Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: absract, art, artist, Paint, painting, printmaking, visual art
So, today was my last open print studio at Cambridge Adult Ed. It was great to spend time with Paula and Cindy (hello, if you’re reading this!!!). They are both accomplished artists, so I look to them for advice and suggestions. Today, Paula suggested that I try to incorporate my drawing skills (limited), with the abstract work that I am so interested in. As I struggled to think of something to “draw” today, I just looked around the studio for inspiration. We share the printmaking studio with clay, jewelry, and…woodworking! So, my subject today turned to the drill press. Yes…inspiration can truly be found anywhere. Here was my first print:
That’s slightly wonky, right? Anyway, when I did it in studio…I was not impressed. But now that I look at it again, it’s kind of interesting. Cindy remarked how one’s frame of mind really affects how we view our artwork. Old watercolor paintings that she had previously set aside were better than she remembered when looked at anew. Distance makes the heart grow fonder? Maybe. The second one:
I can’t really make a series about drill presses…as those are the only two that they have! Maybe a power tools series in general would be interesting…not sure what that’s all about.
I also worked on some VERY messy paintings. These were very fun…albeit a big mess. Here is the first one:
I know. Garish colors. I kind of like garish colors, though. I feel like that person on the current season of Project Runway who feels compelled to “BEDAZZLE” everything. If only I’d had some glitter… a detail:
Messy fun! Then, I did ANOTHER messy one. Seriously. You’ll see…blobs of paint everywhere…
I know…right? Another “hot mess”. Another Project Runway reference…I need to get a life. Detail:
Then I decided that less is definitely not more, so I did ANOTHER super chaotic one:
I know that if I was at school, a teacher would have taken away my paints by now. Boo!
Detail:
Doesn’t it look like the melted ice cream in the bottom of your bowl when you have slathered on a grotesque quantity of colored sprinkles? By the way…what ARE sprinkles anyway? Have you ever eaten them straight? They’re disgusting. Like little wax chips…and the chocolate ones are no better.
Okay…so tell me the truth about the messy “paintings”. (notice that “paintings” is in quotes). What do you think? Keep the messy stuff for when I’m eating ice cream only? Should I put away my paints permanently? Should I have my artistic license revoked? Hmpfh.
Wish me luck on that portrait show. I’ll break the good/bad news to you when I find out myself!
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: painting, printmaking | Tags: Acrylic paint, art, artist, gelatin printing, gouache, Ink, Paint, painting, portrait, print, printmaking
I spent the morning doing some gelatin printing. I’m not sure that I’m a huge fan of this type of printing. I was also testing out different inks and paints to see which worked best. I think that the Akua inks worked well, as they don’t dry until they are on paper. The acrylic paint and the speedball ink were both just so-so. The only problem with the Akua ink is that it does take an eternity to dry. I’ll probably still be wiping blue off of my hands every time I pick up one of these prints. Here’s one of the first ones:
Eh…feh…blech…some interesting aspects to it. I like how the silver ink turned out in the lower left corner. Next:
Also kind of interesting. These are printed on some very thin mystery Asian paper that I have. The art store in Cambridge had rolls of random paper for sale…10 sheets for $5. What a bargain! So, this is why I don’t know what the paper is. Next:
I experimented with a stencil a little. That’s where the leaf shape comes from. Next:
I liked the random stamped lines in the lower left area. Next:
I like the greenish yellowish color with the greenish blue color. Any comments? Does anyone out there also do gelatin printing? What inks do you like to use? Do you have any pointers for me?
Last night, I kept myself up doing a gouache painting. Okay…It was VERY frustrating. I have seriously debated showing this at all, as it looks bizarre…but here it goes:
See how small I made the picture? Maybe it’s still too big. Anyway, I know that this looks really weird. He looks like he has a skin condition. DRAMATIC SIGH. I painted this based on a photo. Hmm…while I like the challenge of painting or drawing people…it also is rather daunting. I’m going to need A LOT more practice before I start doing this on the streets of New York…
I am the monitor for the print studio in Cambridge on Friday. As a result, I’ve needed to come up with what I’m going to do during that time. So, I have tried a little experiment. I painted gouache onto two 8″ x 10″ sheets of plexi. I’m going to see if they print onto damp paper. Here’s the first plate:
Kind of fun. The bubblegum pink is a bit much, but I’ll see how it prints. Here is the other one:
These are really an experiment. I hope that they print. If they don’t, I’m going to be disappointed.
So, where am I going with all of this? Who knows. I’m going in every direction at the same time. Let’s hope that some of this eventually leads somewhere!
