REGISTRATION is now open!

I am teaching two PRINTMAKING classes this Fall at the Phoenix Center for the Arts:

8 Saturdays

9 AM to 12 PM

September 17 – November 12

$171

WHAT A RELIEF!

Forget linoleum!  Discover new and wonderful relief printmaking surfaces:  Gomuban, Borco Board and Sintra.  They cut easier than traditional lino and each have their charm.  Explore these new materials and expand your mark-making tool box.

6 Mondays

10 AM to 2 PM

September 19 to October 24

$170

BEGINNING SOLARPLATE ETCHING

Turn those photos into artistic masterpieces!  Learn how take a photo you have taken and turn it into a fine art etching.  You will learn the solarplate process and how to put the artist's "hand" into your image. 

Here is a link to register for my classes.

PHOENIX CENTER FOR THE ARTS

1202 N. Third St. Phoenix, AZ 85004

(602) 262-4627

Fall Printmaking Classes at the Phoenix Center for the Arts

REGISTRATION OPENS AUGUST 22^ND 2011

I am teaching two PRINTMAKING classes this Fall at the Phoenix Center for the Arts:

8 Saturdays

9 AM to 12 PM

September 17 – November 12

WHAT A RELIEF!

Forget linoleum!  Discover new and wonderful relief printmaking surfaces:  Gomuban, Borco Board and Sintra.  They cut easier than traditional lino and each have their charm.  Explore these new materials and expand your mark-making tool box.

6 Mondays

10 AM to 2 PM

September 19 to October 24

BEGINNING SOLARPLATE ETCHING

Turn those photos into artistic masterpieces!  Learn how take a photo you have taken and turn it into a fine art etching.  You will learn the solarplate process and how to put the artist's "hand" into your image. 

I haven’t seen the catalog yet but both classes should be under or at $200.  Online registration is not yet available but I will post when it is ready.

PHOENIX CENTER FOR THE ARTS

1202 N. Third St. Phoenix, AZ 85004

(602) 262-4627

Friends Born of the Internet

I was just explaining to my husband how I became friends with Candace Nicol.  We were lucky to spend a couple hours with her yesterday at her studio, Oxboo Press in Reno, NV.  My excuse for visiting was to see the 2.5 x 2.5 Print Exchange Exhibition. 

2.5 x 2.5 Print Exchange Exhibition

I first saw her work on Inkteraction, not so very long after it started.  I loved her prints and wrote comments about them.  She then, checked out my work and liked what she saw too...and an internet relationship was born.  I followed her work and one day Kathryn Polk in Tucson invited me to participate in Candace's project "6 Sides to Every Story" where 6 artists each carved one side of a cube based on a topic from the news. (100 cubes were sent out.)  I was thrilled to be "playing with the big kids" even though I hadn't done a woodcut in 30 years.

Candace Nicol, 6 Sides to Every Story in background

Then I was invited by Candace to participate in a print exchange - "Naughty, Taboo, Just Plain Wrong" - the title alone reflects on joy and fun she often puts into her printmaking practice.   She was going to exhibit the print exchange during Nada Dada Motel (where downtown motel rooms are turned into gallery spaces for a weekend) - and I decided I wanted to see it!  She invited me to teach a 2 day linocut workshop and again I said yes.   I finally met her face to face!  I had never taught before but have many times since.  So she has inspired me to grow just by inviting me to participate in stuff.
Yesterday we plotted a plan to bring her to Phoenix (it will be her first time!) and I am looking forward to sharing some AZ print time and hospitality with her.

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.

Weeklong Solarplate Workshop Deli at Bilancia, June 20-25 2011

I have finally worked out the details for the weeklong Solarplate workshop that has been percolating for over a year.  It is set up to focus on a particular topic per day so that all attendees can concentrate without distraction.  I believe all will learn from each other as we pursue each topic.  Since it is at our home studio, Bilancia, we can only take 8 participants, so it will be an intimate community of printmakers.  My favorite people!  I am calling the event a workshop deli - here is a sample of what will be served:

Select the parts and pieces that interest you to make a 1 to 5 day sandwich of delicious solarplate activities.  Each day will concentrate on a specific topic to achieve successful solarplate prints.  Whether working from a light box or exposing in the sun, you will be given the ingredients to creating a great print.

SUNDAY – OVERVIEW/DEMO  2-4:30pm

This is a preview day, mandatory for the newcomer or old-timer who needs to see the process in action.  Not hands on, but today’s session will open the door to many of the possibilities solarplate can perform. 

