Before Photos in New Haven Register Building

Here are the "before" photos of the area where I will be exhibiting in the New Haven Register newspaper production building:
 

I've got the two cement walls and floor space out to the poles.

 Here's the plan:
1. wash the cement block walls, garage door and door to equipment room.
2. test the "damage-free" adhesive backed velcro strips made for hanging picture frames as well as printing labels to make sure they stick to the walls. If so, proceed with hanging framed pieces. If not, Bob will install masonry screws.
3. hang unframed prints with binder clips on cord or wire suspended below the vents on the garage door.
4. set up tables
5. install newspaper vending machine and use it to display my handmade papers
6. decorate poles with vining bittersweet if time allows.

Preview of my Space at the New Haven Register Newspaper Production Building

I got to preview my exhibition space at the former New Haven Register newspaper production building tonight. What a great space! Both for where I am situated and the building in general! There will be over 100 artists exhibiting there the weekend of October 20&21. I am so looking forward to setting up, meeting the artists I will be exhibiting next to and meeting all the people who will come out that weekend to meet the artists. Before and after photos will be posted within the next few days.

Turning One of A Kind into a Printable Plate

Monarda Trace Monotype

Making a trace monotype creates a lovely effect and is somewhat time consuming to do, as in this example of a drawing of Monarda. Part of a project I worked on last summer (see link here), this piece shown was created as follows. I made a sketch of red monarda that grows in my front garden. I rolled red ink onto a plexiglass palette, placed a piece of my handmade gampi paper on top, put a piece of blank copy paper on top of that, then the drawing. I traced over the drawing which put pressure onto the paper below which made contact with the ink.

Not only does this yield a color copy of the drawing on the paper of my choice, it provides a softer version of the line drawing. The light, unintentional pressure of my hand as it rested on the sheet as well as the texture of the gampi paper adds something that the original drawing lacks.

I am taking a class exploring Pronto Plate printmaking. I am working with both Pronto Plates and Z Acryl D2P Ployester Plates.  I will have this monotype copied onto the plate in black and white and will have it as a permanent plate to use again and again.

The only thing I don't like about lithography - stone, paper or polyester plate - is that oil based inks are required. I do not like to use mineral spirits for clean up, so use vegetable oil but this process is time consuming. When I create monotypes, monoprints, lino cuts, gelatin prints, etc., I am able to use water mixable inks and paints that clean up with soap and water in very little time. If you know of a litho process in which water soluble inks or paints may be used, please share that information with me!

2012 Handmade Papers

 

Here are the papers I made this year. Most were created this month. If the temperatures weren't cooling, I'd be making more! Now on to binding them into little journals or printing on them. 

I will be selling my papers during the City Wide Open Studios in New Haven, CT on the Alternative Space Weekend, October 20 & 21.

First Day of Autumn - Summer Lament

In the early days of summer it is heard to believe that it will ever end. The days are long. It is easy to get out of bed at 6 a.m. when the sun is shining and the birds are singing. Energy is endless; activity stretches on until the evening hours when the sun finally sets. The warm sun is encouraging, coaxing me to join it outside. Little by little, autumn approaches. The days get a little shorter. The temperatures begin to cool. It is hard now to get up before 7 a.m. and it is time to pack up the outdoor activity well before 7 p.m.

On the one hand I mourn the endless days of summer and all the opportunities to make paper pulp, experiment with natural dyes, tend and harvest the vegetable garden. I feel that I have run out of time and will not be able to turn all that pulp into paper. Having an outdoor studio is wonderful for so many reasons, but when it gets too cool to keep hands in cold water, I know it is time to pack up for the season.

I am very happy with the amount of time I was able to devote to natural dyeing. I still need to try modifiers on most of the dyed fabrics to see if other colors/shades can be achieved. This can be done inside, so can wait a bit. Once this is done and documented, I will be able to see how many colors were created during this time.

While I do mourn the loss of papermaking days, I look with anticipation to the indoor studio projects that have been on hold. Making books with and printing on the handmade papers, continuing and completing and beginning visual journals, using the abundance of materials in my studio to make collages and mixed media works. Formulating workshops and promoting them. So much planned to do and I know that I will just make a dent in the list! Then it will be spring again, time to plant and cook fibers in preparation for another summer of papermaking and natural dyeing.

To everything there is a season and a purpose under heaven. Thank you, dear God, for all the opportunities you provide to learn and grow and expand in knowledge and ability.

My Big Backyard: The Diary of An Amateur Naturalist

I have updated my other blog, My Big Backyard: The Diary of An Amateur Naturalist, with the notes and photos I have been taking all summer. If you have not visited this blog, you may wish to do so. There you will see where the inspiration for my artwork comes from. Click on the hyperlink or on the tab at the top of this blog.  Thanks for visiting!

New Paper

I've taken a break from natural dye experiments to make some paper. The results of my labors of Wednesday and Thursday:

I like the way the colors from an eco-bundling experiment coordinate with the colors of the paper.

Participating in ArtSpace New Haven's CWOS This Year

 

 As time consuming as it was to gather the information needed and then to create an artist statement, bio and CV for the Silo Gallery Show, it certainly makes things easier now. I've just signed up to participate in the annual ArtSpace New Haven City-Wide Open Studios during the Alternative Space Weekend, October 20-21. A little copying and pasting was all that was needed to set up a new Artist Profile on ArtSpace's website.

I'm excited about this opportunity. I've visited CWOS annually since 2008 and have had a goal to participate one day.