Filed under: painting, Sewing | Tags: abstract, acrylic, art, artist, curtains, figurative, painting, sewing
Yes. I can’t believe it either. After a year from the date that we first pulled the building permit, we finally got it signed off today. The basement is DONE! I am so excited to move ALL of my art-stuff down there. FINALLY!!!!! No more stacking tupperware containers of inks, papers, tools, etc. in the dining room!!! Ahhh…I won’t know what to do with all of that space! I have a sinking feeling, though, that I will quickly fill it up. Hmm. But why dwell on that now? I may have to have a celebratory iced latte today.
I also FINALLY finished a house project that I have been planning on doing for practically a year as well. I finally made a little curtain for our front door. Yes, I know…not a big deal. What is a curtain, anyway? Just a rectangle of fabric, right? Well, yes it is…and I finally did it. Here it is:
I think that it looks great. I love this fabric. It’s kind of pricey…well, not Marimekko pricey, but a little expensive. It’s actually from Japan. I have some other fabric from this line as armrest covers on our hideous couches. Nice!
Not much going on art-wise. I took a stab at acrylic painting. Not so good. Luckily, I am taking a painting class this fall…so I should get some pointers! I know. Why have I spent the past year developing my printmaking knowledge, only to switch gears and start painting? Because it’s ALL so fun! So, I’m back to square one…learning how to paint. I did take painting in high school…and I have had a watercolor class and an oil painting class since then. Needless to say, I am at the bottom of the learning curve. I hope that there is no where to go other than up. Here they are on the wall:
I know. Stop laughing. Overall, they make me cringe…but there are ASPECTS of them that I like. Here is a part that I like of the first one:
That’s kind of appealing. I know…nothing earth-shattering. Hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Here is a closeup of the other one:
I’m happy with how the guy turned out. The woman bothers me and has some issues. This painting is based on an old photograph, so I can’t take any credit for the overall look to it…only the crude execution. So, I am facing this challenge head on…I hope that by the end of the year, my acrylic painting skills will have developed. If not…well…I don’t know what, if not. Drown my sorrows in lattes…
[I may have to work on that woman some more…she’s really bothering me…]
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: abstract, art, artist, Center for Contemporary Printmaking, nature, painting, printmaking, watercolor
So, I finally visited the “8th Biennial International Minature Print Exhibition” at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, CT. Why did I go? BECAUSE…I actually have a print there! Yes! My first juried exhibition…so I had to go and see it. I do not plan on doing that drive regularly, as it was around 3 hours each way. ANYWAY, here is what my print looked like on the wall:
Not bad, right? Notice the little red dot? THAT MEANS THAT SOMEONE BOUGHT ONE! I’m not kidding. My first sale! I’m very excited. Here is my print on the wall with other prints:
I think that mine is the 10th one from the left. Prints that were not “wall worthy” went in these binders in the foreground. So, there were so many amazing prints to look at! Here is another view of one of the rooms of the show:
Not bad, right? I have not entered another competition…so perhaps I should get on that and see what’s available.
My classes are over, so I have no more access to a press for printing. This was one of my last prints:
Hmmm. What do you think???? I was sort of blaise about it…but my printmaking teacher seemed to really like it. Comments?
I’ve also done some random watercolors (actually gouache)…but I think that it just isn’t my thing:
and:
Hmm. Just hmm.
I’m trying to decide on classes for the fall. This is always tough, as everything sounds great…but there is only so much time and money. BTW…I ALMOST have a workspace. The basement renovation is nearing completion! I can’t wait…
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., painting, printmaking | Tags: art, Chihuly, gouache, painting, print, printmaking, still life, woodblock printing
Before I start rambling on about woodblock printing…I bought my son some big containers of tempera paint, and a long roll of paper this past week. This is one of those purchases that is mostly for my son, but partly for me too. I love the idea of splotching big blobs of paint on a huge paper. Here is part of our creation:
I think that he had a good time with it. He seems to like to just mix colors together to make “outer space”. He’s not so concerned about making marks. He also found large stones and a brick, which he brought over to paint. So, even when you think you can imagine how a play activity is going to go…kids always surprise you. It just might be that my son is not as into making art as I am. Or maybe he is…but in less obvious ways. Either way, it was messy and fun.
So, last night I had my last woodblock printing class! It was such a fun class. I love the bold, graphic quality of woodblocks. Yes, some people can do subtle things with woodblock…but not me! Here is my last block in process:
I realized, while carving this block, that I’m not such a fan of carving. My teacher mentioned that she often listens to books on tape while she carves. Good idea!!! That might help. Also, I think that the pressure of having to design and carve a block on a schedule makes it a little stressful and less fun for me. I mean, I like to have a new block for each class. But if I wasn’t constrained by my weekly class, perhaps carving would be more meditative, and less like a chore. I’m wondering if I’m not destined to be a relief printer, because I don’t LOVE to carve. Hmmm. BUT…I do like how woodblock prints turn out…so this is a bit of a conundrum for me.
