hamlet with its baseball diamond in the town square; but he feared it would be gobbled up by suburban development. He asked me to "preserve" it in a picture, and, 32 years later, I made this print for the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT.org) art show, which helps make Nicasio's survival possible.
Available
Price: $285.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Shell Beach, Tomales Bay

Title: Shell Beach, Tomales Bay
Image Size:12.5x9.25 inches
Printing History: Nine-color multi-block reduction cut printed in edition of 175 plus a few a.p.s, April 2010. (Black Mountain can be seen at the south end of the bay, its top lit by sunset light from behind Inverness Ridge.) 5 remain.
Available
Price: $350.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Wild Iris, Chimney Rock (Pt. Reyes)

Title: Wild Iris, Chimney Rock (Pt. Reyes)
Image Size:7x3.5 inches
Printing History: Completed May 2011 in edition of 98 plus 12 a.p.s. Multi-block reduction cut with 4 color layers. Chimney Rock is at the southern tip of the Pt. Reyes peninsula which is renowned for its wildflowers (including beds of Douglas Irises). This image was initially created for the park to use in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pt. Reyes Nat'l Seashore. Only a few a.p.s remain. Also available are a a few working proofs in black only (key block only) for a lower price, and several framed edition prints (framed in black maple w/ uv-filter glass and white matt) for 225.00. Several framed prints remain at artists studio only.
Available
Price: $125.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Golden Gate

Title: Golden Gate
Image Size:8x10 inches
Printing History: First edition of 85 plus 5 a.p.s printed 1984-95; Edition II of 50 printed mid-1990s; Edition III of 65 plus a.p.s printed 1999-2003; Edition IV of 25 printed 2004; Edition V of 75 plus 7 a.p.s printed 2006; Edition VI of 45 plus 5 a.p.s, 2007; ed. VII of 75 begun 2010.
Available
Price: $85.00
to order
[+] enlarge

The City from Sausalito

Title: The City from Sausalito
Image Size:8x10 inches
Printing History: First edition of 100 plus 8 a.p.s printed 1985; Edition II of 75 printed 1999; Edition III of 75 begun 2005 (plus ed. III a.p.s 1-10).
Available
Price: $85.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Greenwood Cove, Mendocino Coast

Title: Greenwood Cove, Mendocino Coast
Image Size:11x14.5 inches
Printing History: Five-color multi-block print. Edition of 175 plus 14 a.p.s completed March 2004. Multi-block reduction print. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Angel Island from Sausalito

Title: Angel Island from Sausalito
Image Size:8x10 inches
Printing History: Low Tide on the Sausalito waterfront c.1976, view of Angel Island from near Schoonmaker Pt. Edition of 50 plus 5 a.p.s. Numbers 1-39 printed 1978-1990, block lost and damaged, rediscovered and repaired 2012, #s40-50 plus 5 a.p.s printed.
Available
Price: $65.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Inverness Ridge Fire, 1995

Title: Inverness Ridge Fire, 1995
Image Size:4x7 inches
Printing History: Three editions of this 3-color print were completed early 2007. First edition (pictured) 55 plus 3 a.p.s is now out-of-print. A numbered broadside edition of 108, "Lifetimes with Fire" (signed by Gary Snyder) is also out of print. State II edition of 40 has lines in clouds removed.
Out of print - not available

Red Kelp

Title: Red Kelp
Image Size:12x12 inches
Printing History: First edition of 30 printed 1978 along with pages/covers of handprinted book, 2 a.p.s pulled with type; further editions printed during 1980s & 90s with these numbers: II=30; III=50; IV=40 plus a.p.s 1-16; block recut 1998: Edition V of 60 plus a.p.s 17-20 printed 2000; Edition VI of 40 printed 2006, plus final ed. VI a.p.s 1-25 & 4 w.p.s.
Available
Price: $150.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Seaweed

Title: Seaweed
Image Size:4x5 inches
Printing History: Editions pulled beginning 1979: I=30 plus 12 a.p.s; II=40; III=80; IV=50; V=80 plus 10 a.p.s; VI=8; VII=48 plus 5 a.p.s; last Edition VIII of 65 printed 2006-10, plus ed. VIII a.p.s 1-25 & 8 w.p.s, block retired.

