Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking | Tags: art, artist, artwork, flowers, Garden, printmaking, tulip, Visual Arts
Believe it or not, some of the bulbs that I plated last fall have actually come up! Seriously. I have so little faith in gardening, that I thought that planting bulbs was a sheer waste of time for me. Not so! See!:
Don’t they look great? Granted, there are only three of them…and I actually planted eight bulbs. The other FIVE tulips were mysteriously decapitated. I’ve been told that this is squirrels. I have hard time believing that. I think that it must be the little person who lives in my house and calls me, “Mommy”. Hmmm…
Don’t they look great???? Trust me, I’m shocked. Here are a few other things growing, that I did not plant:
And also:
Of course, I’m just showing you the highlights. I’ve edited out the crabgrass.
I did another print:
I’m still on this long theme, with a lot of black. I think that the photo makes this one look uniformly black, but in reality, there is more going on. The black in the upper right area isn’t really black at all, but a dark green…somewhat translucent. This doesn’t seem to be coming through in the photo. Here is a detail:
I think that you can kind of see the layers in the black area. I like this one. I like the shadowy things barely visible in the dark areas…with just a few pops of color and lightness.
I’ve ordered a special brush to do the Moku Hanga printing (as shown in the last post). As soon as I get it…I’m using it! In the meantime, I’ll have to get some wood blocks carved. I’ll keep you posted…
Filed under: Collage, Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking | Tags: art, artist, Collage, print, printmaking, Visual Arts
So, I did a bit of a crazy thing. I signed up to have my “portfolio” reviewed by professionals in the local art world…gallery owners, curators, etc. The Cambridge Art Association has organized this. Each artist gets three, 20 minute conversations with three different reviewers. This seemed like a great idea when I signed up. Now, I’m panicking.
I realized, after signing up, that this is a very formal interview. Think of it as a job interview for artists. I thought that I could casually bring a pile of my work, and just talk about what seems to have potential. This is NOT what is supposed to happen. I am supposed to have a clear, coherent portfolio of around 8 works/images to discuss. I am presenting myself and my work, as if I was trying to get them to offer to show my work. This is…serious.
As a result, I am in a bit of a panic. What am I going to show them? Which one of these varied things is going to be my “thing”…my “artistic vision”? My vision feels blurry right now. I now believe that I must create something BRILLIANT in the next couple of weeks. When I puts this kind of pressure on myself…a kind of paralysis ensues. I’m freaking out. I also realize that I CANNOT mention this blog, lest they read about my panic. That wouldn’t be very professional, I think.
So, I somehow have to get my act together very quickly. I do wish that I could miraculously come up with some brilliant things in the next week or so. I have a feeling that’s not reasonable.
Sigh. Now, onto other matters of panic…
I’m taking a collage class. This also stresses me out. In graduate school, I took a collage class. It was traumatizing. I think that I have mentioned it before in a previous post. Anyway, I am hoping that this class is more relaxed, and doesn’t make me break out in a cold sweat every time I see a glue stick.
Here are the random things that I did in the last class:
We were supposed to do a collage about ourselves…in 20 minutes. That’s what I came up with. Hmmm…I won’t explain.
This is the next collage, where we had to use one entire page of a magazine to make the collage:
I kind of liked that one. This next one was supposed to be an “all text” collage. I was in a rush, as I ran out of time because I was chit-chatting with my classmates.
Kind of silly. This was sort of refreshing, though, as our collages in grad school ALWAYS had to be rectangles with clean edges. Yawn.
Here is the other color scheme of that lino print from before. I’m disappointed with it.
Okay, pay attention:
Has anyone out there done an “artist interview”? Any words of wisdom? I know. Don’t panic. Seriously…besides “not panicking”, anything else to think about? How do you decide what to present, when your work is so varied? Don’t say, “avoid participating in interviews”, or “get your act together”. That’s obvious, and not helpful.
Maybe I should wear a disguise and use a fake name…KIDDING (I think).
