Cricketts Inky Art Blot

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!