Happy New Year

Back to work after returning from Christmas in Cincinnati, I printed the 3rd color on my 10 x 10 print.  I carved a small piece of gomuban with the shape I wrongly cut away and have reserved the ink I mixed of that color.  But after 5 colors now, I am waiting to see if I really need to use it.  Here is the 3rd color pass.  You will note that I am not printing the whole area of the print.  This is a change for me...I am trying to think more about putting the color where it is needed and not building up too many layers.  Too many make for shiny areas.

Color 4 is the first of three colors for the pool.  I forgot to add cobalt drier to the ink and hoped it would be dry enough to print today.  A color-a-day is the goal since I have returned.

I am printing on Rives BFK and a kozo paper.  The Rives version is turning out clearer, the ink spreads out smoothly.  With the kozo there is more of the underneath color showing through.  I haven't adjusted to the rougher surface but I kind of like the differences.

Color 5 covered up the brightness of Color 3 pretty well.  Certainly enough for what will come next.  I had another brain fart carving away this one and had to glue back a piece.  I will learn tomorrow whether that worked or not.  See if you can spot my error!  It will show (or not) after either Color 6 or 7.  When I look at the print at this stage, I am tempted to leave it this abstract.  But I can't do it.  There is something in me that can't wait to see what it will look like after the next color...and the next.  But this stage inspires me to think more abstractly and to really try to do fewer colors.

Ten By Ten

I have finally started a new reduction relief print. The new print will be 11 colors.  I tried to get it down to 10 but felt I needed that one more color. I am one of those printmakers who decide it all in advance and do all my color separations on paper before I begin cutting.  The project is to be a commemorative piece to honor the 10 year anniversary of the Arizona Print Group.  The print dimensions are to be 10 x 10 inches in an edition of 3.  Two will be assembled into books for showing potential galleries the type and quality of our work.  One will be used for exhibition purposes.  My plan is to make two small editions from the same plates, varying perhaps the color of the swimsuit...?  I am printing one set on kozo and one set on Rives BFK.  The image here on kozo will be a bleed print and not for the book.

The second color went down yesterday.  Here it is shown on Rives.  My lighting was terrible and my battery almost dead so the color isn't great on these.  The kozo is a bright white paper and the colors are actually brighter and different than the ones on the creamier Rives.  It looks the opposite in the photos but that's just my bad lighting.  

This project is due January 10th and I am going away for a week.  Then I will be having a very special house guest January 5th so I am running out of time...and in my hurry I cut away an essential part of the face.  I have to admit I have never made such a bad mistake.  I have a couple options in mind to salvage my print but in the meantime I have let it go for now.  Breathe deep and enjoy Christmas.  I am confidant I will save it in the end and I will share with you how it goes.

Thank you for following my blogposts and commenting as you have.  It is another layer of support and nurturing of artists to artists that is inspiring and fun and loving.  

Happy holidays to you and safe travels.

Last Night at Five15 Arts Gallery

The five new members of the Five15 Arts Gallery have a group show exhibiting this month.  We are Brendan Ore, Marc Marlowe, Marlys Kubicek, Sarah O'Donoghue and myself.  Last night was the Third Friday Reception and the turnout was great.  It is wonderful seeing our friends and collectors come by to see what's new and support our new venture in this cooperative gallery.  It was also fun meeting Sarah O'Donoghue who drove up from Tucson last night.  She's our newest member and will be showing her work exclusively in December.  It was also nice to hang with Brendan and get to know him a little better.  He drove in from Yuma for the evening. 

Mike O'Connor and Catherine Ruane

Marlys Kubicek, Doug Kirkman, Sarah Kriehn, Rosalie Kirkman

I will at the gallery from 1:00 to 5:00 today, if you want to stop by or hang out for awhile.  It's a beautiful day for art viewing!

