Cricketts Inky Art Blot

I reworked the top to have a rendering of Apollo.

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

Random creature of the day. I picked it up to take a look and ended up with a rash :P

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.

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

I employed the help of the Oxbowettes :-) - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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.

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 goo...

Quick update with the comparison of the blue and green editions. First green, Then (with bad lighting)the blue;

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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 p...

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.

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

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 an...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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 g...

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! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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.

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!

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!

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....

My baby girl is turning 6!

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/...

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.

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

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 ni...

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.