Out of print - not available

Wave

Title: Wave
Image Size:4x6 inches
Printing History: First edition of 100 plus 9 a.p.s printed c.1970-1979. First 30 may be unnumbered, many printed in waterbase inks, multiple colors hand-brushed and rubbed; later editions with block recarved to sharpen details during 1980s/90s: II=50 plus a.p.s 10-20; III=50; IV=50; V=50; VI=95 plus 5 a.p.s (VI); VII = 75 plus 6 w.p.s; VIII=last edition of 75 plus 15 a.p.s printed after 2001.o.p.
Out of print - not available

Farallone Island

Title: Farallone Island
Image Size:7x10.5 inches
Printing History: First edition of 125 printed November 2006.
Available
Price: $75.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Usal Beach, Lost Coast

Title: Usal Beach, Lost Coast
Image Size:10x12.5 inches
Printing History: State I, edition of 90 plus 10 a.p.s printed 1984-86; State II -- some lines removed from key block -- edition of 30 printed mid-1990s; sky block damaged. o.p.
State III with new sky block may be made in future.
Out of print - not available

Westport, Mendocino Coast

Title: Westport, Mendocino Coast
Image Size:12.5x15 inches
Printing History: State I, first coloring [the slide of this image was overexposed] appeared initially on edition #s 1-38, printed in 1985, though some of these were destroyed and replaced by second state colorings with same numbers [see below]. This coloring still available.
Available
Price: $175.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Westport, Mendocino Coast

Title: Westport, Mendocino Coast
Image Size:12.5x15 inches
Printing History: First edition included 2 different colorings: second coloring shown here was printed c.1990 and included #s 39-60 plus 2 a.p.s and perhaps a few earlier numbers [where the first coloring prints with those #s were destroyed to be replaced by second coloring using same #s]. Edition never completed. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Mendocino Bay

Title: Mendocino Bay
Image Size:12x18 inches
Printing History: Edition of 50 printed 1973 through 1978; some early prints are hand-colored and unnumbered. Edition of about 50 more printed with a poem on the Cowell Press in 1974, but unnumbered. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Buckhorn Cove, South of Little River, Mendocino

Title: Buckhorn Cove, South of Little River, Mendocino
Image Size:10x12.5 inches
Printing History: Nominal edition of 85 plus 3 a.p.s includes 2 different colorings: first part of edition has green hills and turquoise sea; second part, through #57 [pictured here -- but slide was overexposed] has grey land, blue sea; edition begun 1986, never completed. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Mendocino Coast North of Elk

Title: Mendocino Coast North of Elk
Image Size:14x16.5 inches
Printing History: First edition 100 plus 25 a.p.s printed from 1985; Second edition (II) of 50; III=50 plus 7 a.p.s; IV=50 plus several a.p.s begun 2002. block under repair -- currently unavailable.
Out of print - not available

Point Reyes from Double Point

Title: Point Reyes from Double Point
Image Size:13x15 inches
Printing History: First edition [bluer sea/lighter coloring] of 100 plus 5 a.p.s printed in 1984; Second edition (II) [pictured here] of 25 plus a.p.s 6-30 printed c.1992; State III [recut blocks/no date on "chop"] of 70 plus a.p.s III 1-16 printed in 1998. Blocks destroyed. o.p.
Large-format [30x34] Iris-type giclée print of this coloring, edition of 55 plus 15 a.p.s available (several a.p.s only remain).
Available as a Giclee Print Only
Price: $950.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Double Point from Kelham Beach (originally titled "...from North of Wildcat Beach, Pt. Reyes"

Title: Double Point from Kelham Beach (originally titled "...from North of Wildcat Beach, Pt. Reyes"
Image Size:18.5x13.75 inches
Printing History: Edition of 120 plus 20 a.p.s printed 1993. This image is actually from above Kelham Beach, looking towards Arch Rock. Multi-block reduction cut. o.p.

Gíclee print edition of 98 begun 2007 for Gump's; titled "Double Point from Kelham Beach," image size 28x19.5. Available framed in black wood and uv-filter plexiglass exclusively from Gump's.
Available Exclusively through Gumps

to order
[+] enlarge

Pt. Reyes from McClures Beach

Title: Pt. Reyes from McClures Beach
Image Size:8x10 inches
Printing History: Printed from 1979 onwards in the following editions: Edition I of 50 plus 13 a.p.s (1979); Edition II of 40 (c.1985); Edition III of 30 plus 29 a.p.s (1995); Edition IV of 40 (1998); in 2003 block was recut and final editions printed: V of 75 plus 15 a.p.s (thru 2008); VI of 60 (2009).
Available
Price: $85.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Double Point, Pt. Reyes

Title: Double Point, Pt. Reyes
Image Size:9x12 inches
Printing History: First edition of 50 printed 1979, some unnumbered; Edition II of 30 begun 1985 but only numbers 1-13 and 30 printed before block damaged. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Bolinas Harbor

Title: Bolinas Harbor
Image Size:9x12 inches
Printing History: Edition I of 50 plus 7 a.p.s printed 1979-2009. Block recut for second ed., but not yet printed.
Available
Price: $75.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Kirby Cove

Title: Kirby Cove
Image Size:12x9 inches
Printing History: First 3 editions printed from 1978 in these numbers: I=50 plus 21 a.p.s; II=50; III=20; State IV block recut, edition of 75 [1 misnumbered as edition of 60] begun 1999.
Available
Price: $85.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Golden Gate Sunset

Title: Golden Gate Sunset
Image Size:18.5x13 inches
Printing History: Edition of 115 plus 23 a.p.s and 1 w.p. printed 1997; 13 color, 2 key-block reduction print; blocks destroyed. o.p.

