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! 

Open Studios Spring Art Fair This Weekend

Please support your local woodcut printmaker (that's me) this weekend at the Open Studios Spring Art Fair.  The weather should finally improve by then.  Stop by and say hello.

How Long Do Wood Blocks Last?

Occasionally I get asked how long a wood block lasts, or how many prints can be pulled from it.  There is no clear answer to this question. It depends on a lot of factors like how hard of a pressure is used in the press, what type of wood it is, or how well it is taken care of.  I had a print commission for the rooms of the St. Regis Hotel a few years ago, and was surprised that I was able to pull just over one hundred and seventy prints from a set of blocks. 

This is my favorite wood block that I carved about ten years ago when I still lived in Durango. The design I carved in it was inspired by a book I have of Indian wood block patterns used for printing on cotton. I found a scrap of high end plywood to use, planned the design as a repeat from edge to edge, and carved it as a demonstration at the Durango Art Center. This wood block has been used for thousands of printings on so many things; my prints, fabric for my art bin and handbags, on my suede day planner I made, paper covered light switch covers, notebook covers, and note cards I have been selling since I first carved this block. After ten years of printing this block, the plys in the wood have begun to crack and peel.  It is de-laminating, and the top layer is barely attached any more. Despite all of the wear and tear, it still actually prints pretty well.  I just used it tonight to print some cards for the HART sale at the Foothills Art Center, and the Open Studios Holiday Sale. The poor thing needs to be retired, but I keep using it anyway, hoping I can pull just a few more prints from it before it falls apart completely. Every time I pull it out, I wonder if it's wise to use it, or if today is it's last day to be printed. So to answer the question to "how long does a wood block last?" My answer would be - until I can let it go.

Video of Open Studios

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed for a video about Open Studios produced by the local channel BV22.  Check out my segment at the 10:20 mark.

Open Studios 2009 - Boulder Colorado - BV22 from BVMA on Vimeo.

Second weekend of Open Studios this weekend

Please come out in the snow and visit me at my studio this weekend during the second Open Studios.  I have great new woodcuts on display, and the 

2010 calendars are in!

Saturday and Sunday Noon- 6pm

My studio: 2810 Wilderness Place Suite C Boulder 303-819-1901

Ready for Open Studios!

My freshly cleaned studio hung with my woodblock prints

The 2009 calendar is back from the printer and finished! This photo shows the steps to producing it. From the left to right is the drawing, the woodblock, a print pulled from the block, and the final calendar.

I spent the entire day finishing up framing new work, and cleaning the studio to finish getting ready for Open Studios. There's nothing like having hundreds of strangers walking through your studio to get you to clean! I hope it will be a good weekend.

2009 Calendar

Welcome to my blog!  It has been on my very long "to do" list for quite some time. I have been apprehensive about getting started, but decided to test the waters, and get my feet wet anyway. 

Since 2005, I have designed a long scroll calendar to sell at Open Studios, a Boulder studio tour that takes place the first two weekends in October. It will take place this weekend and next, October 4, 5 and 11, 12 from noon - 6 p.m. 

www.openstudios.org

You can visit my studio at 2810 Wilderness Place #C  

For the 2009 calendar, I created a lupine design from photographs I took during my artist in residence at the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago.  I love the graphic quality of the star shaped leaves.  The image is transferred to a woodblock, carved with gouges, inked, printed on to paper through my press, and then scanned into the computer where the dates are added in Illustrator and Photoshop.  From there, I have it commercially printed on to a recycled paper. Back in the studio, I cut dowels down to size, and glue them to the bottom of the calendar to serve as a weight for hanging, roll them up, and tie them with a ribbon.