Cricketts Inky Art Blot

hmmm... so is it time to start a new project?

2011-09-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

I guess I am pretty useless at keeping up a blog, about the same as I ever was with a diary. Ah well, I am who I am.

Last Winter I taught an introduction class to printmaking. It was fun and I made some good friends along the way. My biggest news was to move out of the community art studio and moved into my OWN studio! I am still not organized in there yet, mostly because I moved in and through myself into making a large body of work for an exhibition at NadaDada, Reno. I ended up living in my studio for nearly 3 months painting day and night. Great for the work production, lousy for family relations.

NadaDada 2011 was held in June and my venue was in Wildflower Art Village, Reno. Maybe I will write about it sometime and post up a few photos. The project was based upon the disaster in Fukushima, Japan. Straight after I flew out to England where I spent the Summer with my family and saw as much as I could of my old homeland.

On my return, I was finishing up my painting project for Burning Man 2011. Once again, day and night painting until the work was completed. My painting was part of a huge clock devised and organized by Colfax artist; Jim Bowers. The clock was a big success and smashed the Guiness World record for the biggest working clock. Maybe I will write about that too!

Now I have both of these big items out of the way and the kids are back in school. I am wondering what direction to go in. Maybe I will set up a new project or just make some stress-free images. The holidays are just around the corner, so maybe I will kick back and make something simple like cards.

Funny how I am posting when I have no work going on and I posted nothing at all about the busiest art time I have had since leaving art school. It is nice to have this little break, going to Burning Man, seeing my art on the Playa (and partying my face off), gave me a feeling of an end of year celebration. I know I want to participate in Burning Man next year, so now is a good time to make my plans for the next 12 months and work out the direction I intend to go.

I have left out the emotional strain the last year had on me. When I make my tentative plans, I will be looking to try and make art that will not be so emotionally draining, nor will I paint day and night for 2 months straight again if I can help it. Is that that possible? Yes, but will the art be as good? I don't know. I just don't want to go on that rollercoaster this year, a nicely planned, evenly paced sort of year will suit me just fine :)

Newstand reworked

2010-09-30T03:36:00.001-07:00

I reworked the top to have a rendering of Apollo.

Newsrack/stand

2010-09-27T15:38:00.001-07:00

I had some fun with the spraypaints on the back and sides, but I am still going to rework the top.

Cool caterpillar

2010-09-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

Random creature of the day.

I picked it up to take a look and ended up with a rash :P

Not too happy

2010-09-11T09:34:00.001-07:00

I continued spraying and tried adding tonal value. This was difficult to control, but I played around until I found the look I wanted.

Overall though, the images were too flat and somewhat boring.

This was the top area. I decided I needed some reworking.

Spray painted

2010-09-11T09:27:00.001-07:00

After some brainstorming and rough sketches, I decided on imagery for the stand. I look at this project as a form of street art, so I wanted to use the tools and medim of street artists... Spray paint!

I put a first layer down of red, then cut bird stencils from brown grocery bags. The birds were then sprayed black to look like ravens.

Primed

2010-09-11T09:20:00.001-07:00

Primed, sanded and ready to work.

This stand really ate up the primer, I used 3 cans to get this level of coverage.

Cleaning up the newstand

2010-09-11T09:13:00.001-07:00

I employed the help of the Oxbowettes :-)

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RN&R News stand project

2010-09-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

Reno News and Review newspaper, have asked local artists to paint some of their stands as an upcoming art installation in downtown. I have my stand and have been working on turning it into an art piece.

Art School

2010-08-26T22:41:00.000-07:00

After leaving my graphic design job, I was lucky enough to get my portfolio accepted into the Visual Arts undergraduate course in Pittville Art School. Pittville is an awesomely cool campus at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham, UK.

It was a childhood dream to go, not only to art school and paint, but to go to this actual college. I have memories of driving past the college as an elementary school student, thinking how lucky the students were to be able to paint ALL day! The miseries of math were far behind them and that alone sounded appealing.

I loved practically every minute of my time at Pittville, it was like everything had finally clicked into place for me. Well almost everything, I was a mess in the print room but somehow managed to scramble at the end of each semester to pull it all together. Ceramics seemed too easy at times, I should have found more ways to challenge myself, but painting and printmaking gave me the stimulation I was looking for and it was good to coast for part of the time. I made it a habit to work on paintings in the morning and ceramics after liquid lunches at the college bar LOL.

I could write pages of my experiences at Pittville and the things I came away with, but it is so big that I would not know where to start and would not know where to end. I will just say that I have never experienced anything that felt so right for me, nor having had a feeling of complete belonging, as when I studied as an undergraduate there. I am just so incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to have studied at Pittville.

Final layer 8 in blue

2010-08-19T23:55:00.001-07:00

Quick update with the comparison of the blue and green editions. First green,

Then (with bad lighting)the blue;

Final layer!

2010-08-18T21:31:00.001-07:00

I marked out the areas that I wished to keep black, took a deep breath and hacked away at the last of the matrix.

I had originally intended to have a thick black layer, that heavily outlined the peacock. After watching the layers build up, I made a late decision to keep the lines relatively thin.

Here is a test run of the black:

And here is the final "Green Peacock" print.

I will post the blue version with this green one for comparison later.

Alternate layer 7

2010-08-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

I finished my transparent yellow layer for the green peacock edition, then moved on to make a smaller edition of blue peacocks will there was still enough of the block to print.

For this blue edition, I made a prussian blue and mostly scarlet blend to hopefully add the same level of dimension that I had in the green edition.

It is hard to see here, but the red really pops over the under layer of blue. Using the Prussian blue in the blend helped me keep a good contrast to the background, which was the opposite effect to the green peacock edition.

From printer to graphic designer

2010-08-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

After completing my 2 years in commercial printing, I moved to Gloucester in the UK to study full-time Graphic Design. I have had a love of letterforms for most of my life, mostly down to a family friend who is a calligrapher and stone cutter and through growing up in the leading area of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Alex O’Sullivan is more than just any calligrapher; he is a 2nd generation calligrapher. This means he stems from the father of modern calligraphy, Edward Johnson. Johnson taught Eric Gill the famous typeface designer and sculptor, who then taught Alex O’Sullivan. Alex lived and worked in his studio near our home.

We spent many of our summer evenings in the Sullivan’s typical English/Irish cottage garden with him and his wife sharing wine with my parents. For me it was a magical place filled with the smells of drying petals and the sounds of the spring running through the flowers and tree lined banks. I loved the curios within the studio at the end of the garden, all sorts of interesting brushes, pens and inks would be on the work tables. The walls were lined with chisels and blades of his stone cutting and an ancient stone wheel was outside partially lost in irises for sharpening the tools. From this early age I imagined my adult life would have such a leafy studio hideaway.

Somewhere around the age of 13 or 14, my mother horrified at the state of my handwriting, sent me to Alex for some calligraphy classes. My handwriting remained bad to terrifying, but I did learn to appreciate the beauty of letters and just as important, letter spacing. I used my new skill to enter poetry and art competitions in one of the local villages and amazingly won prizes. Rather amusing when I still had such a horrific scrawl for my school book work. I wonder if that makes me a 3rd generation calligrapher to Edward Johnson? Hmmm, I never thought about that, I have a pedigree!