Filed under: Drawing | Tags: artist, arts, drawing, sketch, sketchbook, Visual Arts
So today, I’ve taken the rare opportunity to scribble in my sketchbook as my son naps. His napping is rare, kind of like the Yeti. Come to think of it…my son is much like a diminutive, yet angry, Yeti when he HASN’T had his nap…but I digress…
I recently purchased the book, The Creative License by Danny Gregory. At first, I thought that it would be a ho hum book on being “creative” or “artsy”. Well…I suppose it is that on a fundamental level, but it’s actually a very good book (so far). His premise, which is not unusual, is that we can all be creative…and should be. As a vehicle for creativity, he focuses on drawing. For most people who don’t draw, the idea of drawing sounds as much fun as sitting at the RMV. But it doesn’t have to be! He starts of with various exercises to get your brain working differently. I know, this isn’t original either, but I like his enthusiasm for just doing SOMETHING, and not making the whole thing too precious. For me, doing this blog is similar to this. If I had to wait until I was thrilled with something that I did in order to have a blog and post it, you would not be reading this now. BUT, I had to just roll with it, and accept the good, bad and ugly. This applies to sketching as well…but sketching has added benefits of quieting your left brain, and engaging your right brain. Sketching also produces this zen-like calm. You have quiet focus on your subject matter, whether it be your breakfast bagel, or your medicine cabinet.
So, I’ve picked up my pen and sketchbook again, after too long a hiatus. Okay, so these are NOT great sketches. But, they’re where I am right now. The first sketch was one of those, “draw without looking at your paper”, exercises. So, needless to say, as I was trying to capture the “negative space” surrounding my desk chair, the sketch turned out a bit wonky:
I know. Far from perfect…but there is something about it that I like, nonetheless. I looked over at my snoozing son, and thought that I should get him into my sketchbook as well:
This only SORT OF looks like him. The nose is too wide. Anyway…the I decided to do one of the exercises in the book that I mentioned before: draw the contents of your medicine cabinet. This seemed intimidating, but I thought that it was a fun idea:
Again, not great, but okay. I know that with time, I should get better at this! I also know that I have too many contact lens cases, and that I should give the inside of the cabinet a once-over, to get rid of the junk we aren’t using. A spritz of windex would also help.
So, for those of you just dabbling with the idea of getting more creativity in your life, I would suggest looking over The Creative License. I don’t want to hear, “but, I CAAAN’T”. Just do it.
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, artist, Ink, linoleum print, print, printmaking, pronto plate, Relief print, Visual Arts
Just want to extend a very grateful “thank you” to the Arlington Center for the Arts! They had a lovely reception at the “Images of Arlington” show opening, and a nice ceremony where…I received my award! It was great to see everyone’s work…such a diversity of media, ideas, viewpoints, etc… The show is up until mid June, I think, so stop by!
This morning, I finished up a TINY linoleum print, and the pronto print that I was working on. The tiny linoleum print is a mere 1″ x 3″ (approx). So small! The darkest color was actually a layer of transparent blue…but it becomes a deep reddish/purple on top of the other colors. This photo makes it seem a little darker than it really is:
What do you think? Kind of interesting…I think that the faces turned out well, considering how tiny they really are…This was a reduction linocut, so I can’t reprint this one! I’m going to do more of these with transparent ink…
This is the finished pronto print:
I like the “vintage” feel that these prints have. I think that printing on this new paper is also better. In addition, I bought some “anti-skin” spray for my inks. This stuff is AMAZING. Normally, this ink will dry and form a tough, chewy skin on it, which has to be removed. This is messy, frustrating, and wastes a ton of ink. This happens, even if you cover the ink with wax paper, etc., in the can. But this spray somehow works miracles, and keeps the ink soft. I love it! Everyone should go out and buy some!
I had my first carborundum class with Christiane Lippeveld. She does amazing work. We created some plates, which need to dry to print for next week. I think that I may try to get some more plexi and make some plates on my own.
Also, I have made several more TINY plates. I will try to print them tomorrow. If they turn out reasonably well…I’ll hopefully have photos to post. Bonne nuit!