Brendan Ore and parents

Sarah O'Donoghue and Matt

Exhibitions Coming and Going

JOHN ARMSTRONG

John Armstrong's Monoprints 

Yesterday, Marlys and I attended the opening reception for John Armstrong's exhibition at the Peoria City Hall Art Gallery.  It was wonderful to see his prints on display and listen to him talk about his process and techniques.  Printmakers do share all their secrets!  If you have a chance to go, it is tricky to find - the gallery is IN City Hall.  Here is a link to the Gallery.  The work will be up until October 26th.

KATHRYN AND ANDY POLK

Kathryn Polk

This afternoon Marlys and I are driving to Tucson and back for the opening of Kathryn and Andy Polk's exhibition at the Davis Dominguez Gallery.   Andy's paintings look amazing on the gallery website and I can't wait to see them in person.  There is no substitute for seeing art in person.  Kathryn's lithos and drawings are also on display.  Her work is so full of humor and thought.  I can always relate to her point of view and admire her commitment to lithography.

ARIZONA BILL 1070 PRINT EXCHANGE
The 1070 Print Exchange in which I participated has been accepted into the The Border Project:  Soundscapes, Landscapes and Lifescapes Exhibit.  The prints will be on display at the University of Arizona Art Museum from November 17, 2011 to March 11, 2012.
The exhibit will be held in conjunction with the University of Arizona Border Research Group Symposium, December 2-3, 2011.  Both events focus on the relations among arts, culture, politics and history in the US/Mexico borderlands.

Rossitza Todorova's SB 1070 print

Rossitza Todorova is the curator of the print exchange.  She started the project when she was living in Reno, NV and now is getting her masters in drawing from ASU.  Marlys Kubicek and Kathryn and Andy Polk also have prints in the print exchange.  You can see all the images here on Facebook.  But remember there is no substitute for seeing them in person!

ARIZONA PRINT GROUP AT OLNEY GALLERY
The Arizona Print Group exhibition "Trinity" opens Friday at the Trinity Cathedral Olney Gallery, at Central in Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix.  There will be two receptions - this Friday and Third Friday 6-9pm.  Stop by either one to say hello and see some wonderful and diverse examples of contemporary printmaking!

Solarplate Workshop Deli June 20-25 2011 and Open Studio in July/Aug

"I've Got You"

THE SOLARPLATE WORKSHOP DELI AT BILANCIA

This is a reminder that there is still space available for the Solarplate Workshop Deli at my studio, Bilancia, in Phoenix. Class size is small and there will be lots to learn in a friendly and encouraging environment. Come for a day or two or five...From $100-400. I refer you to a detailed blogpost from March here with more details about the workshop. Please be aware I have changed the order of menu items, reversing working from a drawing to Monday and from photos on Tuesday.

Contact me at wendy.willis.art@gmail.com to reserve your space soon.

Takach Press

OPEN STUDIO THIS SUMMER

With Marlys away for 7-8 weeks, I am offering open studio time for those of you who need access to a press. From $25-40 for 4 hours, depending on how much assistance you will need, plus materials for the following dates:

 

FRIDAY July 8th

SATURDAY July 9th

SUNDAY July 10^th
MONDAY July 11th

 

FRIDAY July 15th

SATURDAY July 16th

SUNDAY July 17^th

MONDAY July 18th

 

FRIDAY July 22nd

SATURDAY July 23rd

SUNDAY July 24th

MONDAY July 25^th

FRIDAY August 12th

SATURDAY August 13th

SUNDAY August 14^th

MONDAY August 15th

Availability may change.  Contact me to schedule a session at wendy.willis.art@gmail.com.

Tres Hombres

It was First Friday this evening in Phoenix.  Having missed several previous exhibitions, I wanted to pay my respects to three guys who had openings tonight:  Manny Burruel, Gennaro Garcia and Joe Ray.  First stop was the Phoenix Center for the Arts for the ARTE LATINO EN LA CIUDAD show.   Manny had 4 pieces in the show, our favorite being this one:

Manny Burruel's Mixed Media Monotype

Manny and his wife Janet were at the opening.  Nicest. People. Ever.  I love his art (and their witty repartee on Facebook).  It looked like a nice turnout there as we headed onward.

