A Monotype Kind of Day

Hurray!  I happily spent an afternoon in the studio playing with monotypes.  I had spent the better part of two days in the studio bouncing from idea to idea, the result of having made a 2010 To Do list.  So much I want to do, so many ideas that need to come forth and work their way through the birthing process.  In reading other artist blogs, I see I am not alone.  Maybe it is the time of year.  Maybe it is the unusual Arizona rain.  So to clear my head, I just played with the AKUA ink and learned more about Transparent Base.  In the first pass of this print to the right, I added the figure in one color, wiped out a little white areas and painted in the trunks and the rolled out the ultramarine blue on the right.  Then I cleaned the plate and rolled out the entire plate with Phthalo blue w/white and lots of transparent base.  I wiped out the light areas on the body and printed it again.  For the third pull, I rolled out ultramarine blue again with transparent base and printed it over the body and the rest of the right side.  I wiped the light and middle tones on the body which created the darkest shade on the figure.  I was really happy with how it turned out.  I've called it "Plunge" and it is 10" x 10."

Dan Welden in Phoenix in March and Path of an Artist Tour to Paris, Bordeaux and Bergerac in June

I would like to recommend two wonderful artist activities for your consideration.  The first is a solarplate workshop in Phoenix with the world reknown Dan Welden.  The second is a unique opportunity to experience some of the most magical and art inspiring locations (and way of life) in France, accompanied by painter/printmaker/teacher Nancy Willis (my sister). 

Introduction to Solarplate March 10 & 11; 9-4:00pm

Honing Your Solarplate Skills March 12, 13 & 14; 9-4:00pm

Preview/Demo Tuesday March 9; 6-8:30 pm

Dan will be conducting two short workshops at Armstrong-Prior Studio in Phoenix.  I will be one of his helpers in both classes, having taken his workshops twice.  Of course, I had to go to Santa Fe for the first one and Napa Valley for the second.  Hard duty, huh?  He's a really nice man and teaches in the most friendly and helpful ways.  Let me know if you are interested in either workshop and I will get you all the info you need to register. 

Path of an Artist Tour to Paris, Bordeaux and Bergerac
June 3rd to June 13th 2010

With Nancy Willis

This intimate tour is designed to open your eyes to the particular nature of French sensations-- the city, the landscape, the light, the food, the wine, and the pace—and refract that experience into your painting/writing/photography.

$3875* Double occupancy        * $600. single supplement
For more information contact nancy@nancywillis.com
or www.pathofanartist.com

Catching Up

WINTER RENEWAL

The New Year is often a time of reflection and I have been enjoying an unhurried look back in trying to decide what goals I want to set for myself this coming year.   I have always been a listmaker but don't always think of a whole year when planning what I want to do.  My painter/printmaker sister and my printmaker/studiomate are both teachers and have been working on what they want to accomplish during the next semester. Talking to them about their plans and ideas has gotten me working on my own life syllabus.  I am excited about some of the projects I plan to work on this year and hope you will enjoy seeing them reveal themselves over time.  For now I am in the hunter/gatherer stage of pulling together bits and pieces that will find their way into my art.  Sometimes it feels like nothing is being accomplished but this part of the process is necessary to the creative effort. 

SATURDAY JANUARY 16TH AT ANOTHER GALLERY

I am staffing the gallery Saturday from 10 to 4.  Kimberly Harris will be by to work some ceramics wonders in the back room.  Stop in see what's new!  Bring a friend.  It's a great space and it has some wonderful works to inspire us all.  I was able to show off the gallery to my sister who was visiting from Napa Valley last week and today to an old friend from Albuquerque.  I would happy to share it with you too!