Jumping forward 4 years to my Graphic Design course again! In the UK, it is possible to take courses that concentrate on a given subject, without core requirements outside of the subject area. Everyone studying that subject take the same set of classes from 9-4 every day (with a lunch break) for the 2 years. As a group we got to know each other pretty well and lived the ups and downs like an ongoing soap opera.

Subjects covered were elements and fundamentals of design, communications, black & white photography, illustration, print media, relief & screen printmaking, drawing and life drawing, typography and computer graphics. There were probably more subjects, but I forget! The second year was mostly project based where we designed as though for clients. It was a tough course, everything was so tight, even letters as small as 9pt had to be hand rendered for text. Critiques were rough too; the lecturers really pounded everything to make sure we could back up our designs with the appropriate bullshit.

I completed the course, but I can’t say I was an outstanding student. After being a commercial printer, I had thought the course would be a means to make art while being paid a salary. I found the boundaries of design constricting and dulled my spirit. The precision involved was tiring and frustrating and once I started work I realized how important it is to produce someone else’s dream and not my own in that line of work.

Computers gradually became the main system of working and drawing boards became something to display the finish design work rather than a work tool. I burned out totally and hated the fact I had to sit at a computer day after day.

So I quit…

layer 7

2010-08-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have divided the prints up so that I have two different editions. The first set I printed up with a translucent mix of yellow. Just clear enough to show a small amount of the blue underneath to create a green. I am hoping to get the feel of the irridescent look of the feathers on a real peacock.

Here is the yellow (it looks less green then on the photo).

After I rolled out the ink, I dabbe areas that I wanted to show threw clearer. I paid attention to the neck and eye in particular.

Here are the results. The green layer 7 is shown in the centre, the blue layer 6 is to the right for comparison.

Am I a Printer or Printmaker, or maybe both?

2010-07-31T00:18:00.000-07:00

I have one of these personalities that have the ability to completely shut an area of my life away never to return. Good thing or bad thing, it is part of my make-up. Sometimes it gets used to help through traumatic times, other times, just because it is convenient to help me through the next phase in my life.

The trouble with having a mind made up of boxes is that sometimes I forget where I have stored some information that could be useful! A less troubled mind would draw connections through life’s experiences and grown from it. Why can’t I manage that? Ramble time!

When I was still in High School, I drew line drawings for a printer to use in logos, print illustrations and for the local newspaper. I wanted to be an artist, but I could not see a living in it, so I figured that design would be a good compromise but I could not afford college. I dropped out of 6th form at 17 and took a full job at the print shop that I had been drawing for. I was enrolled into an apprenticeship for print origination and reprographics, which required about 10 hours a week at college for 2 years and 35 hours “on-the-job” training. My plan was to earn enough to get through design school and learn the trade I would be designing for at the same time.

My first day on the job, I was sent to a fellow printing firm to pick up a “left-handed setting stick” and a tin of tartan ink… it was a print apprentice initiation joke @_@

I learnt so much during those years, thanks mostly to the print shop being so small and the college being well funded in the printing area by national businesses. In work I was rotated in all areas of the business, other than operating the offset litho presses. It was a newly opened shop by a young owner that was starting with older equipment and technology (and poor paid staff such as myself LOL), to get his business up and running.

I took orders, answered phones, used the computer typesetter, designed business stationary, illustrated, cut and pasted design work, designed logos, ran errands, proof read, made the tea, used the reprographics camera for negatives and positives, developed aluminium plates for the press, folded flyers, stitched books, glued spines, wrapped up letterheads for customers and even drove them their orders! Probably lots more, but you get the idea. The print machine was the only the thing out of bounds.

At college (where there were just two girls on the whole course) we learned how to use the “fancy” technology that the big firms used (and a little about old technology such as letterpress) print theory, history and other information to do with print origination. It was mostly photographic based, separated with computers in those days but we covered letterpress, lithography (4 colour and single colour process)and screen printing processes.

Upon completion of my apprenticeship, I received various certificates etc but the coolest of all was the legacy passed down for many centuries. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth the first passed us the right to wear a sword within the City of London, have a blind eye turned to us if we were drunk and disorderly and allow us to herd sheep over London Bridge. Not a bad result for 2 years work I would say. I am not sure that would hold up in court, but very nice rite of passage. I then moved on, got my first flat and took a Graphic Design course, but I will ramble about that another time. The point is, I moved on.

Somewhere, I have all this theoretical knowledge tucked away ALL about printing. Printmaking may be art, but it uses the theory I learnt all those years ago. The technology I used back then is largely obsolete in the commercial world, but is being seen in today in the printmaking art world. Letterpress, aluminum plates, even offset litho is being used now.

I think I was pretty good at what I did and I was proud that I reached a distinction level. So why was I such a disaster in the printmaking studio on my art course? I guess at that time my mind had shut and taped down those boxes that could have offered me valuable knowledge. I concentrated on the ideas but completely blew it on the process. I could not relate printing to printmaking, for me it was different parts of my life that did not connect.

So far this year has gone pretty well, but I can’t help but think it is a fluke. Disaster is around the corner and I will end up causing an explosion in the print studio (or something equally large). My mind is shuffling through its unlabeled boxes trying to find the connections to what I knew back then and applying it to what I am doing now. There has to be ways to use the print knowledge I have with a creative thread to make a successful output of work within the print studio.

I just need to open those boxes and figure it out.

Layer 6

2010-07-30T22:44:00.001-07:00

More carving to add some depth to the blue.

This is ultramarine with two parts of phthalo green and one part black.

The inks are oil based and needing a few days each to dry.

Here they are on the drying rack at Oxbow Press.

More layers

2010-07-30T22:36:00.001-07:00

Ultramarine Blue is up next with a smidge of scarlet for layer five

July-August

2010-07-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

I still have not added to my print layers on the peacock relief print. I have been getting so frustrated about the lack of time for creating. I am probably going to miss the deadline for this exchange and show. I had hoped to be part of the Midtown Artwalk at the end of this month too.

However, I am going to change my outlook. Instead of thinking that my studio time is being used up on unexpected kids/domestic crises, that leave me fed up and frustrated, I am reminding myself that this is the Summer! I am going to quit getting miserable because "my" time is being pushed aside and embrace the fact I am lucky enough to have my kids home for the fun part of the year. Time with the kids is still "my" time, just a different angle of it. I am going to think of my studio rent as a retainer so that I no longer feel I am not getting anything for my rent.

If I happen to get time to make something (other than crafts with the kids!), I will feel blessed.

I love my kids and time with them is fun. I was losing my perspective somewhat and snapping at them because I was dealing with their "accidents" on my art time. That was totally unfair. Childhood days go by too fast, I need to enjoy every moment of them.

With this in mind, I intend to enjoy the last month of the school vacation, and know that I will have plenty of time to create art when they are back in school. I can't express how enlightened I felt by changing my way of thinking about this. The pressure dropped and I feel happy each morning to plan adventures with my children!

Layer four

2010-07-12T11:52:00.001-07:00

Light blue this time!

The orange took a REALLY long time to dry. It was still a touch wet a week later, but I figured I would go with it as I will be adding more blue along the way.

