Falling for new directions

I saw a post on the blog, The Crafts Dept. from Martha Stewart Living, that showed how they changed their blog header according to the seasons, so I decided to change mine to a more seasonally appropriate image.  I used double stick tape to hold some leaves in place, and printed my header wood block on them.  What do you think?

For the past few weeks since I've been going to figure drawing next door at my studio on Tuesday mornings. It's taken me a while to get warmed up again, and feeling somewhat happy with my sketches.  Today I tried my hand at figure drawing with monotype.  I inked up a piece of plexi-glass and sketched the model's hand into the ink with q-tips.  Later I remembered that I had blender stumps for charcoal drawing that worked much better to draw into the ink with.

After the figure drawing session, I soaked some paper, and printed the plates in the press.  This was the last sketch, and the most successful one for the day.  Not bad for a first try. It still feels a little awkward and stiff for me, the fingers should "dangle" a little more  gracefully. I'm still getting the hang of this new method working by pushing around the ink with blender stumps and q-tips. Practice makes perfect right?

Femme Exhibition in Mantiou Springs

Open Studios has come to a close, but that doesn't mean I can slow down yet! On Monday I went to Manitou Springs to deliver art work to the Business of Art Center for an exhibition "Femme"

I am excited to be showing with Jean Gumpper, a well known woodcut printmaker that I have yet to meet. She won't be at the opening since she is going to the MAPC. It's a printmaking conference in Minnesota. I would have loved to have gone since Swoon will be giving a talk there.

I'm not sure if I will go back down to Manitou Springs either for the opening since I have to teach a workshop in Denver early Saturday morning at Kozo. If you're interested in a quick one day workshop, call Patricia to register.

Tonight I start a new class with Lifelong Learning in my studio, and tomorrow is another class at the League in Denver. It's good to be busy!

Open Studios Continues this weekend!

This week I've been catching up on laundry and other things I've neglected in the few weeks before Open Studios.  The first weekend went well. Thank you to everyone who stopped by my studio.

Me talking to some people in my studio

Come by this weekend to come say hello, and see my new woodcuts.  If you mention that you read this blog, you will receive a free 2010 calendar while they last!