Christmas Eve at Contemporary Arts Center

MARILYN MINTER
 My sister, Nancy, my husband and I carved out a quick visit to the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati this morning.  I most enjoyed the paintings, photographs and video of Marilyn Minter in her "Chewing Color" exhibition.  The paintings of enamel on metal were large and had amazing detail, greats colors - my favorite was the extreme closeup of a woman blowing a bubble gum bubble.  We also saw an exhibition called "Purchase Not By Moonlight" by Albanian artist Anri Sala.  He had one film in which he was drumming while a woman tried to get him to "Answer Me!"  The rhythm was catching and real drumsticks on real drums would vibrate nearby.  Very interesting. 


FOUNTAIN SQUARE

After cruising the gift shop we stopped by the ice rink on Fountain Square to watch the daredevil kids and the awkward adults.  We passed the horse drawn carriages in front of the hotel all lined up in their finery.

It is midnight here in Cincinnati.  Merry Christmas, World!  Peace on Earth.

Close Call in Sunny Phoenix

CHUCK CLOSE EXHIBITION COMING TO SMOCA IN FEBRUARY
 Saw this link on Facebook from the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art:
http://www.smoca.org/exhibit.php?id=193
Alert all the printmakers you know to put it on their calendars!  118 works!  This should be wonderful! 

ANOTHER GALLERY 3RD SATURDAY

Beautiful weather today and sunny inside the gallery too as several friends dropped by who missed our opening weekend.   It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.  Kimberly, Mark and I had some new work to show and Larry brought in two of Greg West's paintings for display.  We appreciate all your support and hope you will come back to see what's new on a regular basis.    Tell your friends.  Another Gallery is a special place and small businesses are precious resources to be nurtured and encouraged.  So thank you again - see you next YEAR!

Monotypes and AKUA Ink

PLAY TIME

For some reason this year I found myself with all my Christmas presents wrapped and mailed off two weeks early.  This gave me 4 unexpected days to play with monotypes in the studio.

After the controlled process of reduction linocut, it felt freeing to break out the ink and brushes and plexi plates.  I had done a little 4" x 4" monotype a couple years ago of a friend's little boy (with oil based ink) and it just made everyone smile.  So in that small format I printed a half dozen experiments using AKUA Intaglio and AKUA Color inks.

 I like how the ink doesn't dry on your palette from day to day.  Like magic, it dries when applied to the correct paper, in my case, Arches 88.   But seeing the images here, the colors just aren't as bright.  My techniques are not the same and I applied too much ink to both of the new ones, but I am learning. 

STOP BY ANOTHER GALLERY

If you would like to see these 7 new prints up close and personal, stop by Another Gallery tomorrow (Saturday) from 10 to 5.  I will be happy to explain the process further if you are interested.  The address in Phoenix is 3806 N. Third Street.  There is plenty of parking and refreshments will be served!

2010 Whitney Biennial

The artists were announced for the Whitney Biennial.  Here's a link to the Art Forum article with a list of names. http://www.artforum.com/news/#news24390
I didn't recognize any of the names but my hope is there are multiple printmakers on the list.  Do you know of any?

Grand Opening Part II

SATURDAY
The crowd estimate from last night was over 200 people.  Today was a good deal quieter, which allowed us to spend more time talking with those who came.  Representing the artists,  Kimberly Harris and I were there most of the day and Mark McDowell stopped in for awhile too.   Kimberly spent some time back in the studio working with clay which ended up on its way to being a beautiful ceramic dish.


 
The space still looks great in the light of day and we all enjoyed the glow of positive comments and great conversations over the two day event.  Larry Forsythe (in photo with me) and Lesa Mahoney (in photo with my husband, Steve) were wonderful hosts and should be very proud of themselves for what they have accomplished with Another Gallery.  I am thrilled to be one of their artists.  