Nada Dada Reno 2010

2010-07-08T21:56:00.001-07:00

The cat is out of the bag with my naughty Nada painting. Here is the full painting and an interview that is part of a documentary being made for Nada Dada 2010.

Untitled, 2010,
acrylic on board,
8ft x 4ft.

Double Click on the YouTube link to see fullsize video

Layer three

2010-07-08T21:48:00.001-07:00

It took a while, but I got that third layer carved!

I printed up the orange layer:

I like the spicy look of the colours, I just hope that this won't be a bad choice when the bird has such amazing colour in reality.

Carving the next layer

2010-07-01T15:38:00.001-07:00

Here I am carving the most complicated layer. The green is one of the most dominant colours in the print so there is a lot to carve away.

I traced the areas to show through as green, then transfer that to the gomuban. Each cut is made with a 1 or 3 blade cutter.

Layer two

2010-06-29T22:54:00.001-07:00

I printed up the yellow that was somewhere between a saffron and ochre, then carved out my next layer which was a green. I am printing in oil based inks, so drying times are slow, but this gives me plenty of time to work on the next layer.

I am trying to use dusty colours reminiscent (to me) of the colours of India. I will probably make the blues more purple than a natural peacock, to be able follow this scheme. It will depend largely upon how the lighter blue will sit upon the orange layer that I will be cutting next.

Layer one

2010-06-26T12:42:00.001-07:00

Here is my master image after breaking down the colour separations. From this I further trace to get each colour on a separate sheet

Breaking down the image

2010-06-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

Using the method Wendy showed us, we made multiple copies of our image using tracing paper. First we made a master to work with, then as I had a lot of black, I made a copy with the black marked. The rest of the colours were then identified and traced as an individual layer. The image I am using will have around 7 layers.

It is important to make sure that the drawing contains registration marks and trace these carefully on each tracing. The layers are to be printed in the press for this technique, so it was important not to have anything very high or hard to keep the paper registered. We made a tape bumper for our guide which enabled the paper to be pushed up to the same place on the matrix each time and still be soft enough to go through the press.

The matrix used for this project was called Gomuban and is a vinyl type of product that is both thin and flexible, ideal for press use.

Reduction Cut Workshop

2010-06-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

After working on reduction cuts earlier this year, I thought it would be advantageous for me to enroll onto a 2 day reduction cut workshop held by Wendy Willis at Oxbow Press.

The reduction cut technique is one that I have not heard of before, so I am very interested in the process and what there is to be learned from this technique.

I have been looking at different images that might be suitable for the process, but not having experienced it, it was difficult to choose what would be best. I looked at expanding the story of Lady Penelope, but I think her stories are best narrated in intaglio rather than relief.

I have settled on a peacock image, mostly because the greens of a peacock tail are probably my favourite colour. It is also refreshing to make an image that I am not emotionally connected with to any great extent.

Nada Dada

2010-06-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Last week I raced to finish the snail painting in time for Nada Dada's Naughty Show. I finished it just in time and we hung it in the back studios of Oxbow Press. The front gallery had the "Naughty, Taboo and Just Plain Wrong" print exchange displayed. The weekend saw a large number of visitors to the show and I enjoyed seeing the reaction to my painting. I am still debating whether or not to add the photo of my final picture to this blog as it is a VERY naughty!
http://www.nevadamagazine.com/index.php/events-and-shows/details/nadadada_motel/
http://nytimesagency.com/preview/NTA2009062172208

I wanted to make a painting that was completely unexpected from people that don't know me and judge me by my outward appearance. Most people I imagine, see me as a housewife and mother over an artist. I wanted to make something that would fit both the critera of the show and to induce a reaction from the viewer. I would like to think that I covered both of these and I had a great deal of fun observing the reactions of those that came by the show this weekend. There were those that were initially shocked, then amused by the painting, others burst out laughing and my favourite; the ones that could not bear to look and siddled by either offended or just plain uncomfortable. It is nice to know that I can still make a controversial art piece!

I was unexpectedly interviewed during the show, by someone documenting Nada Dada 2010. True to form, I was lost for words and stage struck. I still can't remember what garbage poured out my mouth, but hopefully I can come back after this. Just goes to show that no matter how "in your face" my work can be, I am still an introvert when faced with an audience.

More of the snail

2010-06-11T09:12:00.001-07:00

This might be the last update of the Nada Dada painting. It is 8 feet by 4 feet, so it is taking a long time to work. Next week I will add the " naughty Nada bit" so if you want to see it finished; come to the show!

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Naughty Nada Dada

2010-06-08T17:06:00.001-07:00

I am working on a "naughty" painting for Nada Dada weekend in Reno.

This is the underpainting and below the next layer.

The background is from a photo I took in the Sierra Nevada mountains while camping.

Oxbow Press Opening Gala

2010-06-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

The opening gala of Oxbow Press started last Friday, June 4th. We had a good turnout of people to come and view our new workshop and art studios.

I was demonstrating some relief printing and running one of the presses. A fellow resident artist, Isadoro Leon was printing T-shirts with one of his designs, the shirts are awesome and looked a lot of fun to make. The evening was a lot of fun and hopefully word will get out about Oxbow Press.

Saturday was an open studio day, I worked in my studio for a while starting a painting ready for Nada Dada which is mid-June.

Sunday

I attended a Printmaker's Conspiracy meeting in the studios where there was a mini critique of work and a general update on what the members have been doing in the last months. The group show will be up in Carson City all Summer. http://www.wnc.edu/news/2010-06-01a.php

After weeks of preparation, the printshop is now officially open and the presses are ready for action, yay!

My new studio at Oxbow Press

2010-06-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have been mad, crazy, busy getting my studio together for the opening of Oxbow Press.

Here is my art lackey putting up walls.

Here are some more lackey's in training doing some jobs.

I have put some older paintings up to decorate the space

The day before the official opening my space was visited by a cricket. A definate good luck sign!

ATC cards

2010-05-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

Something I like doing when I have the time, is to make Artist Trading Cards. In the few months, I have hosted 2 swaps and made many cards for swapping individually. They are quick and easy to make and are lots of fun to collect. Maybe you would like to make one for Beth's swap that I mentioned a few days ago.

What is an Artist Trading Card?

Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are mini works of art that artists collect and trade among themselves. By definition, ATCs are made in limited numbers, often no more than one of a kind. Unique ATCs are called originals. The general public have started collecting them, which has started to put a dollar value on cards, but they are meant to be traded ATC for ATC.

Artists often participate in international exhibitions of these cards (often with a simple theme, such as “purple”) to cheaply show their work and self promote. For the most part, they are art for art’s sake.

Guidelines for ATC cards:
1. They are always 3 1/2" X 2 ½.

2. Vertical format is the usual format, but not mandatory. If your creative juices say landscape - go for it!

3. Medium is open; card, glass, cloth, wood….anything that appeals. Our stamps from project 3 lend themselves well to this project. Try and keep the ATC thin enough for collectors to place into a business card type holder and sturdy enough that they will not flop. Playing cards make a good base as long as they are 3 ½ X 2 ½.

4. On the back of each handcrafted ATC, the artist writes or types part, or all of the following information: name, contact information, title of the ATC and number e.g.1/8, 2/8 if it's part of an edition or series of 8 similar cards or just “original”.

