Filed under: Drawing, painting, printmaking | Tags: Arlington Center, art, Dinosaur, Lego, Mixed media, monotype, printmaking, sculpture
No, that’s not what I saw on the scale this morning! I mean: do you know that I’ve done 200 posts on this blog? No joke! Sometimes I scroll back to early posts just to see what’s been happening over the past couple of years. Hmmm. Not as much as one might hope for. No one has offered me a solo NYC show yet. Can you believe it? WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE???? Clearly, I am the only one who basks in my artistic brilliance. (ummm…I’m kidding) I may have to shut off the “comments” feature with this post…the beauty of the internet is that I can’t see anyone rolling their eyes right now…
Perhaps instead of revealing my true struggles on this blog, I should create a faux online persona of artistic brilliance. I could create faux galleries that represent me and who gush over my faux creations. I could also imply that although I’m almost 40, I have no gray hairs and look like Zoey Deschanel.
None of this would be true, of course. My sham persona would soon be discovered. So, I’ve had to rely on the truth on this blog, and it’s often not so pretty, or exciting. Perhaps you’re relieved to know that your life isn’t so wrapped up in drivel and nonsense as mine? Perhaps you’re relieved to know that I keep a messy house, with Lego bits and dust bunnies brazenly staring me down every morning as I walk to the kitchen? Yes, I’ve heard of a mop, a broom, AND a vacuum. I just don’t choose to use them very often. Maybe if I think of housework as some kind of domestic performance art, I might get slightly more interested…
This week, I went to the Arlington Center for the Arts to see a show they have of faculty artwork. I’ve taken a drawing class there with a teacher who is funny and talented. Here is the work that she submitted:
Connie Thibaut, Memento Mori, Mixed Media
This looks to be a “trace monotype.” Can you see how amazing her drawings are? She tends to do surrealist subjects. I thought that this was really lovely. Look at the doll/person’s hand in the upper right! Beautiful. I couldn’t find a website for her. CONNIE, YOU NEED A WEBSITE. EVEN IF IT IS A FAKE PERSONA. I know. Some people have standards, and don’t feel like revealing their ineptitude online. Go figure. Next:
A. Kristina Goransson, Collection III & Collection IV, Felted & Dyed Wool
Isn’t that beautiful? These are two, separate works of art, but they do look so amazing together, don’t they? Her website is here. Check it out. All of these pieces are felted wool. SO interesting! I love how delicate they are. I wish that I knew her, as I’d ask her if I could touch one of them…(the inner preschooler in me.) Next:
Gloria Calderon-Saenz, Rivers and Nests #4, Acrylic on wood
Isn’t that gorgeous? It looks like she paints the surface of the wood, then carves it to create the image. I loved this. Check out her website here. She has another one:
Gloria Calderon-Saenz, Open Nests, Acrylic on wood
I love how graphic these are. The texture is also gorgeous, but you can’t see that from the photo. If you’re in the area, you should stop by this show in Arlington. The gallery is small, but these works (and others) are really worth it.
This week, my son’s artistic brilliance was to create this:
Do you know what that is? THAT’S THE STATUE OF LIBERTY! I thought that was pretty cool. Maybe he’ll be a sculptor when he grows up? Take a look at this:
Maybe I should suggest that he NOT become a sculptor? Isn’t that kind of deranged looking? This is the kind of stuff that I’m constantly tripping over around here. Creepy. You’d think that I’d clean up more often just so that this kind of stuff wasn’t glaring at me all day. I know…get the broom…yadda yadda yadda.
Well, it’s lunchtime. Time to go forage for something to eat…perhaps a rice crispy treat or two? (or three?).
If I sandwich two of them together with peanut butter, does that make them more nutritious? Discuss.
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: abstract, acrylic, art, artist, monotype, painting, printmaking
So, I started a new class. It’s called “Supercharged Painting”. VERY fun so far. Lots of messy, gloppy stuff. This week, we were playing around with acrylic mediums to create texture in our work. So, I have two canvases that I started…but there is no color yet. I kind of like them plain…but they won’t stay that way! First one:
It’s hard to see in a photo, but these blobs are different textures…some gritty…some smooth…
In Christian Siriano’s words…it does look like a “hot mess”. That’s okay. It will get worse…trust me… :p
The other canvas:
I think that I upped the contrast on this image too much, but you get the idea. Big blobs! What fun!
Most of the other students in the class are “regulars”. There are only a few of us that are new. The “regulars” all know what they’re doing…and it was sooo great! It’s so amazing to be surrounded by so many talented artists! I loved watching them work. When I find out their names (beyond their first name), I can put some links in my posts so that you can see what they are doing.
Last week, I had a so-so time in the print studio. A motley array of prints:
Hmmmm… Next one:
Hmmm…
I liked some of the color combinations in that one…
Here are others more on the theme of what I did last week:
And the other:
Those prints get a sustained, “hmmm”, from me. Comments? Thoughts? This week’s class will probably be my last one for the year. Let’s see what happens!
I had coffee with a local artist, Regina Valluzzi. Please check out her work. She is really having some great success, and was so kind in making suggestions for me. We weren’t discussing our artwork, specifically, but were just talking about the local art scene. She’ll be at the Arlington Open Studios (as will I) in October. Please stop by and see her work firsthand! She currently has a show at the Blue Glass Gallery in the lobby of the Hancock tower in Boston. Go see it!
