Sunday, October 31, 2010

Centerfold 8-]

Hey, I'm in a centerfold.  8-]


Ok, so it's for CHEM 13 news, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  ;->


This from Jenn Shmitt, the co-ordinator:

It's that time again... more Periodic Table Print Project News.




The September issue of the Chem13 News features our project (we're even the centerfold!).  They were so inspired that they have started their own periodic table project--open to more media than just printmaking-- as part of the University's celebration of the Year of Chemistry, 2011. 

Here's my contribution to the project:  Titanium.


And the colophon:

Titanium, atomic number 22, is light, strong, lustrous and resistant to corrosion, even in sea water. It is a silvery-white metal and can be alloyed with iron, aluminium, vanadium and other elements to produce many lightweight alloys. It is used in everything from spacecraft to dental implants, and because it can burn in both air and nitrogen, it makes great fireworks.


Titanium was discovered in England in1791 and was named for the Titans of Greek mythology. I took my inspiration from the Titan allusion and have displayed the most famous Titan, Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind, against the wishes of an angry Zeus.

Here is Prometheus with a high-tech, titanium robotic arm, holding aloft a burst of fireworks. As serendipity would have it, fireworks can look remarkably like a spray of fennel blossoms, the seed of which Prometheus hid fire in to sneak it past the Gods.

No good deed goes unpunished, but that’s another story.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Tony's Pictures from Our Show

Here's a link for Tony's pictures from our studio show:

http://ghostmodeler.blogspot.com/2010/10/home-art-show-inauguration.html

He caught a few things we missed.

Thanx everybody for a great show!  8-]

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pictures from Our "Garden Party" Studio Show

I've uploaded pictures from our "garden party" studio show to this site:

http://usual-subjects.blogspot.com/2010/10/light-paint-ink-our-studio-show.html

It was a great experience and I'm so glad we did it, despite our trepidations.  I think I might even do it again sometime.  8-]

Monday, October 25, 2010

Light, Paint & Ink -- Our Studio Show

Wo0t! 8-]


What a great show! I can't believe how well it all went. We had perfect weather, a terrific display, and people came! ;-D



Of course we couldn't have done it without the help of our great friends.  I sure can't count and I was glad to have Karen to handle all the money so professionally.  Tom was indispensable with all the set-up, and always so cheerful -- even in the face of stressed-out artists.
 Laurie's food was scrumptious, and every time I turned around, there was Steph with a plate of cheese or cookies...even sandwiches.  It was nice to have the waters handy. I sure talked myself dry. (The wine was nice too.) ;->

Roy and Aida and others were all so helpful with the set-up and support. It's good to have such good friends.


And I can't believe people actually came in response to our postcards and e-mail! My friend Pat, who ended up buying something from both Tina and myself, only came because of that last e-postcard. Boy was that a smart idea!  We got great advice from Laura and Belinda and Maria and other old hands in the art fair and show biz.


There was art everywhere. Who knew we were so prolific?! It boggles the mind. Tina and Tony's pro panels looked really professional, but I have to say our pvc pipe and wire mesh panels worked really well too. We'd make a couple improvements to the system, but it stood up to the task (if the label cards did tend to blow thither and yon all day).


 I think we all did fabulously well for our first studio show. I sold a number of pieces -- including one to my sister who called during the show!)  I even made a commission and a trade.

Now I've got to get busy and print up a couple blocks.  And I've got the Loscon Art Show to get ready for.

No rest for the wicked.  ;-j


Saturday, October 23, 2010

Almost There...

We set up the display panels and the pop-up in Tina & Tony's backyard.


The corners are staked and zippy-tied to hold them down.  We'll hang the art tomorrow morning.

Here's the pile-o-art all bagged up and ready to go into the van.  Like my vicious guard dogs?  ;-j

I just hope they don't chew on anything in the middle of the night!

Now off to bed and up with the birdies.

Friday, October 22, 2010

At the Wiring Stage

I'm at the wiring stage now -- 8 or 9 pics to go.  Everything's matted and framed.  Then on to labels.

I use my bed for arranging art for the panels, and for a record of what's in the show.  Here's one bedful.

It's not meant to be archival, just a guideline.  I find once I get to a show, I've forgotten what I have, let alone where I was going to hang it.  ;-]

Bill thinks we should arrange the panels in an X, for stability.  Sounds like a plan.  We're setting up panels and tables tomorrow, hanging art on Sun.  Down to the wire.

Oh yeah, wiring.  ;- j  Back to it.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Matting, Framing & Stashing

Matting, framing and stashing art for my studio show.  What a production!


Think I should've started this process awhile ago (but then I wouldn't be the champion of procrastination).  ;-j

Oh well, I wouldn't have so many pieces left to frame up if I didn't have all the art, so I guess it's a good thing.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

SCAA Art Classic XXI


Woo and Hoo!  I sold Paleo-Horsefly, the woodcut I entered into the SCAA Art Classic XXI this year.  The reception and awards ceremony was today.


I'm happy it went to a good home, a horse lover with her own horse.  8-]


Here's a pic of myself and Sandra Cattell, my pleasant patron of the arts.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Two Weeks to Go!


Two weeks to go until our studio art show.  ;-]  Working on my e-mailing list now.  Just going thru my address book and making a couple groups.  I'm sure there'll be some duplicates, as my address book is very haphazard.  Hopefully people will let me know so I can remove the dupes.  I plan to use blind carbon copy in any case.

Of course I should be framing up some more woodcuts.  Oh well, they're not going to frame themselves.  ;->

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Display Panel Production Line

Bill and I made three more display panels out of pvc pipe and fencing.  It went pretty quickly once we knew what we were doing.  ;-j












We'll tie them together with zippy-ties, but if we need to, we can add bracing bars across the top.

Our studio show is less than three weeks away.  Lots to do, but at least the display panels can be checked off the list.  ;-]