LINOCUTS

I did this linocut print when my grandson Liam was born. It is the largest I have ever done and I did it in an edition of five. The second print is one I did from a photograph I saw on the internet. Both are reduction cuts.

COULD NOT SAY IT BETTER MYSELF

This says it all. The snow has finally stopped and Big Bear is digging out!

AND IT CONTINUES

I know it looks beautiful and people here in this little valley are always saying "think snow", but I'm really over it right now!

SNOW...

It has been snowing here in my little town of Big Bear for almost two days now. All roads to and from the valley are closed as are the banks, schools and most businesses. This is a picture of my office at 9:00am this morning and one of my wife in front of one of the few places that was open to get gas.

QUEBEC TRIP

A couple of years ago we spent a few weeks back east and then went to Ile Verte, an island outside of Quebec. We rented and old 19th century home overlooking the Saint-Lawrance Estuary. This is a painting I did of my wife Teri, and a friend that went on the trip with us. very relaxing with only radio and books.

NEW LINOCUT

I've been working on a new linocut over the past week. I have usually always used Goldencut linoleum for my prints (from Dick Blick), but on this printing I am trying linoleum that is made in the Netherlands just for block printing. I bought it from McClains which is my favorite supplier. It will be a reduction print and I plan three stages of cuts. This is the first proof which, obliviously, was under inked. I can see enough to make adjustments though.

PAST REVISITED

About ten years ago I reconnected with someone from my distant past. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and we have a love of art in common. A humorous and interesting side bar to the story is that forty years ago we were engaged to be married. Thirty years of no contact and now a new, and exciting relationship based around art and catching up.

One small problem, and as fate would have it, she loves and is good at my arch nemesis...watercolor! Good to have her back in my life though. I know her work will push me to continue my attempts at the technique.

DVD

I received a DVD with Sterling Edwards watercolor tips and techniques as a gift. It's is really quite good with short little practice lessons that you can do in five to ten minute sessions. Mostly brush techniques for creating trees, waterfalls, rocks, and shadows. As usual, mine aren't turning out very well, but great practice for me.

GREAT WATERCOLOR

As I've said time and time again, I try so hard with watercolor, and even more so with the loose technique it allows. I have some of my art on 'Fineartamerica.com' and another artist with work on the website was nice enough to comment on one of my block prints. When I went and looked at her art, there it was. Her name is Anne Duke, and this is the way I want to do watercolor.

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/anne-duke.html

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcome 2010...a little scratch art to kick off the new year. It's fast and always fun!!!