Pages

3.29.2014

fini

For many years now I have played with this idea/image, and finally, at long last, my thoughts and doodles have made it to paper.  Faith, Hope and Charity is accompli!  It will now be stashed away, out of sight, and I'll not look at it for a few weeks.  We need a little time apart.

In addition to finishing up the above print, I've been preparing to teach a moku hanga workshop...my first time teaching this technique.  There is just SO much to pack in to a two day workshop and I fear my poor little 'guinea pigs' will be overwhelmed.  More later.

3.20.2014

First Day of Spring

As I sat down at my work table this morning I couldn't help but think of my friend Laura, who passed from this life on the first day of spring, one year ago today.  Laura was one of the most spirited people I've ever known.  She introduced me to a whole new level of wackiness and many of our antics I still embrace today.  I've even passed a few of them along to my children!  She was in service to her family and was a devoted daughter, sister, partner and, most especially, mother. Our lives took us to very different corners of the country, but we remained true and loyal friends.  I love her and I miss her.  And not to get all woo woo or anything, there have been a couple of times in the past year that I've felt her presence acutely, (and I hope I do again!).  Laura, like me, was a mitten girl at heart but she became my yellow rose of Texas.
I miss you darlin'
see you later.

3.18.2014

Public speaking has never been my favorite thing to do, but in the spirit of saying YES more, (and no less) I agreed to give a short talk and demo to three groups of high school students at the Art Career Day, hosted by the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Washington.  Most of last week I wrote and rewrote my talk and I practiced, practiced, practiced.  What I really wanted to do was go back in time and say NO, or come down with a nasty flu. But on Friday morning I loaded blocks and prints and my stack of note cards into my car and drove myself to Bellingham.  In spite of my jittery nervousness, I can happily report that everything went very well...not too many stoney stares, only one student walked out, (I choose to believe he wandered into the wrong presentation) and I even got a 'thank you' or two.

This week I've been preparing for the moku hanga workshop that I'll be leading at the end of the month. There is so much information I'll need to pack-in to the weekend so in a repeat of last week I am rewriting and reworking my syllabus and practicing, practicing practicing. 

Here's the state of my current print.   I thought I was just about ready to finish it up, but then two little polka dots caught my eye and I do love polka dots.  So now I'm wondering if a few more polka dots are needed?
 And with the vernal equinox just two days away, here is a sketch to welcome the return of longer days.

3.08.2014

Last weekend I escaped from the lowlands and got a taste of what my east coast family is experiencing this winter.  With my fabulously fun book group I headed up to Holden Village, a former copper mining village now turned retreat center.  The weekend was riotously fun and radically snowy.  Over 20" of snow fell while we were there. (I'm pretty sure there was eleventy hundred inches of snow on the ground already.) All that snow made for some mighty good sledding,  and more than a few wistful gazes out the window, marveling at the beauty of a snowfall. I'm betting it wouldn't be quite so lovely if I was in residence at the village all winter long.  I was told that often times snow remains on the ground at Holden, well into June.  It was fun while it lasted and a bit strange to come home to buds on my trees and spring flowers popping up in my front yard.
I also came home with a bit of a head cold but still managed to put in some studio time this week. My latest print is sporting a few more colors. Put on your sunglasses, it's bright!  I'm using two blocks for this one and reducing them both.  Now that I have more color on the paper I can start adding details, (and toning it down a bit). 
And, since it's Saturday, here's a sketch...

That's all for now.