Here are the prints from yesterday:
I was somewhat happy with this print. It may need something dark in it. I’m not sure. Once again, I decided to just leave it and think about it more before doing anything else. Here is a detail:
I love those colors together, and I’m happy with my new block. The new block is the red part of the image. Here is the second print:
A bit simple, but nice. The orange looks more yellowish in reality. Detail:
It’s always an exercise in restraint for me to not add MORE. Here is just a print of the block that I made last week:
This took A LOT of restraint for me not to add more “stuff”. Sorry about the odd lighting in the photos. It’s the morning, and I don’t have great light to take pictures with. Here is the detail:
Brace yourself…there’s more!
I couldn’t leave that one alone, obviously…
I like this next one a lot:
It’s hard to tell, but the dark ink is a sort of plum color. Very cool. Detail:
The last one:
detail:
What do you think? I’m happy with how this latest block came out. It seems that no matter how many blocks one has…you need more! That puts me back in the condundrum of carving…
So, I had a free hour yesterday, so I did a little gouache still life. Now, bear with me…I don’t paint often. BUT, I really enjoyed it. So here is my bigger dilemma: I love the way woodblock prints look…but I am not keen on carving. I am not fond of my painting (see below)…but I enjoyed doing it! So odd. I’m not sure what to make of that. I think that typially, people like to do what they are good at. But in this case, I enjoyed doing what I wasn’t good at. Very strange. Here is the still life:
Yes, I know. It needs help. I am happy with how the silver rattle turned out…the other parts are so-so. I think that if I had a nicer brush (one that didn’t have a fat, multipointed/ragged end), then I might have been able to do a bit more. I know…excuses, excuses!
Woodblock printing = process:not fun / product:interesting
Gouache painting = process:fun / product:not interesting
What a dilemma! Does anyone out there have thoughts on this???
I’ve been reminded by a friend that I never followed up with comments on the Chihuly show at the MFA. WELL…his work is pretty over the top and remarkable. He’s definitely not of the “less is more” school of thought. The pieces were really stunning. I didn’t really like when they are all put together in a big, jumbled mass…like in his piece, Mille fiori. It gets too chaotic for me, and the beauty in each piece gets lost to me. It’s like a symphony where every musician is playing a difference piece. Cacophony. The individual pieces, however, are stunning. The chandeliers that everyone knows well are really stunning. He tends to use a single color for these, so while they are a bit chaotic looking, they have a unity that does not turn into cacophony, in my opinion. My favorite part of the exhibit was the room with beautiful woven baskets, bright handmade blankets, and an enormous slab of wood. The pieces in this room were subtle, delicate, and amazing. I preferred these pieces over all of the others. He had large, hollow glass blobs, almost like bubbles bursting, on that huge slab of wood. They looked gorgeous. So, I did like the Chihuly exhibit, and I think that his work is extraordinary. I do feel that it can be a chaotic mess at times, and I prefer when it’s more subtle or unified in presentation. Has anyone else seen it? Thoughts?
Filed under: Collage | Tags: art, artist, Collage, Mixed media, painting, visual art
So, this weekend…I took an afternoon collage class with Alexandra Sheldon. She is a local artist, who began as a painter…but now also does collage. Her work is so beautiful, and she has an amazing, intuitive sense about composition. She is also extremely enthusiastic, which creates a very fun atmosphere. This class was focused on edges in collage. We looked at hard/soft edges, their relation to one another and to the collage’s perimeter, and used all sorts of interesting techniques to create our collage material. I much prefer to use “made” material for a collage, rather than found material. I always struggle with found material…as it may have text that I don’t want, or simply be too strong of a singular image.
Here’s my first one…it took a little time to get “warmed up”:
I like the colors. Here is the next one…Alexandra suggested that I add the orange curve on the left…I’m glad that she did!
I think that cutting out the orange curve (hard edged), was not something that I would have thought of, but I like it. Here is the next one:
I really like the colors on that one. This is the next one:
That was one of my “exercises in restraint”. I was testing out different pieces, and another classmate said that the orange piece on the right was good. I agree! The last one:
My classmates liked the turquoise blue next to the yellow. I liked this one as well. I do think that the last one shows improvement over the first one. I guess this is typical…it takes a little time of working to just get “in the zone”. Alexandra suggested this might happen as the left side of the brain eventually stops interfering, when it isn’t being asked to participate. Interesting! I’d often like to tell the left side of my brain to “chill out” when it’s whining about things not being EXACTLY right, whatever that means.
