California Dreamin'

 This photo, taken in 1994, was the inspiration for the painting below. It was taken at Venice Beach the year before I moved to Los Angeles. Though my time there was brief, it was filled with great memories and artistic growth.

This work is 30x40" and it is acrylics on canvas.

Monotype Prints, 3of 3

This work (above) is a monoprint on paper. The image, The Ambassador Bridge, was drawn onto to plexiglass using a cotton swab and sprinkles of raw sugar around the edges.

The following works include a mix of oil based paints (mixed by hand), raw sugar and various found objects like netting and rope:

These works are a suite, using the same plate, colors and soft ground materials:

The Suite Life

Monotype prints are individual and signed 1/1 because each print is distinct. However, when one has a series of monotypes that are similar in style are referred to as a suite. The prints below were printed on Monday, July 18, 2011 and will be displayed and sold as a set or "suite".

The following 3 prints are single prints to be displayed & sold individually. All prints begin with mixing paint, rolling it onto plexiglass and running it through the printing press onto to heavy paper. This creates the background color. In some of these, the roller/brayer is streaked for flair. The second and third time that the paper was sent through the press, the found objects (painted & shaped) were added.

For this work, seasalt was added on top of the purple to create the white spots. Later 3 different layers were run with various colors and selected items safe enough to go through a print machine.

More to follow!

Monotype, 1 of 3 posts

 My first monotype experience was outstanding! The method that I used first was a water based technique using paint on plexiglass. I used the a familiar photo of mine of Dodge fountain in Detroit. I placed it under the plexi and traced my image using a sharpie pen. I then painted my image, prepared my paper-running it through the printing press using a technique called "calendaring". I placed the plexi and paper through the printing press and held my breath...

 Well the image bled like watercolors but I liked the colors. My next step is to add a map of Detroit on top of the same print using the gum transfer technique.
Each print is a single 1 of 1 in a series.  Also, I added raw sugar to the area where the water flows to create a splashing effect.

On the the next image...another familiar image from Florence that I have used in my work before. The plexiglass is thin enough that my hand shows up behind the plate. I painted the plexiglass and added sugar to the area where the bushes are on the left.

For each image the plexiglass must be re-painted but that means that every work is original and unique like a painting.

This is the place that I used before I sent it through the printing press.

I love this process! More to come!

Linoleum Prints, Spring 2011

 This print is titled Glimpse of Venice from a photograph that I printed using a gum transfer technique (posted previously). The lino plate was carved out (tools shown below) and inked using Renaissance Black then put through a printing press onto rice paper. The series consists of 4 prints.

These prints are from a series titled View of Thames. The print below consists of 2 inks, Renaissance Black & a teal that I mixed and put on one roller and slowly rolled the plate. The main image is the London Tower Bridge and the 2 (small cut-outs) are of Big Ben and the London Needle. The small cut-outs are printed onto the the teal & black print.

This is a single colored print using ink that I mixed to look like...water under the bridge (couldn't resist).

Tools of the trade: the plate that is carved with the image in reverse; the carving tool (one of many types) and the 2 small cut-outs that were added to the larger image of The Tower Bridge print. 

 The London Eye cut-out with a single color.

Keeping it clean with a single color and just The Tower Bridge.

Photo plate, done!

Print of Dodge Fountain, Detroit
Photo plate print, 3 colors
Series of 8 prints, May 2011

A new Print...coming soon

I am working on a new photo plate print using a photograph that I took when I was 14 years old...yes, I keep all photos.

The subject is a fountain designed by Isamu Noguchi commissioned by Anna Thomson Hart for $2 million dollars in honor of her husband & son-both Horace. It is located in Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit and the central focus of an area where festivals & other outdoor events are held.

The camera was a Canon AE-1, a manual camera, which is fitting for a printing process that some consider 'ancient'...in this very high tech world that we live in.

The process begins with the manipulation of the photo in Photoshop, then developing the (3) films onto the plate. The process is one that is fraught with mishap & should any of the steps go wrong-not good/begin again...below is the plate (image in reverse) which is treated with chemicals in preparation for the printing process.

The printing process is even tougher since 3 colors will be printed on the same paper-lining up/registration requires more praying and crossing fingers/toes. So, I have 12-20 hours ahead of me to print and I will post within a week...keep me in your prayers!