Thank you, again, to all who came.  We are available by appointment on days when the gallery isn't open so you don't have to wait until the 3rd Saturday to get that piece you can't get out of your mind.   I hope to put more photos up on my Flickr site tomorrow so to see the who's who in gallery attendance, check it out!  http://www.flickr.com/photos/wswillisart/

The Grand Opening

FRIDAY NIGHT
 Larry and Lesa sure know how to throw an Opening Night party!  The gallery looked fabulous.  I had taken my work in three weeks ago and hadn't really seen the other artists' work.  So it was great to see the place all decked out and full of art!  It was also nice to meet the other artists.  Larry, the gallery owner, has lined up 3 established and 3 emerging artists.

I am in the latter group.   I changed out 4 prints at 4:30 this afternoon so that I could show my last 4 reduction linocuts.  I am displaying the 7 pieces shown here and two others.  Unframed prints are available of the reduction linocuts shown framed.

SCOTT STOVALL

Really nice guy and intriquing images on glass.  Lots of people were asking him questions.  If you too want to learn more about his process, come on by Saturday.

KIMBERLY HARRIS

A guy commented to me that if he had one of her sculptures at home, it would make him smile everyday.  Isn't it wonderful when someone connects to art this way?  I had never met Kimberly before but learned tonight we had friends in common.  The world gets smaller everyday.  Here is photo of her works on paper.



MICHAEL ANDERSON, GREG WEST 
and MARK MCDOWELL

The established artists were all in attendance tonight.  Steve especially loved Michael's sculptures.  I enjoyed Mark talk about how much he loves printmaking even though he paints most often.  He had a couple of etchings there tonight.  I hope he always offers some of his prints.  Us printmakers have to stick together!  I wish Greg West had paintings to offer at the gallery because they are so beautiful.  It seems though that his giclees are what can be seen here.

In this photo you see a Greg West giclee with a Kimberly Harris sculpture on the pedestal in front of it.  The other work is by Mark McDowell.

I want to thank my friends and collectors who stopped by tonight.  It was a special night for me and I appreciate your support and encouragement.

I will be there tomorrow, Saturday Dec 5th from 10 am to 6 pm.   I hope those who didn't make it tonight will stop in.  There is plenty of parking and food and beverages will be provided.

Grand Opening Friday and Saturday!

NEW ART GALLERY
It is finally here!  This Friday and Saturday ANOTHER GALLERY celebrates its Grand Opening.  Doors open at 5 pm Friday, till 9 pm and Saturday morning at 10 am to 6 pm.  I hope to see you there!

ANOTHER GALLERY

3806 N. 3RD STREET

PHOENIX, AZ

THE FEMINIST EVOLUTION

Is progress really being made?  I found this link on a tweet from Jerry's Artarama.  It is an article by Phoebe Hoban for ArtNews Magazine about museums in New York, Paris and LA acquiring/exhibiting the work of female artists.

http://www.artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2800. 

QUIET THANKSGIVING

Steve and I spent a quiet Thanksgiving at home.  It is nice not to have to travel nor deal preparation for such a huge meal.  We had a lovely dinner at the Pointe in Time just down the street.  Then we cuddled with the doggies and watched The Proposal (with Sandra Bullock). 

The doggies have taken to sharing a precarious perch on top of a plastic file tub where they can see out the window and be the closest to me without sitting on my desk.  I think they are part cat.  They are on top of my What I Am Thankful For List.  With second being my sister spending Thanksgiving with Dad in Cincinnati; followed by finishing the two linocuts and getting Looker off to Reno before the deadline. Just to name a few. 

Final Color for 2 Reduction Linocuts

UNDER THE RADAR

It was finished this past week.  The final color is exactly what I wanted, a redish purple with some black in it.  (Photos are never as good as seeing it in person.)  It was achieved by printing alizaron crimson over the blue of the water.  It is nice to learn how layering inks affect the outcome.  You never know until you actually print it and with this one I was very happy with the results.  I want to thank Susan Marquez and her daughter Lily for being my muses for this print. 

LOOKER

What a challenge this print turned out to be.  On Wednesday I etched a 12 x 18 photopolymer plate (Solarplate) with 3 rows of the windows I wanted to collage above the linocut as my final image.  I also experimented with what color to do as my final color and the color of the windows.
 
