Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking | Tags: Art book, book, linoleum print, printmaking
Okay, so I started another lino print. This one was less abstract…and I like it much less. The ink is a dark blue/black. I intend to color in the white areas, when the ink dries. Sigh. I’m trying not to let this get me down.
Then, as I was inspired by yesterday’s mini books…I decided to make another! Yes, this one is totally handmade, so it looks…well, less polished. I had fun doing it. I may be on a book making binge, as this one was fun too! I like being able to work as I go along, and not have to plan too much along the way. Unlike the linoleum print, where one has to plan out a little…this book had no plan at all! MUCH more fun.
Now, inside:
And the cover:
And some close ups:
I’m happy with it. I know…WHAT is it, really? Who knows. Like I need more books in the house? Hmm…like I need more of anything in the house? I’ll have to purge some of someone else’s books to make room for these. JUST kidding!
Filed under: Felting, printmaking | Tags: book, craft, felt, Fiber Arts, sewing, Shopping, Supplies, textile
So, I finished the lino prints last night. I added the third color. You can see it below:
I think that it turned out pretty well. I did manage to jab my thumb with the tool used to cut the linoleum. I know…cut AWAY from yourself. My thumb didn’t seem to be anywhere near where I was working, but my hand slipped. I need to get some of those oyster shucking gloves. Or, I just need to pay more attention.
I also worked on a fabric composition:
and a detail:
This is a bunch of different fabrics/yarns, etc merged into one fabric through needle felting. You basically use a barbed needle to poke through the layers, and fuse them together. It’s pretty interesting how different fabrics behave when felted like this. I have no idea what I’m doing with this thing, but I’m just going to keep adding to it.
I also made two tiny little books! Here they are:
Aren’t they so cute? There are only twelve pages in each book. I got this little kit from the local art store to make them. I’ve never made/bound a book before, but it was surprisingly fun! Somehow, it never seemed very interesting to me. Okay…a blank book…yawn. But, when you make it yourself, It’s so fascinating how it all comes together in such an intelligent manner. This wasn’t even any type of fancy binding, but they still turned out well. Hmm… I may make more of these. I have no idea why I would need a collection of tiny books with only twelve blank pages, but I’ll find some purpose. Grocery lists? Profound thoughts? (hmm…no, I want to USE these books) Maybe I’ll just keep them as mini sketchbooks, to draw tiny things in. Any other suggestions? 🙂
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, Equipment and Supplies, Ink, linoleum block, Printing, printmaking
Okay. So, I tried a new ink & technique for printing today. I was hoping that it was going to be fabulous. Unfortunately, it turned out horribly. Big fail…waaah! I like the layered colors, but for the life of me, I could not get the middle part to print as dark as the edges. I have NO idea what I was doing wrong. I would love to blame the press, or the ink, but it was surely my fault. sigh. It’s always frustrating to spend time on something that does not turn out well. I tried to revive it along the way, but no luck. I may email my printmaking teacher to ask her for suggestions. [update: I think that I needed to add “retarder” to my ink. This modifier slows down the rate of drying. So, my ink was drying out before I had a chance to print it. I’ve used that modifier for other inks, but I somehow thought that this ink didn’t need it. I was wrong. SIGH. The inspiration (if that’s what I should call it) for the print came from seeing my recently planted bulbs dug up out of the garden by some critter. The sad bulbs were lying on the soil, pale and bare. I wanted to replant them, but I thought that this would just be futile. So, no springtime flowers for me! DRAMATIC SIGH]
I also have a lino print (one of four copies) in process. I used some oil based ink, which was so much better for printing than the water based. Unfortunately, I have been waiting AGES for it to dry. I could probably keep printing, even though it is still tacky, but I’m worried that I’ll mess it up somehow.
I haven’t gotten much done lately. Holiday stuff…trying to purge excess stuff (primarily toys and clothes)…etc. The basement renovation is progressing. I’m looking forward to having some space to work and leave things in process.
Comments welcome! Or if any of you are into printmaking, please feel free to give me some pointers.
I’m going to go and eat a cookie now…
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking | Tags: arts, Bazaar Bizarre, craft, Screen-printing
So, I finally finished my blob serigraphs (screenprints). Here is the step right before completion:
And here is how they turned out:
A single print:
And a detail:
So, what do you think? Thumbs up, down, or no comment?
I also worked on some monoprints today. I forget if they are “monoprints” or “monotypes“. Clearly, a novice printer. See my color theme?:
And a detail:
Are you bored yet? I get tired of putting in these photos. Well, I had fun doing these! I also have a picture of something that I got at Boston’s Bazaar Bizarre, made by Raeburn Ink:
Isn’t it so neat? I love hot pink, and this squishy scarf had hot pink puffy clouds silkscreened onto it. MINE! (hmm…should have used the fuzzy filter in photoshop elements…need to hide the scar on my chin…)
Needless to say, I went to the craft show today for the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston. SO RIDICULOUS. The stuff was INCREDIBLE. I cannot emphasize that enough. SUCH beautiful things. All the ladies that lunch were there buying $600 shawls. I was envious, needless to say. I walked out with a book. You know that you can’t afford anything when each booth has small signs in a corner showing you the meager “UNDER $100” items. Sigh. Seriously, this show is at the cyclorama in Boston through the weekend. Really REALLY amazing stuff. Just take out a loan, if you plan on purchasing anything…but the prices were completely justified. The works were so beautiful. Anyone planning on going?