First gíclee print edition of 98, plus several a.p.s: image size 28x19.5. Sold through Gump's; out-of-print.
Out of print - not available

Golden Gate Sunset II

Title: Golden Gate Sunset II
Image Size:28x19.5 inches
Printing History: Giclee Edition of 75 with altered sky and flower colors and other changes, printed in 2012 for Gump's.
Available Exclusively through Gumps

to order
[+] enlarge

Golden Gate Bridge

Title: Golden Gate Bridge
Image Size:5x7 inches
Printing History: Edition of 30 begun 1979, but only 15 printed before block damaged. o.p.
Out of print - not available

San Francisco from the Presidio

Title: San Francisco from the Presidio
Image Size:12.5x17.5 inches
Printing History: First edition included 2 different colorings with several different blocks: #1-27 have very red tint under leaves/on buildings and water printed 1984, but only #s 1-11 plus 1 a.p. saved of this coloring. Others destroyed and replaced by numbers from second coloring [depicted here] with new water and shadow blocks added = #s 12-67 printed c.1986. Edition never completed. Multi-block reduction cut.
Out of print - not available

The City from Angel Island

Title: The City from Angel Island
Image Size:17x13 inches
Printing History: Edition of 100 plus 11 a.p.s printed 1986. op.
Out of print - not available

Bird Rock (Fort Cronkhite)

Title: Bird Rock (Fort Cronkhite)
Image Size:3x4 inches
Printing History: First edition of 50 plus 11 a.p.s begun 1978; Edition II of 50 printed 1980s; Edition III of 50 printed 1998.
Available
Price: $50.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Pomponio's Beach, San Mateo Coast

Title: Pomponio's Beach, San Mateo Coast
Image Size:12x12 inches
Printing History: Edition of 50, first 23 printed 1979. Edition not completed. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Ano Nuevo Cove

Title: Ano Nuevo Cove
Image Size:10x13 inches
Printing History: Edition of 110 plus 10 a.p.s printed 1992. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Tunitas Creek

Title: Tunitas Creek
Image Size:5x8 inches
Printing History: Nominal edition of 50 begun 1979, only 10 actually printed before block damaged. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Franklin Point

Title: Franklin Point
Image Size:4x6 inches
Printing History: Nominal edition of 30 in 1979, only a few pulled before block destroyed; also used on handprinted invitations. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Coastways Ranch, Ano Nuevo

Title: Coastways Ranch, Ano Nuevo
Image Size:5x7 inches
Printing History: 1979, 5 unnumbered prints pulled; about 100 handprinted invitations also printed in split-fountain roll. Block destroyed. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Ano Nuevo Island

Title: Ano Nuevo Island
Image Size:6x8 inches
Printing History: About 5 unnumbered prints were pulled in 1978 before block damaged. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Point Ano Nuevo (Waddell Creek Beach with Aeolus dory)

Title: Point Ano Nuevo (Waddell Creek Beach with Aeolus dory)
Image Size:10x16 inches
Printing History: First state, 1978, has split sky/fog blocks, used as half-title on original Coast of California book, 2 signed a.p.s with type; Edition of 30 printed with new fog blocks 1979. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Point Lobos Winter Storm

Title: Point Lobos Winter Storm
Image Size:8.5x11 inches
Printing History: State I -- single color, as depicted -- nominal edition of 100, but only 33 plus 10 a.p.s printed in 1996 before block cut-up to create key-block for a second state (II) completed 2004. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Pt. Lobos Winter Storm II

Title: Pt. Lobos Winter Storm II
Image Size:8.5x11 inches
Printing History: Second state image completed in edition of 140, February 2004. Key block is recarved from first state with multi-block reduction cuts added to create colored sky and tints. Blocks destroyed. Entire edition trimmed with small margin at bottom of print. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Whalers Cove, Pt. Lobos

Title: Whalers Cove, Pt. Lobos
Image Size:13.5x19 inches
Printing History: Edition of 100 plus 9 a.p.s printed 1985. o.p.
A second state is possible with recut sea/sky blocks.
Out of print - not available