MONDAY – THE TRANSPARENCY  10-4:00pm

The key to successful prints is a good transparency.  This session will cover making transparencies from a copy machine and computer printer.  We will have a computer (HP laptop) with photoshop, and a printer (HP)available to make transparencies in the studio.  Size matters, how black does it need to be, and which products work in my printer will be subjects of the day.  No tweaking or experimenting can make up for a bad transparency.  You will learn to identify what works and what doesn’t.  For those who don’t have printers available, a side trip to Kinko’s will cover the necessities of copier created transparencies.

TUESDAY – DRAWING  10-4:00pm

The real art of solarplate comes when the artist’s hand is clearly seen.  This session will cover drawing directly on a transparency – one sided frosted mylar or on a transparency with an image you wish to modify, enhance or reduce; and creating a frosted glass surface on which you can draw.  You will learn which tools create great blacks, like stabilo pencils and a wonderfully weird tusche you will love.

WEDNESDAY – RELIEF  10-4:00pm

Getting one’s brain around “what’s black is white” is the goal today.  Solarplates are great for relief printing and this session will cover creating plates from transparency - and working directly on the plate.  Look Ma, no transparency!  Also covered will be tips on modifying images with photoshop filters which will enhance your success.  Working directly on the plate can result in either relief or intaglio, depending on your timing.  The variety of artistic effects will be expanded in this session.

THURSDAY – MIXED MEDIA  10-4:00pm

Combining relief and intaglio or combining two or more plates are the goals for this session.  Having created  your plates doesn’t end the creative process.  What else can you do, how far can you go, what if you tried this…This session will help you grow beyond the basics and help you learn to think outside of what is.  Chine colle, alternative papers and mixing it up will be encouraged.

FRIDAY – FREE PRINT  10-4:00pm

Take the day to print up a fury.  Etch that last plate you wanted to squeeze in, continue the work you didn’t get to in a previous session.  And show off the work you made with a critique of the week’s effort.

Contact me for pricing and registration information.

Printmaking Classes in April and May

I am teaching 7 and 8 week classes in Solarplate Etching and Reduction Linocut at the Phoenix Center for the Arts starting in April.  Registration is open now.  Click here for a link to the online registration site.

SOLARPLATE ETCHING
April 9 - May 24 (7 weeks/$185)
Saturdays from 9 am to Noon

REDUCTION LINOCUT - Phoenix
April 4 - May 23 (8 weeks/$200)
Mondays from 9 am - 1 pm 
$200
  
Phoenix Center for the Arts
1202 N. Third St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 262-4627


Call me at 602 750 3845 if you have any questions or concerns, or problems registering.

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.

BILANCIA Opening Reception

Tonight is the opening celebration for Bilancia, the expanded studio space Marlys Kubicek and I will share.  After Marlys' father died last year, she decided to open the whole house to artmaking and teaching.  Our collaboration is now called Bilancia and we will be printing (and Marlys will be painting) in our now spacious studio.  We have established Independent Study, Print Studio Rental and Printing with Assistance rates and will be offering small classes and workshops.  The location is in Phoenix, 5841 N. 21st Avenue (the southeast corner of 21st Avenue and Bethany Home Road).  Come by tonight 7-9pm and see what we've done to the place!

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!

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. 

 

New Chapter - Teaching

I am starting a new chapter in my art life.  Teaching.  After the two day workshop in Reno, I came back to Phoenix and began teaching Reduction Linocut at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.  Tomorrow I will begin teaching Solarplate Etching at our studio.  I am excited to be teaching two media in which I have worked the most with since I have begun my printmaking journey.  Marlys will be teaching general printmaking at Phoenix College in the fall and we hope our classes will feed into each other.  It would be great to grow a strong printmaking program there.  I will be offering Reduction Linocut on Saturdays beginning in October for 6 weeks at the Phoenix Center; and Solarplate Etching on Monday nights also in October for 6 weeks at the Phoenix Center.  Let me know if you are interested and I will notify you when registration opens.

ROADTRIP - The Workshop

Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20, I taught a Reduction Linocut Workshop at Oxbow Press in Reno, NV.  It felt like a challenge to try to accomplish a multi-color reduction print in just two days but I practiced with the fish and leafy sea dragon prints to see if I could print more than one color in a day.  With some success under my belt, and an easy registration system, off to Reno I went.  It was the most fun I have had in a long time.  There were 10 students, almost all printmakers but none well versed in reduction lino.  Everyone brought images to review and discuss the pros and cons of using for reduction linocut.  We used Gomuban, a product widely used in Japan, described as somewhere between ez cut and linoleum.  It is very easy to carve and will hold fine lines.  With the short time period, it made for a quicker cutting time.  The majority of the first day was preparation for printing, altho at the end of Day One, Miles was ready go and printed his first color.  On Day Two with two available presses, everyone printed.  And printed.  On one press, we could print 4 at a time.  So there was no waiting.  The artists decided to pull editions of 20.  Candace Nicol, director/founder/goddess of Oxbow generously allowed workshop participants time to come back to complete their prints.  Rossitza had printed 3 colors by the end of day 2.  Everyone spontaneously decided to do a print exchange with each other and come together in celebration with final prints at a party in August.  So the community of printmakers in Reno is alive and strong.  Miles Becker was the first to finish his print and he sent me a jpg of it which he has allowed me to share with you.  It is titled The Falcon.  I couldn't be more proud of such a fine first print.