Filed under: Uncategorized
So, here are a couple of pictures of my mom with the ORIGINAL silver tree! This was in her apartment in Chicago. She’s probably around 22…see how cute the tree is? Check out mom’s 60s mod hair!
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking, Sewing | Tags: Charlie Brown, Chicago, Christmas, Christmas tree, crafts, hand made, Holidays, ornaments, Real tree, Shopping, Tree
Hello all! I’ve been asked to try to provide progress images of what I’m up to. Here’s a serigraph (screen print), that is in progress:
Here some images of my holiday cards…relief print:
And here is something in progress…tree ornaments! This is a good segue to my next topic: tree debate!
Okay. When I was growing up, our family would sometimes get a real tree at Christmas time…and sometimes not. When we didn’t get a real tree, we used my mom’s FABULOUS silver aluminum tree. I believe that she and a girlfriend bought the tree when they had a tiny apartment in Chicago. Anyway, I loved that tree. Much to my horror, she threw it out one year WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST. I know…get a life. Whatever. So, I’ve wanted one of those trees for ages. I got a vintage one from ebay last year, and I was SO excited. I think that my mom’s tree was better.., but this one is pretty cool. Okay, so the debate is: the rest of my family is not fond of the idea of a fake tree, never mind a silver one. So, I’m posting photos to get more opinions. Am I crazy, or is this thing kind of cool? Be honest. The first photo is just the plain tree…bare bones:
I know…it has a sort of Charlie Brown sparseness to it. But wait! What if I add some lights?
What if I go crazy, and add some PINK lights? (as we had in my childhood…should explain a lot about me)
I know. My husband is NOT going to go for this. But whyyyyyyyy??? Isn’t it COOL? No? Hmm…okay, I also made some silly, pillow ornaments for the tree. You may hate these as well, but give me your opinions on them:
And now, in the silver tree:
So, what do you think? Creepy? Cute? Blah? Yucky?
I like them! I know. Mies van der Rohe would throw up.
My son, inspecting the tree:
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts...
Okay. This post is completely random, but I feel compelled to do it anyway. My son has some alphabet blocks. They seem somewhat normal. I believe that all of the letters are represented, but I’m not totally sure. The set is old, and some are missing. Anyway, in addition to having letters, the blocks also have pictures on them. Most of the pictures are recognizable:
That’s a flower. Got it.
That’s a duck. So far…so good…
Okay, so this looks like a ship.
But, what is that? Is that also some kind of boat????
Um…I guess that’s a house…but what the hell is coming off of the side? Is that a chimney? Ductwork???
Okay, so what’s that? A horse? Doesn’t it also look a little like a dinosaur at the head????
What about that one? A dog? Really? Is that the best that they could do? This last one is my favorite:
What IS that???? A seal? A cat with no ears? WHAT????
I realize now that I’ve forgotten one that I meant to include. If I remember, I’ll add it to the list. I would appreciate any opinions, as I feel that my visual literacy may be seriously slipping here. Also, if you feel that I have any of them upside down, etc., please let me know…
I’ll try to do a more compelling post next time…
[okay, here is the image I forgot to include before…see? doesn’t THIS look sort of like a seal? But doesn’t it look like it has both flippers, and feet???? Kind of like a seal / bird hybrid? So, if this is more like a seal, then what was that previous block?]
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: bazaar bizaare, boston, craft shows, crafts
So, this past Sunday, I went to the Bazaar Bizarre at the Cyclorama in Boston. SO MUCH FUN! I naturally wanted to buy everything, but I had to restrain myself. Here were some talented people! My favorite booths / people were:
The Spun Monkey – fabulous FELT! Amazing roving! Very nice people. Here is their blog: http://thespunmonkey.wordpress.com/
Raeburn Ink – amazing screenprinting apparel and sewn items. The designer has just written a book! I had to get a super cool cotton scarf with a hot pink screenprinted pattern on it. The t-shirts were amazing too. Here is her website: www.raeburnink.com
I wonder if I will ever make it to a venue like that? I’m sure that it’s super competitive to get in. Most everything was top notch…and unique. No boring Amy Butler baby bibs or anything. Very cool calendars, jewelry, ceramics…ahhh. I was in heaven. Did anyone else go? I think that there is a Bazaar Bizarre twice a year, so definitely go to the summer one!
http://bazaarbizarre.org/boston/
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: answer, Philosophy, Strategy, Thought
So, this post has nothing to do with my art endeavour. It is about me making changes about how I do things in life. For ages, and for some mysterious reason, I felt that our next door neighbors were annoyed with us. Seriously. I am so ridiculous. Anyway, this has bothered me for ages. FINALLY, I got up the gumption to go over and knock on their door to ask them about it. The lady had NO idea what I was talking about. We had a lovely conversation for 20 minutes, and ended with a friendly wave and a “goodbye”. This first part, of me jumping to inane conclusions, is so typical for me. The second part, where I actually try to confront these theories, is atypical. I would normally wonder about this, without actually testing my hypothesis. Trust me, I know how dumb this is. Can you see how challenging I make things in life, when this is my typical strategy for dealing with such matters? Anyway, I wanted to write a post about it, as I felt that it was a slight shift for me in a better direction. No, this had nothing to do with art, but it was a small success for me! I know…so ridiculous!
slightly wonky 