Video Demonstration:

Happy 6th Birthday

2010-05-22T14:49:00.001-07:00

My baby girl is turning 6!

Can you make an Artist's Trading Card?

2010-05-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to honor an wonderful artist called Beth from a community I am attached to called Milliande.Art Community. I have been touched by her request and I hope I can help her in her goal.

Beth has been registered legally blind for many years and as her sight is decreasing she wishes to have one piece of her artwork traveling into as many countries on this Earth as possible .. a kind of legacy of her ability to see.

You know how I obsess about the flags on my map @_@, well, I would like to ask a special favour of all my visitors, ESPECIALLY those who live in countries outside of the UK and USA (I think there are many of us already participating although every state is wished for, so still participate!), if they would consider making an Artist Trading Card (ATC) to trade with Beth. I have been blessed with many visitors from all over the globe and I would love you to connect with me to do this together.

ATC's are artworks that are just 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" in size and made for trading with other artists. Their small size makes them quick and easy to make and you simply drop them in the mail to make your connection with an artist elsewhere. If you need more info on how to make one let me know.

**********************Here is Beth's request, I really hope that you will consider making an ATC to trade with her.**********************

As some of you know I am legally blind and will eventually go completely blind. There is no way to know when that will happen but I have had a decrease in vision over the last couple of years and am down to 1% of vison remaining.

So in light of that I have set myself a goal. Before the lights go out and I can no longer do my art, my lifes pleasure, I would like to have a little piece of my artwork all around the globe. I'm hoping to have at least one ATC in every continent of the globe to raise awareness about blindness. I need your help in reaching this goal.

Join me please by sending me an ATC card and your address (including the country please) and let me know you wish to have one of my cards and I will dilengently work to send you and or a friend an ATC with a description of my condition.

There is no deadline for this swap. If you would like to send me something like a bit of artsy stuff to help me keep creating, rather than an ATC card that would be awesome, but not required. All that I ask is that when you receive your ATC that you notify me that you've received it so that I can add your country and city to my list.

I appreciate all participation as this is a really important goal for me. The more countries the better my list.
Who knows? I've been asked if I would write a book about my goal and I may just do it if I reach it.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to getting the ball rolling.
Beth

UPDATE::::
I am also including the 50 states of the United States as well. So if you are in the US please add your name and address to the list.

Please send ATC cards or artsy notions to:

Beth Meador
2328 NW 46th St
Lawton, Oklahoma 73505 USA

I hope you can help me to help Beth!
Thank you!
Carole-Ann

As a thank you, I am offering this photo (Pink Flower) below free of copyright to anyone that wishes to download it. Please remember to reference my name if you publish it.

Pink Flower, 2010 by Carole-Ann Ricketts

Printmaker's Conspiracy Exhibition

2010-05-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

My set of prints went off to Carson City today ready for hanging in the "Secret's Revealed" exhibition by members of Printmaker's Conspiracy.

I finished my etching of Lady Penelope riding an elephant just in time for the show. I hand tinted it with watercolours and printed with sangrine and black ink mixed.

I need to print off an edition of each of my prints when Oxbow press is open, then I can start on new work in this series.

Freaky River Cruise

2010-05-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

This video is made by an assemblage artist whose work I admire called Michael deMeng. The Island of The Dolls is quite disturbing, yet intriguing, I won't say anymore as it might influence your thoughts. It definately gets the creative juices flowing though!

* Tin Can Tart (have we traded ATC cards recently?)... maybe you should start this going somewhere near Newnham-on-Severn (one of the world's freaky places in my book). Can you imagine sailing up on the Bore in a river of eels, to be greeted by the dolls?

Part 1

Part 2

10 Days until Oxbow Press Opens!

2010-05-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

The race is on to get everything finished in time for Oxbow Press' big opening. The clock is ticking to get everything complete and hopefully we will have a good looking print workshop to show our guests and new members.

We put the walls up in my studio space and I have been priming them today. I had the help (is that the right word?) of my kids and hubby in the wall construction and so far they are still standing!

The door painting is now finished (yes, it IS supposed to look " aged and rugged"), and just awaiting the logo.

I have to find some more prints to frame for the opening and hand-tint them. I would also like to find some paintings to hang, but I am not sure I have anything I can find in time.

On the home front, I have two birthday parties to arrange for my daughters, the first is coming up on Saturday. Timing is tricky as another daughter has two birthday sleepovers in succession this weekend and yet another daughter has another birthday sleepover the night before. I wish my social life was half as interesting as theirs!

Ink Your Heart Out Reno

2010-05-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

Sad as it seems, the community press-time at TMCC is now over. We had our final work critique and studio clean up last week. I miss my collegues already, but hopefully they will all be joining me for press-time at Oxbow Press.

I have framed up my prints for the Printmaker's Conspiracy show "Secret's Revealed" that will be exhibited from May to September in Carson City. I am looking forward to seeing how my new prints look hung in a gallery.

Sanvean

2010-05-09T22:14:00.001-07:00

Sierra Nevada Camping

2010-05-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

We have somehow fallen into a tradition of camping for Mother's Day Weekend. Far be it from me to shake a tradition (although a weekend spa retreat would also be a good tradition for Mother's Day), we headed into the Sierra Nevada mountains not far from Truckee, for a chilly, but beautiful trip.

Although it was cold at night, we did not face Donner Party conditions. In fact we had the comforts of heating, a microwave and flat screen TV, so the conditions were very different from Donner Party. We did party for Mother's Day, but no chargrilled camp members were eaten at our party. All in all, I guess the cold and stiff aching bones in the morning was not as bad a deal as I first thought.

My awesome girls.

I took lots of photos, not exactly Ansel Adams quality, but I want to share a couple of them anyway.

Mornings are rough!

Encaustic Revisited

2010-05-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

I found a demo that describes in pictures what I tried to say in words. This is far more effective. I don't have the plans on how to make a hotbox, but I know that it involves finding heat bulbs and that it is important to have anodized aluminum (which is pretty pricey).

I have seen people learn how to use this technique by working on a pancake griddle. Walmart currently have two flat griddles that are $19 and $35 according to the size you want. The surface is just like you would find on a frying pan. I have been thinking that if you buy an indoor grill, you could buy a small sheet of the anodized aluminum to make sure you have that smooth finish as we see on the movie below.

Solar printmaking

2010-05-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

My 5" x 7" keyhole print has been made using photopolymer printmaking, or solarplate. I used sanguine and black ink to print, then used muted watercolours to tint it. I will probably make 20 in total, one down...

The print is called "XXV. A Slight Glimpse Of San Francisco" and relates to Phileas Fogg retiring to his railway car in chapter 25 of Around The World In Eighty Days on his arrival to the West Coast of the USA. I adapted this to show Lady Penelope retiring for the evening after dinner.

Here is a clip showing a solarprint workshop with Dan Weldon.

Flying over Paris

2010-05-03T20:12:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it is May already, how fast the year is going.

Here is my first finished print of Lady Penelope flying over Paris. I have used a number of etching techniques; Aquatint, spit-bite and drypoint. I am now pleased with the contrast, which had been difficult to achieve as I had some problems with the aquatint.