I went to the Danforth Museum this week. I love that place. They had an exhibit of works by a local artist, Adria Arch. I really liked her painting…they almost looked screen printed to me. She works with “doodles”, or abstract symbols. I found that really interesting. Another artist also had work there: Elizabeth Keithline. I LOVED her work. She made figures out of wire which were amazing. It was really almost like looking at a computer generated wireframe of a human form, but it was standing in the room with you. I liked the fact that the forms were clearly handmade, and not overly precise, as a computer would do. Really extraordinary. Go see this show immediately, as it is going down on June 5. So worth it.
Happy Memorial Day!
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., painting, printmaking | Tags: art, india ink, Ink, lithography, painting, pinecone, printmaking, pronto plate, Visual Arts, winter
Today, an odd thing occurred…I was driving along the highway, and, for a brief minute or two, there was sunshine. But this didn’t look like winter sunshine. It looked like spring/summer sunshine. I actually had a momentary feeling of it being summer. HOW BIZARRE. I’m sure that you know what I mean…there is just a feeling associated with each season. It was so strange to have that feeling of summer for a minute or two, in spite of the fact that it’s February and we’re up to our armpits in snow. It was like a deja vu: “Oh…this is so familiar, yet weird…” I know. Just keep my eyes on the road and pay attention! But still…it was SO nice! I wish that it didn’t disappear…
Well, I’m still experimenting. I’m starting to feel that I need to work on something “bigger”. Everything that I do has just been little sketches. Perhaps I need to try to tackle something…MORE. Who knows what that means. Can one get loopy from the smell of ink? gum arabic? banana bread? (I made some yesterday).
Here are some of my latest sketches. I’m trying to think of things to potentially make a solar plate from. The black and white ink sketches are some thoughts. The color image is my first pronto print at home! Yay! It sort of worked! It’s one of those procedures that is a bit temperamental. The first few prints went well…then for some reason, things started to not work well. The ink wouldn’t stick to the plate, so that later prints are more faint. Sigh. Well, not bad for my first at-home attempt.
Did anyone else see that sunshine today? It was hovering over route 95 in Waltham…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts..., painting | Tags: arts, chicken, Collage, drawing, Igloo, Ink, painting, Rainbow Brite, sketching, watercolors
Well, this just about does it. Apparently, we are getting MORE snow. I’ve heard between 4 and…21 inches??? What kind of estimate is THAT? Anyway, all of this snow has put me over the deep end. I’m bracing myself for two days of winter ugliness. My husband has possibly embraced this whole snow thing more than I have…this is the IGLOO in our front yard that he built for my son:
Yes, you know it’s bad when you have an igloo on your front lawn. Hey, at least I’m not LIVING in an igloo. Sometimes, I am so cold in the house that it feels like an igloo. I’ve typed the word, “igloo” so many times now, that it’s starting to look weird. Hence, I am losing my grip on reality with all of this ice-hut-building/snowball-eating/northeast-cursing/blood vessel-bursting/stir-crazy/cabin-fever weather.
I’m trying to fight S.A.D. by using obnoxious colors. I’m not sure that it’s working for me.
Do any of you remember the toy, “Rainbow Brite“? I feel like I’m channeling her…
These are my neurons when I heard that we were getting more snow…
Now, I’m completely regressing…
I did this ages ago, and never wanted to post it. Well…I think that this is the time to post such randomness…
If this week is a series of snow days…you may not hear from me in awhile. I’ll be holding a plastic Elmo figurine and mumbling to myself in the corner of the room while my son asks me to “make Elmo talking…”
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking | Tags: art, Collage, painting, printmaking, Visual Arts
So, I didn’t hear from many on you on my question regarding posting EVERY DAY. Perhaps I should interpret your silence as polite pleading not to innundate you with posts.
Clearly, I’m ignoring this for now. The first image is my 365 creation from yesterday. It’s so much better to photograph with sunlight.
detail:
This was obviously a departure from the printmaking stuff. Well, I take that back…as that isn’t really obvious. This was a collage/painting.
I also took another stab at another print in the series of the cartoonish guy. It turned out so-so…I took away too much red ink.
detail:
I’m not sure that I have much more to say with him. We’ll see. Here is a print using yet ANOTHER type of ink…oil based:
detail:
I wasn’t too thrilled with it. I think that the general technique has some interesting possibilities (if I was Picasso), but I’m going to have to try again.
Here are a couple of experiments:
I photoshopped out two big smudges in the margins of this last one. I know. That’s kind of cheating. If I wasn’t so sloppy, I wouldn’t have to do that!
Thumbs up? Down? No comment? I am so looking forward to my classes, as I feel that I am fumbling around with a lot of these printmaking materials. Also, feedback from my teacher/classmates will be good (or OTHERS…hint..hint).
🙂
slightly wonky 
