New work soon!!!

Well it seems like forever since I wrote anything here. Maybe not forever, but it has been almost two months. One of the reasons I haven't written is that I have been really busy at the studio. I have spent several days a week at the studio in the last month (which for me is a lot of time) and have been working on some new techniques. I did finish the collagraphs I had been working on with some success, but I really felt like I needed a little break from them. I started working on some monotypes on kozo paper using stencils and layering. I really am enjoying working on these and feel like I am learning a lot about how this technique works. However, in the middle of this I had to start working on three etching plates for our studio fundraiser/auction. I hadn't been very successful in etching copper previous to this, but I finally feel like I am having some success. I printed all I could on these for myself and then watched as the plates were cut up to be used to make a chandelier. It was actually kind of fun to see them being destroyed. It was almost as though I really felt like I had finished something. Anyways, as soon as I get the prints dried and flattened I will take pictures and post. Hopefully, that won't take another two months.

Is it play or work?

Finally, after 7 very long weeks, I was able to make my way to the studio for a little work, or should I say play. I spent all day yesterday there trying to remember how to print my collagraph plates. And today I was there again, but this time I actually had some success, or should I say the start of some success. I am trying to print my collagraphs a little different this time. What I have done in the past was to print layers, 2 to 4 different plates, one right after another, creating one image with more depth. However, this has not been working very well lately. My images have been looking rather mushy. So instead, I am going to print one layer at a time and let the ink dry before putting another layer on. So I started 12 images today all with the same first plate but using various colors of ink. Next week I will add plate number 2 to these prints. Hopefully I will have pictures of my success soon.

New Work

I have really been neglecting my blog. This is in part due to the fact that I have not photographed any of my latest work. But since this is supposed to be a blog about my art, I decided to put up some work from a couple of months ago.

This first piece is called Awaken - for obvious reasons.

This is from a series of 10" x 10" prints I created for a show I was having at the studio I work at, Sev Shoon in Ballard. This is called Bravura.

This print is called A cappella and is from the same series.

Everything Changes

Okay, so I have officially become one of those people that I hate. You know the ones. They start a blog and then never update it. Well, to excuse myself, things have been a little bit crazy. To start with, our family of six is now officially a family of four. Yes, my two oldest, Leah and Sarah, have moved out. I miss them terribly, well actually I see them almost as much as I used to, but mostly I am incredibly thrilled and happy for them. So it has been a week since they moved and I have been spending the time since trying to rearrange the house and make room for all the stuff we didn't have room for before. Out with the old and in with the new as they say. It is very weird though. The house seems very quiet. I suppose we will get used to it. And then just when it starts to be normal, Anthony, child number three will be gone on his mission. We have about eight months until that happens. Then Hannah, child number four, will be all alone with the old folks. It will be hard for her. But hopefully Leah and Sarah will visit often. Well I am now thoroughly depressed and so will take myself off. I have more cleaning and rearranging to do. Bye for now.

The second sentence

Well, we all have to start somewhere. It has been my intention to start a blog for some time. I have always been great at starting things. That is, things that don't involve words. For some reason when words are involved I get stumped. Oh the essays I never could write in school because I couldn't figure out that first sentence. Silly me, I never thought of starting with the second sentence. I probably would have done just fine if I didn't start at the beginning.

And so we come back to this blog. The beginning, which is in fact not a beginning at all, because everthing we do actually does start with the second sentence. The first being everything that has led up to this point. In this case my first sentence started with everything in my life focused around music. I have spent much of my life as a classical musician, cellist by trade. Finding much of the professional musician life distasteful, ten years ago I started working at being a photographer. I truly love photography, however it was not as fulfilling as I would wish. Then two years ago I discovered printmaking and I think I have truly found my passion.

So enjoy. Visit often. Comment anytime.