The print is called "III. Two First-Class Tickets To Paris". It is 7" x 8" and refers to chapter 3 in "Around The World In Eighty Days" by Jules Verne, where the characters travel through Paris. In the book, the journey is actually by train, in the film it was balloon. I used an airship balloon to satisfy my Steampunk heart. My very first flight anywhere was to Paris, so I absolutely felt the need to make it air travel.

I can't decide

2010-04-29T21:24:00.001-07:00

I like this as one of Lady Penelope Pinkerton-Smythe's suitcases. I took the photo on vacation, but I am not sure which final effect to work with.

Didn't I say blog visitors inspire my work?

2010-04-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

I have said it before and I will say it again, that little Revolver map is awesome!

Seeing all the little flags of visitors from all over the world is beyond cool, it is inspiring to me. As I work on the collection of prints involving Lady Penelope Pinkerton-Smythe, I think about all the places she may have visited. The little flags on the blog map have me daydreaming of her travels.

I am going to tie the thread of the prints to the book Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne. The prints I have completed (and still working on) are named from phrases or chapter headings from that book. The main character of my work is of course Lady Penelope and not Phileas Fogg! I am having fun playing on the titles or using some of references from the book. Each print stands alone as having some significance to a part of my life or an experience of my travels, but strung together, they carry the narrative of the lighthearted, fast-moving journey of Lady Penelope. Like Fogg, the journey takes her from London to many places including Reno.

As I personally have only made the London to Reno part of the journey, I am not completely sure what route she will take back, or if she will leave the trail that Fogg took, to go somewhere different. There may even be some time travel involved as I pull memories from my past or have dreams of the future.

Looking at that blog map, I have tied the prints to Paris, London, Sri Lanka and Carson Valley so far. Once I have completed the series I will put them into some kind of order. For now I am taking the images and working on them in no particular order, as and when they come to me. I keep looking at that 6300+ flag from Thessaloniki and I'm thinking I must have her visit soon.

Making Of The Print Shop

2010-04-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

The name of the printmaking studio will be Oxbow Press. Right now work is going on to clean and build a working non-toxic workshop.

I did not get the loft space, but I do have a downstairs studio space waiting to be made into something exciting.

And here it is! OK, so you can't see much yet, but I will keep posting developments.

Here is Candace in part of the soon to be work area.

More photos

2010-04-26T23:20:00.001-07:00

I spent some time painting at Oxbow Press today, but not the creative type of painting...

I do have some more photos though:

All Ashore

2010-04-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

After a fab trip to Mexico, I am home and messing around with my photos. I probably had too many margaritas for anything outstanding, but I did grab some images I liked with my camera. here are a few from my trip that I have worked on already:

I am thinking of working some drawings and prints from these sometime. More tomorrow :-)

Vacation time

2010-04-10T16:57:00.001-07:00

I am in Disneyland with the kids today. I am trying NOT to think about printmaking but,,,

-- Post From My iPhone

I did think those were kinda cool!

An old friend of mine,
Shrunken Ned,
was hanging out near the Jungle Cruise.

New studio

2010-04-10T00:06:00.001-07:00

The lease was signed today by my print master Candace for the community print shop. I still have to sign my tennant lease, but the studio will be ready for moving in after my trip.

Way cool!

I am already in LA so there won't be any printmaking for a week or so. After moving into the print shop, I can print my merry little heart out :)

Checking out my loft with Printmaking Conspiracy member Carol Brown

Solar plate

2010-04-09T23:58:00.001-07:00

The plate hardened ok and I got my first print off it.

-- Post From My iPhone

Sun hardening

2010-04-07T11:11:00.001-07:00

I guess that whole sun hardening process takes a while at the wrong time of day. I should have waited until noon, so far my plate has been out a couple of hours.

Solar plate

2010-04-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

I finished my through the keyhole image of Lady Penelope infront of her steamer trunk undressing. Today I took the image to be transfered to an acetate sheet(I tried at home, but as I only have an inkjet, all I ended up with was black blobby liquid) ready to prepare my solar plate.

This method of printing is completely non-toxic and uses just water to clean-up the plate after exposure. Both intaglio and relief matrixes can be formed using simple UV exposure techniques. I will be making intaglio solarplates for this project.

After opening my plate from the UV protected bag, I placed it emulsion up on a small board to receive a halftone screen. The screen was placed on the emulsion side, then a glass sheet was clamped onto the glass and board. The plate was then exposed to UV light for 21/2 minutes.

Then I removed the screen, added my acetate positive then exposed the plate in the same manner for 31/2 minutes.

At this point the plate is ready to be submerged in water to take the photosensitive layer off. The plate then needs to be exposed to sunlight to harden sufficiently to print from. I am at this hardening point and intend to put my plates out in the sun tomorrow morning to harden.

Art book

2010-04-03T10:12:00.001-07:00

Earlier in the year I printed some sheets to use as covers for one or more art book that I want to make. I am working on the book project today.

This is the cover I printed for a codex I made. I sewed 5 signatures of paper together for this book and added a ribbon closure that I have printed from a relief matrix that I carved.

The end papers were handmade onion skin papers, that I tinted with watercolours.

I am cutting out a window in the pages, but I can only cut a few windows at a time to avoid the opening warping. Now I wonder why I made it 5 signatures over 3, hopefully it will be worth it.

Completed the reduction cut

2010-04-02T13:55:00.001-07:00

At last, the reduction cut print is finished and drying!

Here is a video that demonstrates how to make a reduction cut:

Copper Engraving Demonstration

2010-04-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

I went to a very interesting demonstration on copper engraving today. The lecture was given by Zoltan Janvary who is one of just six copper engraving printmakers in the USA. Zoltan learnt his engraving skills in his native country of Hungary.

Seen here are some of his fine engraving tools and beautiful examples of his engraving skill.

Dancer

2010-03-31T16:33:00.001-07:00

I carved more into the larger dancer matrix and started on a second layer of colour.

This is my registration system.

Very high tech ;-)

Here I am hand burnishing the print.

This is what I use to get the details.... A spoon

So this is why each print takes SOOoo long!

There are little relief presses on the market, but none that I have seen that gives quality prints. I would rather use a spoon :-)

I made up 12 of this style in the hope I get at least 8 good ones.

Here are some messed up examples, bad registration and not enough ink:

I seemed to have made quite a few of those today.

Hi Thessaloniki

2010-03-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

I love that revolver Map!

I keep seeing visits from Thessaloniki, Greece (3000+ now)and I am dying to know who it is.

I remember flying into Thessalonika maybe 14 or 15 years ago. While I was there I travelled around seeing the sites, but I can't remember the exact village I was staying in. I will have to check out a map to see if anything rings a bell. I know it was a small village on the sea that had the best ever chicken dinner in one of the local seafront tavernas.

I remember visting Pella, just after they had started excavating some mosaics. I think I was told that this was the birthplace of Philip and Alexander the Great. The mosaic floors were incredible, there was one of a lion hunt that had the most amazing details. I also visited Philip's tomb, which was large and underground I think. Funny how memories fade and join with dreams. I was a little unsound at the time and had a series of dreams about that tomb...

but anyway, thanks for visiting Thessaloniki

In the last week

2010-03-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have been fighting off a virus that has been coursing through the family, but I did manage some art time.