Thursday I printed the etching 9 times.  And yesterday, for 8 hours Diana Hartley assisted me in collaging and printing the final step.  Diana tore down the individual rows and applied 3M spray adhesive to the backs while I inked the plate to print.


This project, the Naughty, Taboo, Just Plain Wrong print exchange, was a lesson in letting go of perfection.  In the end I love my print and am proud of how it turned out.  HUGE thanks to Diana for her amiable assistance throughout.

I've named the print, Looker,  meant to reflect not just the beauty of the swimmer but also about how your view of nudity can depend on where you stand, through which window you see it.

Reduction Lino Color 4

UNDER THE RADAR

I loved the reveal of this color.  It really puts them in the water, suspended.  I printed this on Thursday and plan to finish it with the final color tomorrow.  When I started I thought it would be 6 colors but have since determined 5 will do. 



NAUGHTY, TABOO...

Today I printed Color 4 on NTJPW.  As easy as UTR was Thursday,  this one was difficult.  I couldn't seem to do anything right and I couldn't figure out why my mistakes happened.  I finally let go of the need to be perfect.  It is what it is and for most people, it's pretty darn good.  I like that I am still learning these lessons.  I want to do even larger linocuts and see that I will have my work cut out for me.  One more color and collage element and done... next week!

Reduction Lino Color 3

I finished color 3 on the Under the Radar print Monday.  I think you catch the drift of the image now.  This print will always remind me of that summer day spent in the pool with Susan and Lilly.  I was very interested in the mother/daughter dynamic and hoped for images that demonstrated that connection.  I got lots of material and had so much fun just being in the water with those two.  Two more colors to go.

Tonight I finished color 3 on the Naughty, Taboo, Just Plain Wrong print.  The concept for this print took me a long time to develop.  I loved the subject of the Print Exchange.  Maybe that was why it took me so long to decide on my image.  I have two more colors to print and a solarplate to etch, print and collage onto this print.  And it needs to be in Reno by December 1st.  I have two fans on the prints now, hoping they will dry in 3 days.  Cross your fingers for me.  I haven't missed a deadline yet.  But I'm cutting it close with this one.

Reduction Lino Print Color 2

I printed the second color of UTR before I left for Flagstaff. There is one more skin color, which is next. It will be dark and then lighter on color 4 - counter-intuitive but I am interested to see how it works.

I didn't get the second color of Naughty, Taboo printed until

today. I am printing 30 for an edition of 20. I goofed already on the first two today. Totally forgot what I was doing and didn't tape off the top for the etching. After that I kind of got my groove going.

Day Two in Flagstaff

Before the first serious snow fall, Flagstaff showed us two lovely fall days, blue skies, and - media attention!?! Over Leroux Burgers at Charley's we discovered my monotype "Antidote" full paged in Flagstaff Live, the local paper's weekly entertainment guide! (One of Marlys' prints was pictured on the next page.) Nice!

After hanging the rest of the show Friday morning, Marlys and I met Julie Williams at the NAU Art Museum where we took in Joe Segura's "Right to Print" exhibition of fabulous prints from his studio's collection.

We then met with George Speer, the Museum Director, to present him with an edition of the Arizona Print Group "Passport Required"Print Exchange which contains a print by each of the group's 25 members. George was charming and animated with wonderful plans for the development and improvement of the Art Museum.

After our meeting, Marlys and I got to hang with our two favorite Flagstaff printmakers Julie and her husband David Williams (NAU professor of printmaking) before heading off for our First Friday opening. Special thanks to David for his assistance in getting the Print Exchange accepted by NAU. It was also great meeting their puppy, June. She is darling and already better mannered than my two.


Reception at Wil McNabb Jewelry Studio

Wil McNabb and Sue Alpern are extraordinary jewelry designers, repairers and retailers and the best hosts for artists each month. They throw a lovely reception on First Fridays. Marlys and I enjoyed the warmth of their friends, customers, residents of Flagstaff and visitors from Phoenix to the Netherlands. Thank you Wil and Sue for another fun opening and giving our art such a lovely place to hang for a month!

