BOOTHBAY AGAIN

Another pastel of Boothbay Harbor. We had a little snow over the weekend so this is really looking GOOD!

NEW TIMES TWO

Watercolor envy raises it's ugly head. My school friend from many years ago sent me a scan of her newest painting. She lives on Lopez island in the Pacific Northwest where she does beautiful watercolor, pastels and photography. I always get pulled into trying another watercolor after seeing her work, but not this time. I finished a pastel I had been working on instead.

EASY THINGS FIRST?

Each day I have these great intentions of getting back to work on my large woodblock project or, at the very least, finishing the linocut I started months ago. And then each day, I find an excuse to do something else. The woodblocks I purchased are giving me unexpected problems. I have always used Shina blocks but these are Mahogany (Luan) blocks that don't hold detail very well at all.

I did do a quick pastel from one of my pictures taken in Boothbay Harbor. Makes me feel a little less lazy.

JAZZ

Jazz is...an open-minded music designed for open minds. 

                      ~Author Unknown~

Devil Music

Reduction woodblock print

on Japanese Kozo paper

SUMMER?

Just when I was ready to get the boats out and ready for the summer season...snow! We never get snow in the middle of May!!

'Coolin'

Acrylic painting on Arches watercolor paper

CHATEAU FRONTENAC

A few years ago we made a trip up to Canada and, more specifically, Quebec. My father was born in this part of Canada and I have relatives that still live in the area. While there we visited the Chateau Frontenac. Built in the late 1800s', it is truly a spectacular hotel. Below is an acrylic painting I did when we returned to California.

BROWNIE

"He who hears music feels his solitude peopled at once." 

~Robert Browning~

Brownie

Reduction Linocut of Clifford Brown

MICHAEL BOND ETCHINGS

My ongoing and never ending struggle with watercolors has me enjoying printmaking more and more. Woodblocks, linocuts and an occasional foray into etching help make me feel like I'm doing something artsy. In my search for information on technique, I came across Michael Bond's website. An artist raised in England, he moved to Wisconsin where he has create beautiful etchings for over twenty five years.

http://www.michaelbondetchings.com/

Below is an etching I did of my grandson. It is printed on Rives paper and hand-colored with watercolor (the only way I seem to be able to use the damn stuff)

DOWN DEEP RHYTHM

"The discovery of song and the creation of musical instruments both owed their origin to a human impulse which lies much deeper than conscious intention:  the need for rhythm in life… the need is a deep one, transcending thought, and disregarded at our peril."

~Richard Baker~

Jammin - Reduction Woodblock print from a great blues painting.

AMY'S PASTEL

I was able to put in time working on the pastel I am doing for my niece. Needs more work, but getting closer.

BLUES ETCHING

Audiences like their blues singers to be miserable.  ~Janis Joplin~

Hand colored solarplate etching on Rives print paper