I worked on a second etching plate featuring Lady Penelope on her adventures. Having left the air balloon, she is now venturing on the back of an elephant.

So far I have etched and added an aquatint to the image. I prepared the plate for soft-ground to add a decorative texture within a paisley design.

I also added another dark red and black layers to the dancer lino-cut, mailed out a number of ATC cards for trading and entered 3 items for exhibition. Not too shabby for low energy levels :)

Tomorrow I am looking forward to going to an engraving demonstration by Zoltan Janvary from Hungary.

next layers on etching and Lino

2010-03-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

I had some press time today, so I worked on burnishing and scratching on the balloon print.
Here is the latest print on some Rives BFK, using charbonnel black and sanguine ink.

Yesterday after finishing the acrylic painting, I added a dark red layer to the small dancer print, making four layers in total.

2010-03-22T00:29:00.001-07:00

I am going to bed as I am starting to overwork this painting. I will check out what needs to be done then. I am still not sure which way around it should be either!

Sunday 21st

2010-03-21T20:44:00.001-07:00

After an outing to Carson City, I went back to work on the painting. I need to bring some details back in, but the base is in now.

Started a painting

2010-03-21T00:38:00.001-07:00

I decided to have a quick stab at putting a painting into an upcoming exhibition. Very upcoming actually, the deadline for entries is Wednesday morning...

I made some sketches and finally went with the idea of Lady Penelope having a nap. She must have to live on power naps with all her daring adventures.

I know it is not a print, but here are the first stages of the 16" x 20" Acrylic anyway.

The photo is dark, but looking at this, I am thinking it would look better the other way up!

another layer to the key

2010-03-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

This afternoon,I mixed up a burnt red in the inks and added a patterned layer to the mini key prints.

Shopping for supplies

2010-03-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

I had a fun day buying paper, ink, more lino and....some solarplates! I can't wait to try out a solar print. I intend to use the keyhole image on a small plate to see how it looks.

2010-03-17T09:50:00.001-07:00

I just can't keep away from my printing at the moment. I have tons of projects being put on hold because I have too much fun with ink.

I have added a brown layer and a low light of black on the key. It still looks pretty raw even after 5 layers, but I think it will all come together when the bulky layers go on.

Victorian Influences

2010-03-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

My head is buzzing with the Printmaker's Conspiracy's upcoming exhibition title. The exhibition is to be called "Secret's Revealed".

I am thinking about Victorian Burlesque figures, peep shows, showgirls, keyholes and movable parts on the print to see through the keyhole.

I also have another related thread of thought about fortune tellers, maybe the machine "Zoltar" type or an old gypsy with a crystal ball. I like the idea of printing then folding one of those playground fortune tellers (coolie catchers???).

I will start some sketches to see what happens.

I am halfway through a drawing that I though might translate well in a solarplate etching.

Layer three on the key print

2010-03-14T11:58:00.001-07:00

I have added a small green square to the key print early on this morning. I hope it will be dry enough to add another layer this evening.

Saturday at the museum

2010-03-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

Nevada Museum of Art, Reno.

I played with adobe with this photo of the above work. It might make a good etching.

This is the Trophy Hunter exhibition by Bryan Christiansen.

Christiansen's sculpture uses the traditions and rituals of Native American hunting with reclaimed objects. Every part of the found artical is used to make the sculptures.

Double exposure montage.

Added another layer to the lino

2010-03-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

Friday Afternoon:
Spent the afternoon messing around with monoprints, whilst waiting for the key prints to dry.

I also carved two tiny blocks.

Friday Morning:

I got up early to make a start on the prints. The ink was probably not dry enough, but I really wanted to add another layer to the lino prints. I added the key and will probably spend the day blowing on them to make them dry faster for the next layer ;-)

Layer 2 went on the key mini edition.

Aside from the lino prints, I exposed my aquatint plate with Lady Penelope's carpet bag.

The tint was very light, but enough to add shade. I am now doing a spit-bite to soften the shadows.

Lino Work

2010-03-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

I had a parcel filled with lots of yummy collage treats from an artist in Brisbane. This is way better than Christmas.

Thanks Monika!!

Thursday night:
I took a few prints from the key whilst waiting for the oils to dry on the other prints.

Thursday Afternoon:
I put layer two on, but I am not concentrating well enough and lost quite a few. I am still going to put the key on though.

Thursday Morning
I printed up some red backgrounds with the dancer on them yesterday. Today I am doing my best to register a second layer onto them.

I am also carving out a key to over print on this image.

It would be nice to get an edition of 10 from this that I could use for the Green Door International Print exchange. I may loose too many in getting registration right to get 10, but I will be interested to see how well I can register on such a small scale.

International Print Exchange

2010-03-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

I am going to participate in an upcoming international print exchange. I want to use the Can-Can dancer as the main imagery, but I have not yet sketched the composition. I will work on this today and decide what colours to use.

Call for work at DERBY ENGLAND,

Green Door International Print Exchange 2010,

http://ipe2010.greendoor-printmaking.co.uk

Older print examples

2010-03-09T22:26:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my older etchings using drypoint, aquatint and cine colle. The etchings I am working on at the moment, will use less toxic methods than those used in the prints below. It is a good benchmark for me to compare these with the processes in the copper etchings I am using at the moment.

Thanks To My Blog Visitors

2010-03-07T00:29:00.000-08:00

I find it staggering and inspiring that people from all over the world are dropping by to see my blog. I love to see where my page hits are coming from. I would not wish to invade privacy by knowing exactly who and where, but just being shown a city and the flag of the country makes it so exciting for me and pushes me to write another entry. I am completely new to blogging, anyone visiting my blog is doing me a great honour.

It takes me back to when I was a child of about 7 and played with a monopoly boat game piece on a map of the world. I used to dream of sailing or flying to the places that I struggled to spell out. I guess I have not changed so much.

When I see someone has visited from someplace I have a connection with, it brings back memories or faces of people I once knew. Today I saw a hit from Paris where I spent my 21st birthday, Sri Lanka, where I got married and Rochdale where my first child was born. To see these hits makes me think of the places where I would like Lady Penelope to visit, and therefore helps me take my art to a different level.

Thank you Britney, Candace, Debra and Mary for following my blog, it makes it worth while knowing someone out there might actually read what I am doing!

And a special thank you to the little flashing dot on my map, right at this moment while I type, from Thessoloniki, Greece. I can't help but wonder if we passed each other on the street once when I visited.

So if you happen upon this blog...
Pat yourself on the back for encouraging this artist and remember that just by your visit, you may have helped create a piece of art.

Thank You
Carole-Ann
X

Allo, Allo, Allo, wot's going on 'ere then?

2010-03-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

I had some adventures with the copper today.

I printed out the little copper etching of the carpet bag and was pleased that the softground had not completely wrecked the plate. To be honest, I am quite chuffed at the result. I took a quick proof and did a little burnishing to highlight some areas. I think the background just needs a dark aquatint for drama, then I should be ready to print my edition. This image is my pulp adventurer's carpet bag, a parody of Phylius Fogg's travel bag from "Around the World in 80 Days", by Jules Verne. I think I feel comfortable calling my character "Lady Penelope Pinkerton-Smythe". I think that sounds like a woman that does not put up with any fuss and nonsense.