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, boston, Ink, Mexico, Paris, printmaking, Relief print, Visual Arts, Woodcut
Today was a day of mild frustration. I have finished carving a woodblock to print. It will have two colors. I was kind of excited about it. I couldn’t decide what ink to use. Unforturnately, I am out of the fine, mulberry paper. I only have Arches 88, which is thick, but absorbent. I ended up deciding to try using my oil based relief inks with a lot of transparent medium. WELL. It did NOT print well at all! Here are the hideous prints:
See how blotchy the prints are? Here is a closeup:
Depressing, isn’t it? I’m not sure if I needed to sand the wood before printing, just to remove any possible residue on the surface, and to make the surface slightly rougher to accept the ink. Well, I didn’t do that. IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS A WOODCUT PRINTER, COULD YOU OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS? I have now cleaned the block, and have put on a thin layer of shellac. I’m not sure if this will help. This is odd and frustrating, as I never had any problem in the past printing with those inks on wood. Granted, I typically use a shina plywood, not this solid piece of wood. Hmmm.
I also did another drypoint to print, hopefully on Thursday evening. It’s impossible to see, as it’s on plexiglass, but here it is:
The grainy white area is where I’ve added some pumice medium. I am hoping to get the carborundum effect here. I am also hoping that this medium doesn’t wash off when I try to print it! Seriously. As if it isn’t hard enough creating an image that one is happy with…then one has to contend with technical struggles. I know. Most printmakers get help with this in school. Well…I’m here with no one to ask! I may try to bring those ugly prints in to one of my classes, to see if the teachers can provide any insights.
Lastly, I am going to try to do a larger relief print. Who knows how it will turn out…I’ve only sketched on the surface…no carving yet:
On Saturday, I dropped off my two Regent Theater prints to the Arlington Center for the Arts, to submit them for an upcoming show. I asked the person who took them from me about the open studios in the fall. She said something to the effect of: “Oh, it would be great for you to participate. We need more printmakers. Do you know so-and-so?” Me? A printmaker! REALLY?!!! I know how silly this is, but it felt very good to be treated like I WAS something that I WISH I was. A printmaker. Coincidentally, I discovered that one of my teachers used to be a landscape architect in Paris. Seriously!
I also went to a printmaking exhibit at Laconia Gallery in Boston. The show is titled, ” Guanajuato: Boston Printmakers collaborative workshop in Mexico.” It was SO amazing. Beautiful, vibrant colors…tons of relief prints. All of the artists collaborated on a long, accordian fold book. They all worked within the pages in such a way that one could tell which artist did which parts, but the whole was still very integrated. I was also so lucky that one of the artists was there monitoring the gallery. She was so nice, and answered my multitude of questions.
It might just be Spring here…I don’t want to speak too soon, as it has snowed in April before…but I’m seeing little flowers coming up! YESSSSS!
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, etching, printmaking, Prints, solar plate, Visual Arts
So, I had better luck this time printing with my new solarplates. In the past, I found that my images were really “flat” and boring. I think that layering the prints helps a bit. I went into the studio today, which is atypical, so this is why I have a fresh batch.
I may work on some of them more…I may make more plates Friday…who knows. We’re running low on red ink in the studio, so you may see my next prints with more cooler colors. I’m going to be in my “blue” period, much like Picasso, but because there is no red ink, much unlike Picasso.
(I should have cropped the picture above…)
A bit pale, right?
That one needs help too…
I like that one above…even though it’s not got much going on…
I also like that one…just drawings, no images…
I like this one too. It was the last one I did. I also dropped it on the floor, and had to try to remove the mark of my FOOTPRINT on the edge of it. I know. It was past noon, and I was feeling my low blood-sugar clumsy. I knew at that point that I should just clean up and call it a day.
