Sketch IX

Last weekend I took a van, a boat and a bus to Holden Village in the Cascade mountains. There I spent a fun-filled weekend with members of my book group. I had hoped to get in a lot of drawing, maybe play with some of my new colored pencils and water colors, instead I spent most of my time playing in the snow. The sky was clear, the sun was warm and really, the best place to be was outside, hiking up and down the trails. The evenings found our group sharing warm conversation over glasses of boxed wine, along with playing several rousing games of Bananagrams. My sketchbook was mostly neglected, but I did manage to dash off a scribble or two.

I hit the ground running upon my return; lots happening at work and at home, but still managed to get a bit of studio time in. I have made one color pass on my new woodcut, (I'm still in love with it) and i will share images of my progress after there is a bit more to show.
According to my computer it's 11:57pm on Saturday. Hooray, I'm getting this post in just under the wire!
PS. Don't forget to spring forward!

Sketch VIII

I'm off to commune with nature, so the Saturday sketch submission is a bit early. In my day pack, along with the ten essentials I've packed my sketchbook, pencils, watercolors and flair pens for I intend to do a bit of sketching. Back in the studio, my blocks and paper are prepared; next I'll begin carving.

Learning something new

This Saturday past, I attended a Solorplate workshop at Pressworks, a printmaking co-op in Seattle. Pressworks has existed for over twenty-five years and prides itself in being a toxic-free studio. As my last year demonstrates, I am always up for learning new printmaking techniques. While I might not use my new found skills immediately, it's always nice to have something in the 'toolbox' I can pull out at a later date. What interested me in trying this technique was its quickness, its relative low toxicity and its potential for reproducing a nice 'etched' line. On many levels, it did not disappoint. It's fast! In the five hour workshop I was able to make and proof two 5" x 7" plates, plus several smaller test plates, one of which you can see below. It's clean! No acid is needed to 'etch' the plate, just light and water. The line quality is okay, but certainly not as fine as what you can get with a zinc or copper plate and acid.

Solarplate test

If I have one complaint it's that there is not much interaction with the plate. I love hacking away at a piece of wood or linoleum; I love scraping away at a metal plate; this method has none of that. Still, it was a fun day.
Last night I began transferring an image to wood for a new print. I like beginning a new piece, it feels just like falling in love, and who doesn't like that?

Sketch VII

Today's sketch and clouds from today's sunset.

Bad hair day.

Sketch VI

My sketch book has become my studio. Fortunately, I can get there just about every day.

Sketch V

Is it Sunday already? Yesterday found me roaming the soggy streets of Tacoma, visiting art museums and eating cupcakes. Alas, my Saturday sketch was forgotten in the midst of such excitement, so i apologetically present my weekly sketch one day late. This week I've been obsessed with scissors. What is my subconscious telling me?

While roaming the streets of Tacoma I also found this lovely gum valentine. Love is a sticky thing.
Happy Valentines Day.

Saturday Sketch III

Not much work getting done in my studio, (grrr) and hopefully that will soon change. But I do continue to sketch. See below.