The softground is quite subtle after all, phew!

Here I have applied the aquatint using paint. In the past I had used a pretty toxic powder that would settle on the plate (and in the lungs probably), then be melted on. I seem to remember setting fire to this substance in the past, hmmm good job there are alternatives.

I had two goes at applying the aquatint, the first was too even, typical! The times you want it free from blobs you get them, now that I wanted some nice random blobs they did not want to oblige. Second time was much better.

The green area is where I am using Stop Out to protect the image from the ferric chloride. The unpainted areas should get the tone from the aquatint.

I also took a proof from the balloon etching that I am making a start on. This copper etching is taking longer to form. So far I have dipped the plate into the Ferric Chloride twice after working and reworking the plate. Lady Penelope joined Phylius Fogg in his balloon as they travel over Paris.

I messed around with the camera so sorry for the shadow.

I think it might be fun to have Lady Penelope take various adventures around the world and/or through time. I have a few ideas about how she might make statements about various cultural changes of our contemporary lives as seen through her eyes.

Cheers to Lady Penelope Pinkerton-Smythe, may she have many extraordinary voyages!

Drive by Press

2010-03-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

I went to a truely awesome printing event by "The Drive By Press". First there was a lecture at the university, given by Ryan O’Malley and Nick Alley. They talked about the purpose of Drive by Press, a mobile tour that drives around the country educating students, and the public, about printmaking. They showed historical and contemporary examples of printmaking and discussed the adventures of their trip.

Then we had an opportunity to visit their large print collection, donated by many artists across the country. Many different techniques and styles were represented.

The final part of the day was a printmaking demo. From the back of the truck a small etching press, dozens of wood cuts and some T-shirts were pulled out. People were invited to chose a shirt and and an art block and help arrange and print a wearable piece of art. The matrix was carved from MDF board, which the guys said "was as easy to cut as butter". Despite the thickness and varience in block sizes, the press churned out many prints without issues.

Despite the freezing weather, many shirts were printed and we got to see some nifty work with a brayer. I wish I had thought to take my printing apron to get a cool DPA logo print (Dirty Printmakers of America), but alas I did not. I did get a couple of t-shirts printed though.

I wish them the best of luck for their journey around the West Coast.

http://drivebypress.com/

Encaustic Monoprint Technique

2010-03-03T14:25:00.001-08:00

Today I visited a printmaking friend's studio. Amy is experimenting with encaustic monoprints. I have never heard of this before so I was excited to have a demo. Here is the basic process:

1. Heat up the homemade heat box.

2. Rub the beeswax pigment sticks on the metal surface of the heat plate to melt them. Create a design on the plate with one or more colors.

Step 3. Lay a piece of rice or rag paper face down on the painted design and cover with newsprint. Burnish.

Step 4. Carefully pull the paper away from the heat plate.

Steps 5-6. Clean the heat plate with paper towels. Add more color to the heat plate and repeat the process to add patterns or more color to the print.

The smell of the wax is yummy and the pigments are really thick and rich to work with. I had a little play to get a feel for what the print is like (image below). Now I want to build a heat box and play!!

Tiny copper plate

2010-03-02T23:08:00.001-08:00

I messed around with softground today on a tiny plate that I started. Umm... I think I trashed it >_<

Maybe when I ink it up things won't seem so bad?

Here is the first proof before the softground and the plate just after:

On a good note, I got the formal nod for studio space at "The Comstock Art Factory"!

The space is on the main street in downtown and settled close to other galleries, The Nevada Art Museum and an Irish Pub, how perfect is that?

Community workshops and classes will be integrated into the space and I am thinking over what I could offer. Classes for children are probably more my thing and I have some experience teaching youngsters. I have three kids of my own which counts for something in my book!

Anyway, it's pretty exciting stuff laying ahead.

Partner Print

2010-03-01T16:44:00.001-08:00

I started work on another block carving, a partner print to go with the trapeze artist print. This one will use the same pattern and eyes, but will have a can can dancer as the focal point.

Acid alternative etching

2010-02-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

In the print studio with Candace Nicol, I am learning about an acid alternative etching process. Rather than Nitric or Hydrochloric acid, we are working with salts. The salt, ferric chloride, has none of the disadvantages associated with the other two acid etching solutions: it does not produce dangerous fumes, is odourless and, though corrosive, is not absorbed through the skin.

It does take ages to bite though. You can put the plate in, nip to the coffee shop, take in a sandwich, venti latte, chat, check mail, walk back to the plate and still consider if the bite is deep enough.

That could be a plus on the social front though.

6 Sides 2 Every Story

2010-02-27T21:08:00.000-08:00

“Six Sides 2 Every Story” is a large, collaborative international woodblock print piece that is part of a touring printmaking exhibit of which I am a participant. It has just finished a stint in Carson City, Nevada, and is now in New Mexico. Here is the latest info:

Printmaking Exhibit in Burris Hall Gallery Through March 13

A free printmaking exhibit featuring national and international artists is on display at New Mexico Highlands University’s Burris Hall Gallery, 903 National Ave, through March 13.

“The exhibit covers a huge variety of printmaking techniques, including woodcuts, silk screens, lithography, etchings, linoleum cuts, and more,” said Todd Christensen, the Department of Fine Arts professor who organized the exhibit. “The exhibit is an opportunity to see the work of accomplished U.S. printmakers along with international artists.”

Christensen organized this printmaking exhibit, as well as a first-time printmaking conference earlier this month for fine arts students and the community. The conference included guest artists presenting lectures, demonstrations and open studios.

“It brings excitement, energy and experimentation to our students’ work when they get to participate in a conference like this, and see this caliber of printmaking exhibit,” Christensen said. “It’s good for students to learn different techniques from a variety of artists. It gives them a lot of new ideas.”

A large collaborative wood block print piece that displays the international flavor of the exhibit is “6 Sides 2 Every Story.” Nearly 600 artists cut wood blocks for the piece, each drawing inspiration from international news stories. “Six Sides 2 Every Story” is touring the United States.

“This piece shows how art can be collaborative and community based,” Christensen said.

Christensen, a professor at the university since 2008, teaches printmaking, painting and drawing. His printmaking work is also included in the exhibit.

Christensen said the Department of Fine Arts’ annual Iron Tribe event inspired him to create a similar event for printmaking. Iron Tribe features an iron art exhibit, art foundry performance casting, an iron art symposium, and more.

2010-02-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

The copper plate was dipped into salts for a about an hour after I finished the first round of scratching. The bite was good enough to get an idea of where I want to work on the plate next. I wanted only a light touch on the faces, more a suggestion than anything, so I stopped out the face area before exposing.

I am playing around with a character that journeys to far flung places, making observations or finding momentos along the way. It is this character that will fill her anthropological notes into the hand made book I made. In this first copper matrix, I am having the character join Philius Fogg in an air balloon. I still need to figure out what her name is to help me get to know her better.

print blots

2010-02-24T23:42:00.000-08:00

I spent all day carving out and printing from the reduction cut. I am pretty much done with the reduction/suicide prints, I only need to insert the circle block into the main image to finish it. I took a deep breath and cut away the face and other areas. I was nervous about reaching the end with this block. There is no going back, but hey, that is why it is a suicide block! Not for the faint of heart.

