Prototype Display Panel

Less than a month until my three person studio show.  Lots to do to get ready. 

Bill and I worked on the second prototype display panel for my up-coming studio show.  The first one (pvc pipe and pegboard) was way too heavy.  This one is pvc pipe and wire fencing.  As you can see it works great.

The zippy ties have yet to be trimmed in this picture.  We plan to make 3 more and hook them all together in a zig-zag pattern which should be self-supporting.

I like the clean lines (and of course Bill likes the black and white motif).  ;- ]

Thanx Guys 8-]

I love it when people decide to follow my blog (even if I am a sporadic blogger).  ;-]

New people always take me to such interesting places and I get to add kewl blogs to the ones I already follow. 

Today I discovered:
http://www.anopensketchbook.com/
an open [sketch]book
creative journal of suzanne cabrera

And:
http://intalyo.blogspot.com/
INTALYO
Some Day Your Prints Will Come

;->

I learn so much from you guys!

Background Block, Cont'd

Carved some more on the background block for the little octopus.

It's weird to carve away the image.  I'm not used to carving multiple blocks, so this is new territory.

~*~

Wow, doesn't look like much does it?  Drew some guidelines so I can carve a bit more at the top.  Lighten up the water.

Carving Background Block

Started carving the background block for the li'l octopus.

I started with the initials so I could use my toh.  I haven't used it much and I thought I should get more acquainted with it.  It got easier as ideas occured to me, especially while carving the S-curves.  I only had two boo-boos, one of which I was able to glue back down.  ;-j

I'll see what all I can use it fore as I progress.

Li'l 'Pus

I printed the cartoon on transfer paper and applied it to the blocks -- twice.  Got it backwards the first time.  ;-j  Still do that, no matter how much care I take.  I think I'm image dyslexic or something.  Washed off the transfer with alcohol.  Take two was a success.

Sure hope I got the registration right!  I'm not used to doing multiple blocks.  To minimize the areas of possible conflict, I'll work in indistinct edges on the background block.  I'll also only carve the initials on one of them.

Little Purple Octopus

I found this little guy online (Facebook I think).  He's just too kewt.

I had to do something with him.  I've come up with this (I cut and pasted the little guy on my cartoon for convenience sake).

I'm thinking I'll carve two blocks -- background and everything else -- and see how that goes.

Some TPC Festival Pics

The TPC Art Festival had a successful reception.  I didn't take any pictures during the reception, but here is one of me in front of my work.

Here's our show on the Santa Clarita Art Association's self-contained display panels.  I love how they've arranged all the lights.

Here's the art display set up in the hall.  More works on easels were added just before the reception.

A number of pieces sold during the show.  It was fun to do and I'll be sure to do it again.  I got to chat with a number of artists and guests (tho not as many as I might have -- I'll have to work on my chatting skills).

One fellow does the most amazing scratchboard wild animals, and he was curious about the woodcut technique, perhaps to get some color in his work.  His style would translate well to wood engraving or resingrave.

The SCAA does a number of shows a year, plus displays at businesses around town.  They're quite active in the area.

TPC Art Festival

Today was set-up day for the TPC Art Festival.  I had to get my three pieces in bright and early.  I'm not used to seeing the sun rise.  The morning fog hadn't burned off yet.  ;- j 

Everyone's super organized and I anticipate a good show.

Here's a shot of the display set-up.  The lobby is long and dark, but the display panels look like they'll have plenty of light.

There are 25 artists in all, and I believe I'm the only printmaker in the bunch.  For that matter, I think I'm the only printmaker in the Santa Clarita Art Associaton at the moment, but that will change eventually.  Afterall, College of the Canyons is still cranking out printmakers.  ;-]

I'll be doing a woodcut demo tomorrow afternoon.  I have a block that needs some cleaning up.  I've never been completely satisfied with how it prints.  Too many extranious woodblock marks.  That's what happens when I forget to leave a lip on the rim.

I find it hard to concentrate on carving when I'm doing a demo, so I need something that doesn't take much thinking.  Yggdrasil qualifies.

Paleo-Seahorse Print

My pinto-patterned paleo-seahorse, printed at last.

I like the colors, yellow ochre and burnt sienna.  The darker color accent is tapped on with the tiniest little hanga brush, rather like a stencil brush.

I can see where I could carve a little more around darker elements, a la white line printmaking, but I'd really like to be done with this block for awhile.

The watersoluable inks are so dry in this beastly heat.  I'm continually adding water to the ink between prints.  The Pacific Northwest begins to look really attractive for its continual humidity.  ;- j  It's almost enough to drive me back to oil based inks.  At least they stay workable through a whole print run.

