BLUES

As I started reaching deeper I realized that most of the blues of the day were done by men. Women just didn't have the nerve!  ~Etta James~

Diva

Reduction Linocut print on Japanese Gampi paper

ASSIGNMENT

I have been having a hard time with my woodblocks. The Luan was not a great idea. It does not hold detail like the Shina. Chips and peels very badly. I've been able to set it aside for a while because my wife has asked me to do something for our niece's wedding. It is just a few weeks away so I started a pastel that I know I can finish in time. Rough drawing and first layer done.

MUSIC AND ART - PERFECT COMBINATION

An intellectual is someone who can listen to the 'William Tell Overture' without thinking of the Lone Ranger.

~John Chesson~

I'm not quite there yet!!

88s'

Reduction Woodblock print on Japanese Gampi paper

VIRTUAL BOOK

Here is another little bonus found on John Stein's great website. This is one of three out of print books he has posted in their entirety. This one is a 1954 book titled 'Engraving on Wood' by John Farleigh.

http://johnsteins.com/art_books/engraving-on-wood-john-farleigh

WOODBLOCK PROJECT AND MONOPRINT

I have the first block cut (needs some clean-up) for the floral woodcut and the second block is ready to be carved. Will probably be the last time I use this kind of wood. It does not hold detail like the shina.

Also did a quick monoprint just to rest my brain for a while.

JOHN STEINS REVISITED

I have mentioned the wonderful website of John Steins in earlier posts and all of the fantastic printmaking information available there. I spent a little more time there this morning and found a post on a Lino-cut technique that I absolutely will try in the future. It's the 'Jigsaw Method' in which the lino block is cut into sections so they can be inked separately. This makes gradated inking much easier. The block is then re-assembled on the press and printed all at once.

 Lino block cut apart.....

STARTED

After weeks of procrastination, I started working on my woodblocks last night. Floral subject on ten blocks including the key block.

PIANO DREAMS

"My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require."   ~Edward Elgar~

Piano Dreams - Reduction linocut on Japanese Torinoko paper.

WILDLIFE CALL

One of our local Big Bear resturants has contacted me about displaying a couple of paintings during the summer months. Since we just received another 5 inches of snow last night, I'm not sure that summer is that close yet, so probably no hurry. They are looking specifically for wildlife subjects. I have this acrylic of a cougar from our local zoo that worked well for me. Also an acrylic of an eagle that reminds me of paintings done on velvet that I've seen south of the border, but other people have given me good comments on it. Just being kind I'm thinking.

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

Belinda Del Pesco wrote in her blog about her collection of old photos she keeps and uses as subjects for her wonderful watercolor paintings. Watercolor still escapes me but, I too, have used photographs my wife and I have taken as subjects in some of my acrylic paintings. The piece to the left is one of Belinda's newer works. Below is one I did of Teri (my wife) at a car show here in Big Bear, and another of a biker cafe in the small town where Teri's mother lived in central California.