Next up was

Me, Gennaro, beautiful mer-angel

Joe Ray

De Norte a Sur/From North to South, with collaborative works by Gennaro and Joe.  It was nice to see actual collaborations, rather than just the work of the two artists.  I know Joe Ray has been around for a long time but I just met him last year.  He's open and friendly and real.  Gennaro too is a recent acquaintance.  But you can't find a happier nor busier man.  A new baby and 7 galleries to feed!  Yikes.  My favorite pieces are shown here.   The room was filled with colorful saints and mermaids,  images from your sweetest dreams...by two of the most dapper and dashing men about town.

Top half of huge canvas collaboration.

Esther's Taiko Group

 My companion this evening was Diana Hartley.  We stopped by the Olney Gallery where the Waddells were showing his and her artworks and then we headed to East Roosevelt.  Getting out of the car I heard the tantalizing sound of taiko drums and saw this group hanging on the street corner.   I recognized Esther, the leader of the this motley crew.  I took taiko drumming from her in the 90's.  What fun it was!  I never had the nerve to perform but I loved playing.

On 7th Street, between Butler and Dunlap

We had dinner at Winsor, the new restaurant by the owner of Postino's.  Really good food, across from Postino's on Central.  As I headed home I was dazzled by the lights of a little neighborhood carnival.  Four or five rides, perhaps a fun house and for sure cotton candy.  I put my new Canon S95 camera to use and shot these pics with no flash on the low light setting.  I'm liking this little camera.  It is as simple as you want but capable of doing lots more than just point and shoot.

CATCHING UP

Jo Andersen, Marika Szabo and Marlys

Joe Marshall touching up his relief plate

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY?
It has been too long since I have posted!
MK and I have been spending lots of time on the Southern Graphics Council conference project we are curating for the Arizona Print Group.  Dan Welden donated solarplates to our 26 members last year to do a group project.  We envisioned all now 30 members' prints collaged together in one long print joined by a common theme and a horizontal line running through each print (at varying orientations).  The theme we chose was Reality/Distortion to fit in with the conference theme of Equilibrium.  We submitted the proposal to SGC and were accepted as one of 11 exchanges which will be on view during the conference March 16-19 2011 in St Louis.  Since many of the print group members had little to no experience with solarplates we have been having some really fun studio sessions helping them achieve their visions.  We had two sessions in Tucson hosted by the generous and talented Jo Andersen and have had several sessions at our studio, Bilancia.  It has cemented the vision Marlys and I have of a working print studio with collaborations and teaching...sigh.  Happy sigh!

THANKSGIVING IN BISBEE

Copper Queen Hotel

Heather Green

We also got out of town for a quickie trip to Tucson and Bisbee for Thanksgiving, staying at La Paloma and the Copper Queen.  We had the wonderful CQ Thanksgiving dinner - what a treat!  Delicious and so reasonably priced.  The day after Thanksgiving, we stopped in on Heather Green in her new studio/gallery and hit many of the great little shops on Main Street.  I learned a lot about turquoise from the jewelers there and regret there isn't any being mined any longer.  I had never been to Bisbee before but hope to return for what might be a new Tradition every November. 

MESA CONTEMPORARY ARTS NEW 2011 CALENDAR AND CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Two new exhibitions opened Friday night, coinciding with the unveiling of the new fundraising calendar.  Each calendar has 12 original prints and sells for $200.  29 artists participated, including me (see earlier post here.)  It's really easy way to start art collecting.  And the work is quite good. 