Bluefish Cove, Point Lobos

Title: Bluefish Cove, Point Lobos
Image Size:9x12 inches
Printing History: First edition -- some titled "violation #..." -- of 50 plus a.p.s 1-8 printed 1978-79; further editions printed in 1980s/90s: II=30 plus a.p.s 9-19; III=20 plus a.p.s 20-30; block recut in 1998 and State IV printed in edition of 50 plus 10 a.p.s: State V final edition of 75 plus several a.p.s printed 2005.
Available
Price: $75.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Yankee Point from Gibsons Beach, Pt. Lobos

Title: Yankee Point from Gibsons Beach, Pt. Lobos
Image Size:8x10 inches
Printing History: First edition of 50 plus 4 a.p.s printed 1978-79; following editions printed during 1980s/early 90s in these numbers: II=30 plus a.p.s 5-14; III=50 plus a.p.s 15-20; State IV = in 1998 the block was filled and recut to remove house in background and resharpen details, printed in edition of 45 plus 1 (IV) a.p.; State V with further recutting of details and border begun 2002 in edition of 75.
Available
Price: $85.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Bird Rock, Pt. Lobos

Title: Bird Rock, Pt. Lobos
Image Size:9x12 inches
Printing History: First edition of 50 plus 10 a.p.s printed 1978-79; Second edition (II) of 30 printed early 1980s. Block damaged. o.p.
Out of print - not available

China Cove, Pt. Lobos

Title: China Cove, Pt. Lobos
Image Size:8x5 inches
Printing History: First edition of 30 printed 1978 plus a.p.s 1-7; II = 30; III = 40 plus a.p.s 8-18; Edition IV nominally of 50 but only printed thru 29 before block ruined. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Santa Barbara Coast

Title: Santa Barbara Coast
Image Size:9x12 inches
Printing History: State I - with dark sky and moon, most titled "Santa Ynez Mts." - printed in first edition of 50 plus 7 a.p.s in 1983; second edition (II) of 50 plus a.p.s 18-24 printed early 1990s; "State II" (labeled "State II"/distinct from second edition of first state labeled "II") recut sky block/lighter coloring and moon, printed in edition of 75, mid-1990s; State III - no color on moon [depicted here] edition of 65 plus State III a.p.s 1-13 begun 1998. o.p.
Out of print - not available

Palisades Park, Santa Monica

Title: Palisades Park, Santa Monica
Image Size:10x8.5 inches
Printing History: 1st edition of 80 printed in 2 slightly different colorings from slightly different color blocks: 1st coloring [depicted here] was on #s 1-50 plus 2 a.p.s printed 1997; 2nd coloring (brighter greens/yellows, with 3 recut color blocks) #s 51-80 printed in 2003 together with State II edition of 95 plus 21 a.p.s and 4 w.p.s. Out-of-print, blocks destroyed in process.
Out of print - not available

Santa Monica Mountains from Palisades Park

Title: Santa Monica Mountains from Palisades Park
Image Size:11.5x18 inches
Printing History: Edition of 100, first 41 plus 2 a.p.s printed 1985; 42-100 printed 2007 onwards. Print is darker and sharper than in this (sorry!) slide scan.
Available
Price: $150.00
to order
[+] enlarge

Key to Abbreviations:
All prints are signed and numbered in pencil; dimensions are of the actual image itself, not including signature or paper margins, given in inches, height before width.
a.p. = artist's proofs (where color experiments are made before edition is pulled)
b.p. = book proofs (pages from handprinted books that were never bound in and are now sold separately as signed prints)
o.p. = out-of-print
w.p. = working proofs (have serious flaws or odd color variations)

Key to Printing History Terms:
1. "Multi-block reduction (cut) prints" are limited to one edition as blocks are destroyed in the printing process (see Technique page).
2. Editions: Second editions (II) of other multi-color prints involve recutting of color blocks and consequent variations in the final image. Some of the single color prints have been issued in multiple small editions with touch-up recutting ("cleaning-up") of blocks, but no significant changes in the printed image. With the exception of "Wave", "Seaweed" and "Mt. Tam from Wolfe Grade", no more than 350 prints (total of all editions and a.p.s) have been issued of any print.
3. "Giclées": Killion's digital reproductions are created with new generation "iris print" technology that enables the images to be printed on all-rag watercolor paper. All Killion's "giclée" prints are larger-size than the original woodcuts and have only been created after the woodcut editions have sold out (see information in How to Purchase Prints). All other Killion prints are handprinted by the artist from his original hand cut blocks.

Top of Page