Flagstaff Reception Friday Nov 6th

"SKINNY DIPPING"
Wil McNabb Jewelry Studio, 18 N. Leroux Street in Flagstaff is the site of the two-person exhibition of hand-pulled prints by Marlys Kubicek and Wendy Willis. Marlys' hand-colored, photopolymer etchings of nudes are shown with swimmer monotypes and reduction linocuts by Wendy. Artists' reception Friday, 6-9 pm. Prints will be on view throughout November.

We hung most of the show tonight. Sue Alpern is a pro at placing and hanging the work. We celebrated with a great dinner at Mountain Oasis. The leaves up here have turned already but the 60 degree temps feel good after the last surge into the 90s in Phoenix. If anyone is looking for a cool getaway, come on up to Flagstaff and take in a few new works of art!

Grand Opening: Another Gallery

I am very happy to announce that I am joining a brand new gallery in downtown Phoenix! Larry Forsythe and Lesa Mahoney are the proprietors. Opening night will be First Friday in December. Please come by and check out the new digs:

ANOTHER GALLERY
3806 North Third Street Phoenix, AZ

Friday, December 4th from 5 til 9 pm
(wine, beer and appetizers provided) and
Saturday, December 5th from 10 am til 6 pm
(mimosas, bloody marys and pastries provided)

Artists Represented Include:
Michael Anderson
Gregory West
Mark McDowell
Scott Stovall
Kimberly Harris
Wendy Willis

The gallery will be open 3 days a month: First Fridays 5-9 and the First and Third Saturdays 10-6
.

Inspiration and Color 1

INSPIRATION


Inspiration comes from many sources. This week I was inspired by Maria Fernandez, who teaches art to 6th graders. How lucky those kids are! She shared the 3 color reduction linocuts (easy cut) her class completed. Each student had one 3" x 3" piece of linoleum and printed it 4 times to get the kaleidoscope effect. They had to print their 3 colors from the same piece of lino on colored paper, which shows as a 4th color. They pulled editions of 3, one for the teacher and 2 for them. She said they love printmaking!

PRINTED COLOR 1

I am happy to be back in the studio and finally printing the two prints I mentioned last post. The little one, whose title may be Under the Radar (UTR) will be 10 x 8 inches. I am printing from a 12 x 9 inch piece of linoleum which allows bleed prints more easily (printing all the way to the edges.) The bigger one for the Naughty, Taboo, Just Plain Wrong (NTJPW) print exchange will be 11 x 14 inches and I am working from a 12 x 18 inch piece of lino. The bottom and two sides will be bleed prints and I will collage a solarplate etching on the top 3 inches after the linocut is finished. Taping off the top gives me a nice clean line and keeps it clean for the etching.

So after printing Color 1 on Wednesday and Friday, here is my result. Of course I just noticed that in the photo NTJPW is upside down. It IS correct on the paper. Both prints have swimmer images. The next layer will reveal a little more of the body...

Art Works and Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. I am starting this blog to talk about printmaking, and to share some of the cool sites and stories I find along the way. But primarily I want to share my printmaking journey.

I cruised through Facebook yesterday and found a link from Helen Wilson, a wonderful California artist, to a blogpost about the new head of the NEA. I was so impressed by the article that I have to share it with other artists: http://www.arts.gov/artworks/

It has made me feel hopeful and encouraged so it feels right to begin this blog with this post.

REDUCTION LINOCUTS

I am starting two new reduction linocuts and plan to document my process. This is the exciting part, after the idea is born and worked and reworked, drawn and redrawn...I am ready to cut the linoleum and print the first color. The first piece will have 6 colors and will be 10 x 8 inches.

The second piece is for a print exchange "Naughty, Taboo, Just Plain Wrong" which will have 5 colors in the reduction at 7.5 x 14 inches with a photopolymer etching collaged for an overall 11 x 14 print.


I am new to blogging so I welcome your feedback.