I have been losing my frustration (about not getting into juried shows) by work: always the best solution. So here are updates, maybe completions, of several items in work: first is an aquarelle graphite “Excavation”, the second an older pencil drawing on vellum. The three colored pieces are recent collagraph prints that were dull monotone until the addition of pan pastel,colored pencil, & pen.
Category Archives: My Art
Another local juried show…
UPDATE #2: the morning of day 2 of the show I get to the gallery before it opens, whip away my piece, and hightail it to PT Art & Frame to get museum glass: the glare & reflections where it hangs completely obscured the work! Looks way better now, after this infusion of effort and $$$’s!
UPDATE: one (only one) accepted: Galaxy of Bones is in the show Alchemy of the Abstract at Northwind Arts Center opening Friday, and for the month of June.
Yes, I am doing it again: submitting (3) art works to yet another local juried art show. Got to wonder why: it makes me crazy! I get stressed, indecisive, busy (preparing or procrastinating on other things) and it costs money! Maybe it is the getting busy part that makes me do it: sometimes I get quite a lot done on other art projects or cleaning my studio!
Still it is quite stressful and not very rewarding even when my work does get accepted. And it is only maybe 60% of the time that one of 3-4 submitted works is accepted. It is always hard when all the pieces are rejected for a show. Also I have never sold work in a juried show, although I have sold when I arrange my own solo exhibit.
So here goes nothing 🙂
Curly Twigs V photo in frame
Crow with Fire in the Belly
After printing an old lino cut plate using a mask (cut to obscure most of the body of the crow) top left, I came up with a plan to put more detail inside the crow. So I worked on the plate and printed it at various stages. I am at version 4, and done for now: the red print is from the curent version of the plate, which is the second plate image. The other two prints are intermediate versions.
More drawing and a print variation
To the original drawing, I added some water soluble graphite to darken and enhance (I hope :-): the modified drawing is shown at left. The poly litho plate used for the print was from the earlier version of the drawing. I used water soluble graphite on the burnt umber ink print also, but a bit differently from on the pencil drawing. The graphite becomes a second color on the print. In the final version at right, I added a touch of colored pencil. Stop me now! 🙂
Below is another (older) poly litho print newly completed with colored pencil. I used the one plate, twice through the press, reversed & repositioned for the a second pass.
Reworked plates, better prints and …
OK, it is done: I have entered three prints in the Corvidae Press sponsored juried show Printmaker’s Hand III (September at Northwind Arts Center). This involved much agonizing: none of my entries were accepted last time, and it is the same juror. Oh well, just $45 & much stress 🙂
Update: none of these submissions were accepted 🙁 Very depressing!
After my first try at poly litho with this new drawing was so unsatisfactory, I cleaned & redrew both poly litho plates, using a micron pen this time (not a fat “ultra fine” sharpie!).
The micron pen seems to work well: I have to be very aware of the lines blending with the laser toner but the plate charges (with ink) very quickly. But I think this pen, like the sharpie, will not hold up well when cleaned, so I may have two editions of only four prints from each plate … I was too short of time to print more with the show deadline today.
I used a new tin of Dark Umber, rather than the old black ink used on the first plates. This was nice, not as stiff, so I did not need the burnt plate oil amendment or have to work the ink quite as much!
This gave me time to do the color mono print work. This time I painted the color directly onto one of the poly litho plates, which made registration a breeze! It was a bit of an experimental rush job, but I like the effect. I will probably add color to a couple more of the prints, maybe with that red dress although not sure with the brown ink.
Not quite working …
Drawing, preparation for poly litho plate, and more
Working in watercolor: Excavations Series
Scan, modify & voila: digital collage
Above is a digitally modified layered collage that started as a carefully arranged scan of red maple leaves, a scrap of red mesh, and two strips cut from a blotter. Just some fun…
And at left is a colored sketch of salal in bloom, in water color, soluble graphite, & colored pencil, started on a recent camping trip.