Any comments? suggestions? Don’t tell me that I need more red, because it isn’t going to happen. 🙂
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, Ink, printmaking, Prints, Visual Arts
So, I’m getting ready to try to submit this print of the Regent Theater to the “Images of Arlington” show coming up. I’ve been experiementing with different papers and inks. The first prints look “blotchy” to me. I’m not sure if that’s my own hang up…or if that would be something that a real printmaker would also dislike. Hmmm. So, I switched inks and tried printing a new paper. Here it is:
I know…why bother? Well, I’m trying to improve my printing techniques, so that I don’t have to get as frustrated as I do. As you may notice, the colors are slightly different from the last printing, as I didn’t mix the colors EXACTLY the same. That might be a challenge for anyone, as the inks were different.
I also printed one with just the final block. Here it is:
Yes, this is on yet another type of paper. I may add watercolors to this one…or I may just leave it alone. I think that this could also look nice on colored paper. Or some chine colle! My new favorite technique…(refer to previous posts).
I’m also going to TRY to make another print of this, but in a different color palette. (did I spell that correctly?) I am slightly concerned that the ink won’t be dry by the time that I need to frame it and submit it. Maybe I can frame a print with wet/tacky ink? No? Bad printmaking etiquette? See! There is so much benefit to being a novice…we don’t know any better!
I went to the Boston Prinmaker’s Bienniale at the Danforth Museum this weekend. SO AMAZING. Seriously…anyone in the metro-Boston area should go. The work was so stunning. So much talent. I wanted to own all of the prints. There was also a student exhibition of prints, which was also phenomenal. Please go see it!
It did “fire me up” to go home and do stuff. However, I am somewhat blue that my stuff is so remedial in comparison to all of the work that I saw. I know…you’ve got to start somewhere…but it would have been so convenient to have been a “prodigy” at something, right? Instead of starting at the bottom, you start at the top! Oh well.
It has been lovely and sunny all day…which puts me in a good mood, even though I’m scowling at my prints. Has anyone else seen the printmaking show at the Danforth? Thoughts?
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, drypoint, Ink, Linoleum, printmaking, Prints, Visual Arts
So, I FINALLY finished carving the linoleum. I printed it! It turned out okay…I think that I’m going to try printing it again, to get the ink to not look as blotchy. This blotchy ink might be because: 1. I printed wet ink onto wet ink 2. of the type of ink that i used 3. I had large expanses of uncarved areas. If anyone out there is an experienced linoleum block printer…PLEASE give me some feedback! Any helpful suggestions for printing would be SO helpful. So here is the print:
Not bad…needs some work. I am also going to try printing it on different paper. I need to get more of that paper, though, so I’ll be heading to Utrecht at some point.
I also did a drypoint as well. I really like drypoint now. I didn’t at first. I’m not sure why I like it again. Perhaps because it is somewhat similar to just drawing. I am looking forward to layering my drypoints. The first print is the drypoint as is:
I know…boring/blech…I added chine colle, and it’s much better:
The blotches on the print are actually shadows from stuff on our windows. Yes, we need our windows washed, but it needs to get above freezing first. This morning, it was 17 degrees. Brrr. I’ll have to come up with a new excuse in the summer why I still can’t wash the windows. Right now, the temperature outside is to blame.
I made four solarplates, to be printed next week. I also made two carborundum collagraphs. This is a kind of sandy grit that you put onto a plate with acrylic medium. When it’s dry, you can ink the plate and the grit will hold ink. So, instead of etching texture into a plate, I’m adding it on the surface. Here are the plates:
I know. Hard to see because of the clear plate. Here is another one made on foamcore:
This should be neat. I’ll print it next week, and hopefully post the images. Unless, of course, they’re horrendous. Actually, I generally would post that anyway!
We did a group crit at one of my printmaking classes. It was the first time that I’ve had actual printmakers look at my work. It was great to hear their comments and feedback. As I’m a complete amateur, I don’t have an overall aesthetic to my work…so it’s kind of chaotic. My printmaking teacher used the word, “exuberant”, instead of chaotic. Perhaps I’ll stick with that for now.
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…) 🙂
slightly wonky 