I realize I may have gone on too much about this workshop, but it was my first solo teaching experience and it was huge for me.  It was such a good experience, I think I will keep on this path.  Thanks to the students in Reno and Candace and Vicki at Oxbow Press for throwing a fun and organized workshop in the middle of a major art event weekend.

New Print/Register this Saturday for Summer Classes

FROM ALL DIRECTIONS
I finally finished the edition for the print exchange.  Shipped them off today. I have never done so much pre-printing before and feel I learned a lot about getting to the image in my head.  It surprised me a little, how hard it was, but I am really glad it worked out the way it did.  This is my 12th print exchange.  I accept invitations to be in them, or ask to be in them, because of who the organizer is - someone I respect or would like to work with; or because of the subject matter.   I consider how much time I have to create a piece...because I can't just knock off a simple print.  Four or five color linocuts are more the norm.  I have committed to another PE due in November, Your Days Are Numbered, and I already know what my image will be and that it will be a reduction linocut.

This piece would not have been completed so easily on time without the assistance of my friend, Diana Hartley.  It would have taken me 3 times longer without her help.

OTHER BLOGS I LOVE
I haven't quite mastered the blog world and how to set stuff up exactly as I would like - yet.  But there is a blog I hold up as my model.  Sherrie York is a very talented Colorado printmaker who does amazing drawings from nature.  She writes so well, interesting mixes of "this is the print I am working on" and "this is happening in my life" and general philosophy or instruction.  I have never met her but feel like she's living an honorable life and her blogging about it inspires me.  Here is a link to it, called Brush and Baren.

Another blog I love is written by Sharon Anderson, a San Francisco artist who has branched out from painting to art management services.  Her blog, Create Your Time, has a Friday feature she recently started where she asks working artists how they make time to actually create art.  The first artist is my favorite, my sister Nancy Willis.  Here is a link to her Time to Create feature in Create Your Time.

SUMMER PRINTMAKING CLASSES AT THE PHOENIX CENTER
I am teaching my first solo classes at the Phoenix Center for the Arts this summer.  Registration opens Saturday May 1st at 10:30 am.  Here is  link the online registration page.  Put in May 1, 2010 and 31 Dec 2010 in the date range and use the keyword Printmaking.  You will see the details for my 6 week Solarplate Etching class which starts 7/13 and my 8 week Reduction Linocut class which starts 6/30.

SOLARPLATE WORKSHOP REVIEW

Marlys Kubicek, Dan Welden, Sarah Kreihn

END OF WORKSHOP DECOMPRESSION
Today was the last day of a 2 and 3 day/or 5 day solarplate workshop with Dan Welden. It was held at the Armstrong-Prior studio, organized by John Armstrong, Joan Prior and Marlys Kubicek. I was a volunteer studio assistant and travel arranger. The happy participants were blessed with small class size (7) and lots of personal attention. Dan was blessed with some very talented and fun artists who really took his instruction to heart and ran with it.


The work was amazing. Many of the participants focused on creating relief plates by working directly on the plates and then trying all kinds of different ways to print them, varying the color, orientation and number of pulls. Some used stencils, chine colle and of course transparencies to work their magic. There were some pretty happy smiles as the prints were revealed. The solarplate process is fairly easy to learn. But it can be as difficult and challenging as the most complex printmaking process in the variety of methodology and the desire of the artist to reach a defined result. Even Dan, who knows more about solarplates than any other person could, was frustrated after several failed attempts to achieve his desired result. But in this class, no one gave up. Those who encountered failures, quietly kept plugging away until they found a way. This is the environment Dan Welden brings to his workshops. A safe place to fail. Allowing the artist to learn even more from the failures than the successes. Plus you can't find a nicer man on the planet than Dan.

So here is the latest class portrait in his long list of worldwide workshops:
L to R: Wendy Willis, Janet Towbin, Marlys Kubicek, Diana Hartley, Libby Kalinowski, John Armstrong, Joan Prior, Dan Welden; in front: Susan Marquez, Sheri Compton and Sandi Long. Not pictured: Sarah Kreihn, Paulette Redmond, Audrey Van Kirk and Glory Tacheenie-Campoy.

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