Oh well, just something else to work around.

Two-tone Paleo-Seahorses

Ok, so I printed up some paleo-seahorses today.  First I've printed since I recarved the block.  I like this a lot better.  Now I can forget about it for awhile.  It's been haunting me to get it printed.

I did the first print (upper right in this shot) in yellow ochre with burnt sienna tapped in.  Need to order more yellow ochre, so for the other three I mixed yellow and burnt sienna for the base color, with burnt sienna tapped in.  I think I did a pretty good job of matching.

Now I can move on to something else.  Anything else.  ;-j

Robo-Spam?

Does anyone know what to do about these strange comments I keep getting?  Are these robo-responses or something?  I run them thru http://babelfish.yahoo.com/ and usually get garbage back, so I don't think there's an actual person on the other end.

賢林 said...



如果相遇.你會感到相知.那麼.有一種習慣叫做陪伴;如果陪伴.你會感到珍惜.那麼.有一種甜蜜叫做存在!..................................................................


Translation:

Virtuous forest said… If meets. You will feel the dear friend. Then. One custom named accompanies; If accompanies. You will feel treasure. Then. One kind of happy named existence! ..................................................................

Any suggestions?

A Summer Art Festival

The Santa Clarita Artists' Association is having A Summer Art Festival at the Tournament Players Club of Valencia, CA.  I will have some woodcuts in the show, July 27-30, 8am to 6pm, with an Artists' Reception on Sunday, July 30, 5pm to 7pm.

I'm starting to branch out and enter more shows.  I hope you can make it if you are in the area.  8-]

Westercon

I had some pieces in the Westercon 63 Art Show over the Fourth of July Weekend in Pasadena, CA.  First time I've showed at Westercon and I didn't know what to expect.  It was a small show and sadly had a terrible traffic pattern (stuck off in an isolated hallway in the hotel with no signage).

In spite of that I managed to sell a piece, Be It Known To All..., a black and white woodcut of an early period printer.

It was bought by an early period enthusiast, so I'm pleased it went to a good home.

I followed a bit of advice from Maria Arango's excellent book, Art Festival Guide, and rematted and framed a few of my pieces to show them to better effect.  I think my display was much improved.  It's a learning process.

The bidding sheets are a necessary evil that can't be helped.  I did make a little handmade sign explaining my Paleo-Mythos themed woodcuts, which I added later.  I'll make something more permanent for the next time.

All in all a positive experience.

Hiatus

I'm on woodcut hiatus.  Not that I don't have any printing to do.  But I'm up to my ears in medieval poetry at the moment.  I edit a poetry collection that comes out twice a year and this is one of those times.  Verily I am busy.  ;- j

I should be able to get back to my woodcuts after next week.

Horsefly of a Different Color

Here are some paleo-horseflies of a different color.  ;-]  This current set is tending toward orangey-green (previous set was more yellow ochre/red/purply-blue). 

Maybe I'll try a completely different colorway next time I print.  Say something in a lavender.  ;-]  And yes, I am displacing.  I should be printing my paleo-seahorse, or getting ready for the mug rug class I'll be teaching this weekend at the Griffin Dyeworks Fiber Retreat.  8-]

Paleo-Pinto?

Carved some more on my paleo-seahorse.  Looks more like a pinto or a paint now.  I need to do a test print, probably tomorrow.

A little more carving.

Paleo-Seahorse - Cartoon with Color

Playing around with cartoons today.  Something like this.  The paleo-seahorse definitely needs more visual interest.

To make the cartoon I took a scan of the block and played with it in Paint Shop Pro.

  I greyed it, increased contrast and made a negative image.

Then I printed up a handful and pulled out the colored pencils.  Honest I was really working.  ;-}

Paleo-Horsefly

Printed up a few paleo-horseflies while I had the inks out.  Not really satisfied with these either.  Maybe I'm just tired.  The blue was giving me a headache.  I was using small pouncing brushes (one a teensy Japanese brush), and I think I was loading up too much ink.  Something to work on next time.

Paleo-Seahorse

Printed up some Paleo-Seahorses today.  Not entirely pleased with the results.  I think I have to carve some more on the block.  Needs more texture.

50 Incredibly Inspiring Printmaking Blogs

Wow!  I've been featured on 50 Incredibly Inspiring Printmaking Blogs: http://www.photography-colleges.org/50-incredibly-inspiring-printmaking-blogs/

I'm in shock.  But a happy shock.

Check them out.  I'm in incredibly good company.  8-]

Emma Roberts of  Photography Colleges: http://www.photography-colleges.org/ directed me to it.  Thanx Emma.