A Productive Stretch

Finally, after a long drought, some new work! The first print is the second run of Textures of Life#2 and the two leaf prints are monotypes. I also have four more leaf monotypes measuring in at 20" x 16" which will frame up nicely in a 27" x 24" frame.

Firstly, I had a lot of ink still on my glass-topped work surface left over from my last printing session which is at least 3 weeks ago! That's the beauty of the Hawthorn inks that I am using from York, U.K. - they are 'open' inks and don't dry up or skin over! Every day I intended to do some more printing but 'life' got in the way or, if I did get the time, I wasn't in the mood. Today, with a drop of linseed oil mixed in, my inks were perfect and I got my second run on plate #2 of a two-plate set done. I think I like it, but won't really know if it is a good one until it is dry and I look at it again matted up and in another room.

My foray into the monotype process took place at a friend's beautiful and spacious studio last week. We worked on gelatin plates with leaves and flowers from her garden using Speedball inks and rollers. It was a lot of fun and a fast process as well. After about 4 hours of fast-paced playing around I came away with quite a large pile of prints on Stonehenge printmaking paper as well as rice paper. As a result, I found two small ones that will frame up to 17" x 12" and four larger ones that will frame up to 27" x 24". I think they will all end up as mixed media with some additional colour added with liquid acrylic paint and some collage elements as well.

Tomorrow I am off to Pakenham and Perth to deliver new paintings to both the Three Yellow Tulips Art Shoppe and the Tay River Gallery. The weather promises to be sunny so I will bring my camera as well in hopes of catching a few interesting fall photos.

My inking table is all cleaned up and polished and ready for some more action. A few new plates have to be constructed first so that is the next project. I will try and be more productive and post again soon.

Another Day and a 'Definitely Maybe'

Well, the day was not entirely wasted. I managed to do a lot of organizing and paperwork, take care of phone calls and follow-ups, order frames, organize pick-ups and deliveries of old and new work to various locations, get some new plates cut and ready to start and touch up a print that was not quite 'there' - not quite sure if it is ready yet. Tomorrow looks clear to get some work done with no major interruptions. Now to comb the burrs out of the dog (for the third time today) and find something for dinner.

New Blog Name

I have decided that my blog needed a more relevant name - From Here to There (And Back Again) only has meaning to me personally. In attempting to sign up with Feedburner I took their advice on having a name that actually relates more to the content of the blog - it's a bit boring but all I could come up with today.

We have been inundated with skunks and racoons in the last few weeks digging up the lawn while searching for tasty grubs. My dog has been sprayed and I have been busy putting sod back in place almost every day. The installation of an underground sprinkler system, a new furnace, repairs to a deck, building of a BBQ shed has meant many extra people hovering around each day which does nothing to spark my creativity, hence, no new prints, which really ticks me off!

I am going to try, once again, today to run at least one, if I can get a few hours to myself. It's duct cleaning day - more workmen in the house. I'm getting very anxious! Please, please, please let me get in "the zone"! I should have called this entry "Crabby, Anxious Artist"!