365 Day 166 (extra bit)

photos from relief printmaking class

These photos are from the June 6th class...when my old computer was dead.

This was our second class and we traced one of our sketch book drawings then drew it freehand onto the gray soft cut material. Then we carved the block, did a test print, then made more carving adjustments, then printed again. Have I mentioned how much I love this class?

365 Day 164 (extra bit)

three carvings and test prints

I made these 3 carvings and test prints last week while my computer was dead, and after the Miniature Art Hunt.

I want to thank William Hessian for showing me the "automatic" drawing technique he uses/teaches some times. It has really helped me a lot.

I left these carvings unfinished so that I could get input in class on where to go with them next -- what kind of background to do, etc. The test prints are made with heavy sketch book paper and old ink...not the best materials for printmaking, but at least I could get an idea of how the carvings look. I am very happy with them. Especially the bear-like creature.


This sort of lost and sad looking guy emerged on the day I lost my wonderful new cat, Lord Jagged. We were truly soulmates. After only ten days it turned out that he was extremely ill and had to be euthanized. I was/am crushed.



































































I really love this bear-like creature.











































































I know I will leave the arms white, but I may give it a furry looking design.

















see...I would NEVER be able to just sit down and draw something like this






































this guy will probably get a few small changes, but I like his spotted coat

365 Day 164

Relief printing class #3


fox woman that emerged from an "automatic" drawing in my sketch book





Tonight we chose one of our drawings from our sketch books and made a transfer with tracing paper and charcoal and applied it to the golden carving material. This material is a lot stiffer than the other soft material and feels so different to carve. It takes a lot more power and it really makes your hands and finger tips tired easily...but it is very worth it.

At the end of class we took some time to write about what we are doing. We will use this as a tool for writing an artist statement later on.

I am pretty happy with the way the creatures are coming out of the "automatic" drawings I have been doing at home. I could never have just sat down and drawn any of them. But I noticed tonight that after I have worked with the image for a while, I can almost make a freehand rough sketch of it when I need to. Pretty cool.





the fox woman tracing
















the image transferred to the carving block



















the first stage of my carving -- just before test inking




















test printing of the image...to see where I want to go with it













the sketch I made on the paper table covering...I can almost draw the fox woman freehand now -- at least enough for me to recognize the basic shape

365 Day 143

starting a new class
Today was the first session of a new 8-week class I am taking at Art & Ideas. It is a relief printmaking class and I am already in love with it. Our teacher is Shaqe Kalaj, the gallery's Artist in Residence. She is charming and patient and creative and I love her work.



Shaqe Kalaj in the studio/classroom area of Art and Ideas with some of her work behind her.














Tonight we had a brief introduction to printmaking and learned about various printing techniques and terms and saw examples of many of them. We were given the embellished sketchbook of our choice for drawing and sketching during the course and also a thin Sharpie marker and a Speedball carving tool with multiple blades.






the notebook I chose







We explored shape, line and texture and used these to experiment with the carving tool on a piece of soft-cut gray material. First we made marks with the different blades to get a feel for what each one did and how the material cuts. Then we were shown how to ink the carving and made our first print with the block.


my first print of the night -- exploring the blades and carving material










Next, using the same block we had just experimented on, we cut away most of the surface with more random, free-form lines and shapes to create texture. Then we made a print from that surface.






my second print -- from the same side of the carving material, but with more surface cut away






Next we turned the carving material over and used the other side. We chose a shape and experimented with variations on it...size, placement, using the different blades. Then we made two prints of that block. We discussed our prints and Shaqe talked about some of her carvings that are there in the studio. She shared some of her experiences with printmaking and how she does things.






my side two and the two prints I pulled







Next we turned to our sketchbooks and Sharpies. (I tensed up...you know I don't draw very much.) We were instructed to use the word "Wild" and show: Shape, Line, Direction and Texture. Shaqe wanted us all to do the exercise together. We were to just make "Wild" marks on the page. (I need to learn how to relax and let go of my death grip on my pen and not over think things...stop being such a Capricorn...LOL) By the end of the class I started to understand what this part is about. By doodling and just making random marks on the page you can start to see images and shapes in there that can be pulled out and used for carving and printmaking. (Oh...now I get it)







my sketchbook page -- now that I am home I am beginning to see some shapes in there...and by playing with it more and darkening lines and filling in spaces I will be able to bring out a couple of ideas -- it is starting to "click"








I think I am really going to enjoy this class and I am already starting to get more out of it than I realized...things that will help in other areas of my art. I really appreciate how willing Shaqe is to share her own process and experiences. I love that some of her art is there in the studio so she can actually show you what she is talking about and you can relate to it because you see and hear the artist walking you through a section of the piece. (This helped me immensely to understand the concept of doodling and finding shapes/images in the doodle -- when I TRY to draw the imaginary creatures in my head they don't really transfer to the paper. If I just let go and do it intuitively -- like I have been doing with the plaster cloth...let my "self" take over for a few minutes -- things will come together.)

Shaqe is a wonderful teacher...and three hours felt like about 15 minutes...I can't wait for the next session!