"Grand Tour" by Corinne Geertsen

MK and I really loved the new exhibitions - "Nice Words", with Utah artist Brian Kershisnik - great paintings that were easy to look at but then you discover little surprises and bits of humor...and an exhibition of digitally manipulated photos by Arizona artist, Corinne Geertsen.  Some of her photographs made me laugh out loud; some were just beautiful.  Great transfixing of old family photos in wondrous new settings. 

Your Days Are Numbered Print Exchange

I finished my print today, for the Your Days Are Numbered print exchange.  Todd Christensen of New Mexico Highlands University is the organizer.  I met Todd at the Southern Graphics Council conference in Chicago two Marches ago.  I had been in another print exchange with him organized by Melanie Yazzie, so I recognized his name when I saw him there.  I am curious to see who else is in this exchange but look forward to seeing the work by the other artists whoever they are.  The size is 10" x 22" and this print is titled "Heart Broken."

I printed a few extra from the first color pull in a greener version, to play around with later.  I wanted to experiment with different color variations to see how to get the figure to pop out.  But I am happy with this two color version.  It took me awhile to carve the (golden cut) linoleum after having used Gomuban for my last 4 reduction prints.  But the Gomuban didn't come in a size large enough to accommodate the 22" image requirement.  Gomuban is the name of the product at McClain's.  The same product is available at Graphic Chemical but they call it Blue Vinyl.   I asked Dean Clark if he could get it in a larger size and he said he would check on his next trip to Japan (where this product originates).

My next two projects are exchanges due in January.  Both will utiltize solarplates.  So I will be switching hats, after a few days of play with the remaining relief prints.

"Summer Sprite"

"Summer Sprite"

I finished my print for the Mesa Contemporary Arts  2011 Print Calendar project.  It is a two-color reduction linocut.  Forty-eight artists are invited to create 50 prints and the calendar (with 12 original prints!) will sell for $200.  Such a bargain, my friends.  The calendars will be available at the MCA reception Friday December 10th from 6 to 8 pm and thereafter.  Save your pennies, they will make wonderful gifts! 

BILANCIA Reception

We celebrated our new studio venture with old and new friends last night.  Some guests have seen each other so often at Marlys' parties over the years, that they feel like friends outside of the party circuit.  I love it. 
 The conversion of Ed Knochel's house (Marlys' Dad) to this studio space took a long time.  After Ed's passing, Marlys worked hard to find homes for the family treasures, to salvage the useable stuff and find worthy recipients and to let go of the rest.  It was an emotional journey for her and for those who knew him; it was amazing to see the transformation of his home into a working and thriving art studio.  You will often hear us saying "Thank you, Ed/Dad" at any given moment.  He would be so happy to see his house being used and loved.

We actually have been working in the space for a couple months.  It feels good.  Lots of room, lots of light.  Lots of storage.  It is great to print alone and it is great to print together.  We collaborate well, discussing our ideas and processes.  We learn from each other, we admire each other's strengths and we realize how much we balance each other out.  That's why we decided to name our new collaboration Bilancia, which is vulgar Latin for balance.
We intend to have art soirees during the year, showcasing our new work and the prints from one of the print exchanges in which we participated.  This time we are showing "Passport Required" the print exchange of Arizona Print Group members.
Thanks to everyone who came by to share our excitement and the beginning of the Bilancia journey.  Thanks too, to Diana Hartley for hanging most of the art you see on the walls and to Fay Willis for her food and beverage assistance.  Photos from the party can be seen here on my flickr site.

Saturday Reduction Linocut Classes

Saturday Morning REDUCTION LINOCUT

I will be teaching a 6 week reduction linocut workshop at the Phoenix Center for the Arts beginning Saturday, October 2nd from 9 am to noon.  Registration is open now until the end of August.  Learn how to make the complicated simple as you print 4 colors from one plate. 

Monday Night SOLARPLATE ETCHING
Beginning Monday, October 4th I will be teaching a 6 week solarplate etching workshop from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. Beginners are welcome or come brush up on the process if you've been working in other media. 

