Retreat decompression

OMG! Did I have a fab time or what? I need a little decompression time tonight, but I will share a little over the next few days.

Here are the snaps I took arriving at the retreat center:

The Old West town ofVirginia City is perched up high in the mountains, somewhere just under 7,000 ft above sea level. I was surprised that I could feel the extra pressure on my lungs, but was otherwise fine, a couple of people experienced nose bleeds and other altitude sickness symptoms, which is always a bit of a drag to have. It was worth it for the amazing sensation of the air at such a height.

These buildings were on the left of the road as I drove down. I am not sure what they were, but were obviously original and now just part of the ghost town.

Speaking of ghosts.... The retreat center is one of America's most haunted buildings. Many groups of ghost hunters visit and record the paranormal activity. Interestingly, the building was once a hospital run by nuns and the ghosts are said to be previous patients. The window free printmaking room was originally the morgue. Had I known that BEFORE the trip, I am not sure I would have been in there alone at Midnight....

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A Sort of Artist's Statement

This is a sort of artist's statement, but far more boring and long-winded. My current form of blogging is to limit the text to as little as possible. I am lazy when it comes to writing and the blog tends to trickle off when I feel the pressure of having to add words to the pictures. I hung my exhibition yesterday, so today I will ramble a little about the reasoning behind it (and to help me get over the guilt for hardly writing anything in the last couple of months). Please feel free to skip the words and look at the pictures! For a long time after moving to America, I found it difficult to process who I had become and the new meaning of home. I was English, yet found the American "English" language a challenge. This culture that in many ways was similar to my own, is in other ways completely opposite and confusing. I still often experience a shock by a sudden feeling of otherness and a perhaps a reminiscence for the past, yet I relish the possibility of ne...

Blockprinting

One of my favorite forms of printmaking is relief carved blocks. I generally use soft blocks such as linoleum, for the simple reason that it is easier on my hands. The last time I carved wood I ended up with 3 herniated discs, so I might make wood a special occasion choice! Carving wood can be an almost spiritual awakening of sorts, as the consious mind is on full focus of the task of the hands and the subconsious is resting on the creative nature of the image being formed. Once the block or blocks are carved, inking and printing requires a rhythm of motion that brings a level of peace. Here is a Japanese master printer at work printing, just watching him at work in his studio has me taking deep mediative breaths!

Sketches and ATCs

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 ...

Cricketts Inky Art Blot

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