Okay. Today, I’m not liking how anything is turning out. Sigh. I have visions of grandeur, only to be squashed by reality. I’m still working with these new, water-based inks. I only have three colors, so I’m finding the palette to be a bit limited. I know…I should be able to mix ANY color from yellow, red and blue. This is probably true, but I can’t seem to do that. So, if you wonder why the color palette with all of these is similar, this is why. I can’t tell if I should list the images from bad to worse? Perhaps not. Maybe I’ll put the worst one somewhere in the middle, in an attempt to “bury” it. I’m putting this ink away for the time being…until I feel that I can muster the strength to possibly produce more ugly things.
This one is a composite of the previous prints…I just started looking the shapes, and decided to make a “collage” of them.
and a detail:
Now, some of the more recent (icky) prints:
And the “ghost” print:
I know. Blech. Here the WORST one:
I know. Why bother? SERIOUSLY. It’s hard to bounce back from some of these prints. At least the next ones are kind of punchy/fun:
detail:
And the other one:
detail:
Lucky for me, I’m taking some printmaking classes next year. Thank goodness!!! Do I need help, or WHAT? Not that these teachers can be miracle workers, but I have high hopes.
Tomorrow is going to be Christmas Eve craziness around the house. Makes me want to hide somewhere…with a latte. Okay. That sounds rather scrooge-y. I’ll think positively, and hope that I can somehow get a nap in tomorrow…AFTER my latte.
I’m going to check out Keri Smith’s blog now, as her stuff always is funny and inspiring. You should look at it too! Especially those of you who feel that you may be in some kind of rut…she’ll give you lots of ideas to try something different. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE OUT THERE! 😛
Okay, so here is another one in this series. I like this, as I both changed the paper, and I tried to have more ink. These are reductive prints, meaning: I start out with the plate fully covered with ink, and then I wipe away the areas that I don’t want to have color. Messy! So, this last time, I tried to leave more ink on the plate. Better.
So, I’ve got some new ink. I like it! It’s this non-toxic stuff that cleans up pretty easily. Which is good, as I tend to get it all over my hands. I’m pretty good about wearing gloves for awhile…but then I always end up throwing them on the table and just getting my hands inky. So, as I’ve mentioned previously, I have a hard time keeping my hands looking somewhat reasonable.
This is sort of an odd, cartoonish series. Not sure where I’m going here. I was thinking of children’s drawings, but then with an adult mind and the heaviness that it brings. I may try a different paper, as this one is quite bumpy (toothy?) Hmm…I was initially thinking that these were neat, but now I’m not so sure…
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: 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... | Tags: architecture, art, career transition, Printing, printmaking, Screen-printing
Today, someone at my old office sent me photos of a project that I worked on. It was an addition/renovation to a dining hall. It looks really good! The building was pretty much designed before they brought me on, but I had the task of coordinating and detailing the exterior. Needless to say, it was stressful, but I was working with a great team of people. If I remember correctly, there were just three of us doing the drawings! Anyway…why do I bring this up? Well, I can’t help but feel an odd pang when I see the building. I am thinking, “I used to do that”…”I was good at that”…”What am I doing now?”…”Why am I throwing away all that I know, to start again?”
Whatever it is that I’m doing now, I’m a beginner. This is tough to be a beginner, so late in life. I used to know what I was doing. Yes, I had way too much to do, but I knew what had to be done and I was good at doing it. Now…I’m a beginner…muddling my way along…trying to figure out what the heck I’m doing.
Every time I meet up with a friend, they ask me how “things” are going. Good question. No good answer available. I’m trying lots of things: printmaking, painting, screen printing, sewing, felting, etc. etc. etc. But what exactly do I have to show for myself? A very odd arrangement of things in progress… Some things I am happy with, many things I am chalking up to experience.
I have been advised to think of myself as an “artist”. This feels a little premature, and quite a bit of a stretch. So, I don’t know what I am. I know that people spend a lifetime trying to figure out who/what they are. I’m finally stopping to ask myself that question. It took me long enough! I feel grateful that I am able to ask. I wish that I had a profound answer. I don’t so far. I just have a collection of odd things. In any event, I am happy to have this collection of odd things. It may not make sense to anyone else, but these odd things are dear to me…more so than the lovely, praiseworthy building. While the building represents my former life as a “take no prisoners/stress-case” architect, the odd things represent my current self…wondering, struggling, searching and hoping.
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: art, art classes, arts, boston, craft, crafts, decordova, printmaking, woodblock printing
So, this has been a week of ups and downs. I managed to work on Tuesday, which was great. It was one of those days where the stars felt like they were aligned. Things looked great, I was excited and happy. All good. Friday was the only other day this week that I could work. In contrast to Tuesday, Friday was slow and deflating. I’ve been working on a woodcut. It’s taking ages, and my arm/hands/brain ache from it. I’m hoping to use 4 colors, but I only managed to carve out 1.25 of the four colors. SIGH. Also, I was looking at some of my books, at the work that others do…and I was deflated. Everything was so beautiful! I felt a million miles away from it all. I’ve decided that the only solution to that is to take some more classes. Spending time with an artist, having him/her provide suggestions and feedback…is invaluable. I LOVE art classes. I mean…I REALLY LOVE art classes. I don’t love everything that I do, but there are always one or two things that make me happy. I am still taking printmaking now. It’s been great. We only have two classes left! Where does the time go? Now, I’m already scouring my class options for next semester. If only I had Mondays free! There is a fabulous class at the Decordova that I’d like to take. If anyone has taken any great local (metro-Boston) art classes, let me know!
Hey! These are my first woodblock prints. I like them! Yes, I have a long way to go…but I like the graphic quality of them. Also, carving them is very satisfying, but messy. Maybe I should say satisfying AND messy! I’m pretty much wanting to grab onto any hunk of wood to start carving away at it. Why not the coffee table? It’s sort of in sad shape anyway, right? (just kidding!)
slightly wonky 