Here is one of the prints, minus the circle block that is yet to be added:

The Yellow Wallpaper

2010-02-24T11:10:00.001-08:00

I am reworking the blockcut to print the patten in yellow. While I was working on this piece I thought about "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It is a short story I read in college in relation to early feminist work. The book was written in the very late 19th Century and is a description of a woman locked away in a room of her house by her husband, due to her deemed mental condition after childbirth. The pattern of the wallpaper begins to irritate her and with nobody to talk to, she keeps a diary of her thoughts as she slips into insanity.

I am using the same browns, but using a yellow ochre for the pattern.

Copper plate

2010-02-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

I have been starting off a copper plate for etching. In the past I have always used other metals and always used traditional but toxic methods. Acids and feathering have been my method for exposing the plate for a good bite. I have been happy with the results, but I have not enjoyed the headaches, sore hands and eyes etc.

I am learning more about non-toxic techniques to print and will be experimenting with salts for the plate exposure. I am also going to learn about using an alternative to the powder aquatint.

Over the weekend I worked on a sketch for the plate and prepared the plate for the image. The first difficulty I found was that without a rosin coat on the plate, I could not really see where I had scratched. I am allergic to pine, so it is a good thing for me to not use the rosin, however, I might need to find a ground that is dark to work into as I am disappointed that I can't see the details.

Saturday print workshop

2010-02-20T23:37:00.001-08:00

I had an interesting day at the community college learning about making viscosity prints with Candace Nicol, the printmaking master!

There were also some interesting experimental softground mixes going on involving floorwax and brake fluid.

I got a few prints down and prepared some copper plates for drypoint. I am used to using a rosin ground to scratch an image into, so I feel like I am scratching blind into the copper. I am pretty sure this image will not come out too well, but I will run with it for a while.

I know it's out of focus!

More ATC prints

2010-02-19T11:28:00.001-08:00

Friday morning,

I printed off some further ATC prints for the performance. I think I will need around 100 to handout at the time, hand burnishing the prints is slow so I am managing only 16-20 each print session. I do not have a set date for the performance yet so I am not too concerned.

Friday afternoon,
After a very pleasant lunch at Moxies, I worked on some bookmark sized prints.

Journal of Impossible Things

2010-02-19T11:17:00.001-08:00

Yesterday morning, I worked on finishing book one. The rest of the day I stitched and covered a second book using one of the other cover prints. I am going to make this my journal of impossible things, coined from Doctor Who's book. In this book I will paint, draw and take notes of my own adventures in it.

Both books are drying and are ready for filling as art books at a later time.

Changes on the horizon

2010-02-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

I have had an offer to join the Printmaker's Conspiracy, a local group of printmakers. I am excited about this and the opportunities to exhibit within a supportive art group.

Working as a painter has always meant an element of isolation for me. While this is good from a - lack of distraction - point of view, it can be tough to get perspective without feedback. Printmaking is proving to be a more social setting and I find that I am pushed more to complete a task before the next gathering around the press.

I am considering renting a studio in a communal art space in town. This will increase my overheads, but will provide a group environment to work in and a gallery to show my work Downtown. Tough call financially in this climate and I need to give it some hard thought, but I think this could be a positive step in the long haul.

Tuesday Night

2010-02-16T22:29:00.000-08:00

I finished printing off my edition of prints and named them "Due North".

The image is about my aspirations, fears and determination as an artist. There are so many things that have stepped into my path as an artist that have caused me to take a different route. Despite that, my ultimate destination has always remained the same.

I want to keep working with this image and will probably continue with the reduction cut until the matrix reaches obliteration!

2010-02-16T10:41:00.001-08:00

Tuesday morning,

I incorporated a red compass print into the main block print that I have been working on.

Watch

2010-02-15T22:32:00.001-08:00

Over the weekend I worked on making a pearl watch. The pearls are green and cream and I used small leaf beads as well as numerous neutral beads to compliment the pearls. The watch face has a pearl face with filigree around the silver edge.

I like having movement on my bracelets or ankle chains. To get movement on this watch, I made little charms by twisting wire into swirls an hearts. The watch fits loosely like a charm bracelet and I am pleased with how it looks when worn.

Downtown Chinese New Year

2010-02-14T16:37:00.001-08:00

Some photos I took today from Reno's celebration of the year of the Tiger.

Mini prints

2010-02-12T00:24:00.001-08:00

Friday evening,
Time for a bit of a clean up?

Friday morning

I stayed up to make a series of mini prints to hand out at my performance. I have worked them from a section of the larger print and will format them as artist trading cards.

Now I am going to clean up the mess and go to bed!

Friday morning

Preparing a second smaller book. Next time I might use cat gut thread......

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All sewn-up

2010-02-11T11:28:00.001-08:00

Thursday night,
After taking numerous prints, i have 4 copies that I think are good enough for an edition.

Thursday evening,
This is the first proof off the matrix. The carving is not too bad, but the ink is patchy.

Thursday afternoon,
I have returned to carving the matrix and have decided to run some single colour prints from it before reducing further for the second printing. I will incorporate a softcut block into these prints for a small edition (possibly as few as 5) fragmented narrative.

Thursday morning

The stitches are completed and the signatures sewn together.

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The inside story

2010-02-10T09:43:00.001-08:00

Wednesday night,
After my usual focus issues, I have finally finished hand tearing each page to the right size and have the signatures folded, pierced and ready to sew. I am using beeswax to size the binders thread, so now I am all set.

Wednesday afternoon,
I got distracted from the book and made some earrings instead.

Wednesday morning
I am making the signatures of the book (codex) today. I am using a fairly thick (114g) 100% post consumer waste paper. This brown paper is excellent to draw on with conte or charcoal and is thick enough to hold paint too. I might try interleaves of similar weight tracing vellum to help protect chalk drawings.

The cats are a great help with this process @_@

Sketches and ATCs

2010-02-09T11:46:00.001-08:00

Tuesday Night,
I guess I am still in painting mindset. I treated the ink like paint and glazed areas to get the softening I wanted around the edges. As soon as I added oil to the ink something happened. It became so good to play with; rich, oily and sensual. Who knew printing could feel so good? Using a paintbrush, I stroked the glaze onto the edges of the images and rubbed it into the main areas with a cloth. Now I feel much happier with the way it works with the paper.

Tuesday afternoon,
I worked on the book cover prints again on rag paper. I think I might play with inks to soften the edges of the circles. I find the edge of the blocks too harsh for such soft paper. Stitching might work well too. Hmmm, I should just get on with it as I still have signatures to make and sew for the book.

Tuesday Morning
I am hosting a steampunk themed ATC swap on March 1st. Here are 4 of my artist trading cards from the "Ticking of the clock" collection. I am planning to do some larger scale assemblage pieces on a similar theme sometime soon.

Below are some Pages from my sketchbook where I have been playing around with ideas for prints.

- and my arms still ache.....

2010-02-09T09:25:00.001-08:00

I need to get a bench block, my arms are really sore from carving yesterday!

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Still carving

2010-02-08T14:33:00.001-08:00

The carving is taking a long time for the second layer. I seem to be having a lot of phone calls and breaking my concentration which is not helping.

Carve, carve,carve.......

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