Step 4: First state in two colors

The first two blocks printed together. Remember on black paper it is crucial to achieve saturation on the first state. More than one printing is ALWAYS necessary. As for the peach block, the first green block had to be printed three times to achieve the very light green that you see on the background in the finished image. It is hard work but well worth the effort, because the subsequent colors will be brighter when printed on a saturated foundation. Black paper has a tendency to "eat colors," so mix your color brighter than you would on lighter papers.

Step 5: Reduction continues!

These are the second blocks ready to print. Notice in the peach block (the prickly pears) that I left some of the block uncarved. This proved to be a mistake, because on printing the peaches, the raised part of the block picked up my green ink from the cacti leaves. Bummer!
Solution? Print by hand! This way I controlled where the pressure was applied and no ink transferred to the block. I suppose another solution would have been to clear the rest of the block, but the prickly pears were such a small area and the run so small (edition 30) that printing by hand was not too difficult.

Step 6: Adding the second blocks

How do I know what one block will look when printed over the other one? I don't!
Reduction printing has an element of surprise. If precision is what I want, then I cut multiple blocks and work everything out in advance. For a wee bit of control, you can "paint" the next state on the previous block to give you an idea of where you are going. Poster paints are good for this.
In a typical reduction, the next few states will add darker and darker colors to the image.
This second state added a darker, brighter peach and a rich green.

Step 7: Last blocks?

Step 8: Printed darker colors

The third state and beyond usually add accent colors, in this case a deep red and a dark green for contrast. Christmasy, huh?

That's pretty much about it! If you notice in the larger finished image, after the last peach block I still needed some definition for my prickly pears, so I reduced the block further and ended up printing a brownish red around the fruit's crowns and around their (ouch!) spines.