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, drypoint, Linocut, monotype, printmaking, Visual Arts
I’m still working away on my larger linocut. I am enjoying this much more than the first time. I may not feel the same way after I try to PRINT this, but at the moment, I am having a better time. Again, I think that this is because I am using a nicer linoleum than I was before. Or else, it’s because I’m refreshed after a weekend away. Yes…I went up to Maine with a bunch of girlfriends SANS ENFANTS! Ahhh…we had a great time. It felt great and odd not to have a three-year old leaping all over me. Naturally, I came home and expected a hug right away, so that previous desire was short lived. So, here’s the linocut:
I know. It’s hard to tell what’s going on. I hope that will improve when I print it. I also worked on a new drypoint plate. Here it is:
Yes, this is also hard to see. So, this post is mostly about my sloth-like pace in making progress. Things are slow here. I’m plodding along…the basement workspace is also creeping along…The good news is that we have the building materials we were waiting for in the basement. The bad news is…well…that it’s all still in boxes. This is no surprise to me. I’m not complaining. I keep hoping that the basement elves will take care of this soon. Maybe they have some kind of union, and are on strike right now. Or, maybe they’re hibernating.
So, I have to go to a parking hearing on Thursday. I dread this. I received a parking ticket for having my car parked in my driveway. Apparently, it was interfering with snow removal. Really? I didn’t realize that the town was planning on clearing my driveway too. Lucky me! If I lose this argument, there really is no justice in this world. Wish me luck.
I have a hideous print to show. It’s sort of a cartoonish house. So awful. A large part of me wonders WHY I even am going to show this. I somehow feel compelled to reveal the ugly truth of this printmaking process…some stuff is just plain awful. Nothing ventured…nothing gained…perhaps my publishing this image is similar to looking at a train wreck…it’s awful, but you can’t help yourself from staring…
Notice how small this image is…not by accident. It might look better as a postage stamp. Or, as my son says, “more better”. I think that this emphasis is valid, when I consider how I’d like this print to shrink down to nothingness.
I missed a printmaking class last week, as my son was sick. Let’s hope that this doesn’t happen again this week, both for his sake and mine! I have to play the odds, and produce enough prints that one or two, on occasion, may be okay. I also have to recover from the aforementioned house print, or else this is going to be both a slow week, and an uninspiring one! (insert sad trombone sound here…) 🙂
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: art, Japan, Linocut, linoleum block, monotype, printmaking, temple, watercolor
Okay, it was 12 degrees this morning. Tonight, it’s supposed to be 6. Seriously. In spite of this cold snap, our lovely igloo that my husband made has melted. Here is what’s left of it:
It was right next to that tree. I took this picture yesterday when my son and I were playing out in the yard. I was frozen, and he was gleefully throwing snow around with a beach shovel. Here’s the winter light in front of our house:
Isn’t it amazing? I love that kind of light.
So, I managed to finish that linoleum block that I was working on! I just tried to hunker down and finish it. I like the prints, more or less, so I think that I may do more…in spite of the fact that I’m still not in love with carving linoleum. I also collaged some interesting Japanese papers into some of the pictures. The solid paper was a success…the patterned paper was a total fail.
Here is just the block print:
Here, I’ve added some red paper:
The red looks much darker in the photo above than it really appears. Detail:
Here it is with the patterned paper…not good:
I like this one, with the ochre paper:
detail:
That turned out pretty well.
I also finished that trace monotype with watercolor. I’m not happy with this. I may try to “help” it in some way. Suggestions?
I kind of like the colors, but the overall effect is blah. It’s kind of flat and boring. Thoughts???
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking | Tags: abstract, art, Brayer, colorful, Ink, monotype, printmaking, red, Visual Arts
I was about to write, “it’s amazing how much frozen water can disrupt everything”, but then I thought of the Titanic. Hmm. Makes our perpetual cocoon of snow seem less formidable.
It’s hard to keep a schedule now. Snow days abound. Our thermometer read -6 degrees one morning this week. 15 degrees is starting to feel pretty good, and 32 is positively balmy.
I hope that in spite of the snow, I can make it to my two classes this week. I can see why taking classes in the winter can be a bit of a challenge. But, the light outside can be so great! When the sun is setting…all of those mounds of snow glow with a pinkish light, while the shadows remain a purplish-blue. Throw in some black, jagged branches, and you have quite a scene! I’ll try to remember to take a picture.
I’m continuing with my printmaking. I worked with the new brayer technique that I was shown in my last class. The teacher actually paints/draws like this. In fact, during class she “drew” a remarkable hummingbird with her brayer. (A brayer is a hard, rubber roller used to apply ink). Pretty amazing. I like working with lots of layers of ink.
I would LOVE to own a press someday. I know…dream on. They are $$$$. The images are just so much more saturated and crisp when you use a press, instead of hand burnishing/rubbing the back of the paper. If you know of someone who is somehow TIRED of their exquisite press, and would like to see it go to a good home…let me know.
Here’s my recent work…stay warm!
It feels like such a relief for me to be taking a break from straight lines, clean drawings, neat everything…In architecture, drawings are legal documents, or instructions. No extraneous or unclear information should be provided. CLARITY. Well, obviously…these kinds of drawings/prints have an entirely different purpose. How refreshing!
Filed under: Drawing, printmaking | Tags: art, drawing, illustration, monotype, pen, printmaking, sketching
No, I’m not talking ABOUT anyone…
It’s been snowing steadily all morning with the fattest flakes I have ever seen. It’s like tissue paper confetti. I tried to take a photo of the flakes, but they don’t seem to show up at all in the pictures.
I’m still working in drawings, mostly. I JUST ordered supplies for pronto printing, so I’m going to use these drawings as a basis for that printing. I am just exploring lines and patterns, really. I make a line, then just see where it goes. It’s kind of freeing to just start a drawing, with no plan about where it’s going. Each mark just reacts to the mark beforehand…
I did manage to do one print. Here it is…
All of these seem to have that “primordeal” look to them. I just find that these are the types of marks that I like to make! A micro world…what do you think?
slightly wonky 