The Phoenix Center is located at 1202 N. 3rd St, Phoenix AZ 85004.   Register online or call 602 262-4627.  Classes are limited to 7 students.


NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY FIFTH BIENNIAL PRINT EXHIBITION
I had a print juried in to the NAU Biennial this year.  The exhibition is in the NAU Art Museum in Old Main, a great old building and wonderful place to see some fabulous printmaking.  The exhibition opens August 24th and goes until September 25th.  They are having a reception on Thursday, September 2nd from 5 to 7 pm and I will be there.  I can't wait to see the other work in this show.  And I am happy to be escaping the heat of Phoenix for a couple days!

Last Supper/Color6/SB1070

We said goodbye to our Chinese kids this morning at the airport.  Marlys' older girl kept turning around and waving goodbye as their leader took them away.  Everyone was exhausted after swimming last night and their favorite dinner - Cincinnati Chili!  I grew up on Skyline Chili and buy the packets of seasoning mix to indulge my chili addiction.  Who knew the kids would like it over all the other meals they enjoyed?  But 3 out of 4 had second helpings. 

After we dropped them off at 7:45am I went home and took a two hour nap then went back to the studio to print my 6th color on my current reduction linocut.  The little fish is starting to come out more and more.  Two or three more colors.  I was happy to learn my deadline in Reno has been extended two weeks.  I now feel the luxury of time and in our new expanded studio space, life is good!

ANOTHER SB1070 ARTIST RECEPTION
Marlys and Joan Thompson and I are going to the next "SB1070 - An Artist's Point of View" exhibition reception tomorrow night at the Arizona Latino Arts and Culture Center.  After all the events of today, it should get a big turnout.  It is from 6 to 9 pm at 147 E. Adams in downtown Phoenix.  Come by and check out our art.

New Lino/Student Exchange

A week ago, I started a reduction linocut.  It is one I will share with my students from my workshop at Oxbow Press in Reno, and with my current class at the Phoenix Center.  The first three colors were printed with etching ink which I had at our studio.  My relief inks were locked up at the Phoenix Center and I didn't have access to them.  When I was able to use my relief inks, I noticed that they were much easier to use, more creamy and easy to rollout evenly.  (I have Daniel Smith oil based inks.)  I am also now using a little bit of Miracle Gel, also a Daniel Smith product, to help release the ink from the plate.  I am still happy with the Gomuban plates (from IMcClain's).  I wish they came in large sizes. 
With our visitors from China I haven't had much time to blog so here are images of the first 5 colors.  You will see a little fish emerging from the kelp.  I hope to print 3 more colors and get the Reno prints mailed off in time for the exchange party. 

 

Foreign Exchange

We have been hosting two Chinese boys (15 and 16) in our home the past week.  Marlys has been hosting two girls (14 and 16).  We have spent all of our evenings together with the kids, feeding them American food and playing Chinese card games after dinner.  They love our food, barbecue chicken and pot roast, ice cream, scrambled eggs with ham cut up in it... They are happy kids from 4 different cities in China who didn't know each other before this trip.  One of the girls speaks English very well, and the boys not so much. But the more we are together the more comfortable they feel trying to speak.  The boys have loved swimming and playing basketball.  The girls loved swimming and shopping.  Saturday we took them to our studio and introduced them to linocut.  They loved the skeleton prints of Artemio Rodriguez, so they used parts of his images learn the printmaking process.  They were engaged and encouraging to each other.  And they were proud of their accomplishments. 

Saturday night we took them to the exhibition opening at the Arizona Latino Arts and Culture Center "SB1070 - An Artist's Point of View".  We tried to explain the new law and why people were upset about it.  They took it all in but preferred to hang out at the US Airways Center where the Suns play.  Marlys said, you never know what they will remember from this trip, 20 years from now.  It has been wonderful having them here and getting to know them.