Cricketts Inky Art Blot

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.