THINKING DONE...

Because of the holidays, I'm still only finding time to work on the pastel. It doesn't seem to be anymore appealing to me no matter how many layers I put down so, I think it's done!

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Ready for Santa's big night!!

HOLIDAY TIME

It's so hard to find time to get into my studio this time of the year. Besides the holiday preparations, we've had a number of storms that have given us quite a bit of snow and the shoveling that follows. I was able to complete the under-painting on a new pastel though.

SNOW VISIT

My son, his wife and the grand kids came up to play in our new snow.

SOLD

More of my pieces going to new homes!



Howling at the Moon - Linocut

 Say Something - Woodcut

MUST BE THE SEASON

I've had a number of pieces sell from my FineArt America webpage. I'm assuming it's because they make good inexpensive gifts.

Vermont Again - Pastel on Canson paper.

CATHERINE KERNAN

I found another artist that is so multi-talented. Catherine Kernan. She is from Massachusetts and works in some of my favorite areas. Watercolor, monoprints and most recently, large woodblock prints.
 http://www.catherinekernan.com/

Levi - Small scratchboard print of my grandson

JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD

The best comedy team ever!!

HAPPY HOLIDAY

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!!

HOUSE WORK

We have had contractors doing remodel projects on our house so it has been hard to get down to my studio. I love pastels because of how quickly I can get something on paper and how easy it is to change things I don't like. I did this beach scene in the times I could fine between contractors.

WORLD PRINTMAKERS

The link below is to a site that lists printmaking artists from many parts of the world and includes links to their web pages and blogs. So many great prints to see from these talented people.
http://www.worldprintmakers.com/english/artists.htm

Shadowland

Mixed Media Print

Brian Devon

Ireland

Above is the first proof from a new etching that I'm currently working on.

JOEY AGAIN

I'm finding that my nephew's great photographs are a good source of subject material for art practice sessions. I did a copperplate etching from one of his forest pics.

FAVORITE PASTEL

I just sold my favorite pastel. I always find it hard to part with pieces but, as my wife tells me, we are running out of room!!

http://youtu.be/G6hg7BvDRGY

WOODBLOCK PRINT

This is a woodcut I did from a photograph of my wife Teri. Below is the woodblock I used. I usually do reduction prints with up to three different cuts. This was a simple single cut print.

HALLOWEEN PASTEL

I finished the pastel I had started a few weeks ago. It was not meant to be a Halloween scene, just a drawing of an old barn. Now, to me, it looks a bit spooky. I kind of expect to see the headless horseman chasing Ichabod Crane!

WELL-ROUNDED ARTIST

Diane Cutter is an artist living in Puerto Rico that works with all of my favorite mediums. Her blog http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com/ shows her versatility in printmaking, scratchboard drawings, pastels and watercolor works.

ONLY TIME FOR A PASTEL

I've been busy getting things put away for winter, so no big projects in the studio. I did start a small pastel which makes me feel like I'm creating something!!

PALM SPRINGS

I spent a wonderful weekend in Palm Springs. My son was in a big softball tournament so we had a boys only weekend (grandson too). It has been turning cold here in Big Bear, so it was great spending time in the warm desert air.

Below is a monoprint I did recently.

WHAT HAPPENED TO FALL?

Wow...here in Big Bear. it seems like we are going straight from summer to winter. Prediction of snow this coming Thursday. Way, way too soon!!

Big Bear Holiday - Pastel on Canson paper

JOEY'S BOAT - FINISHED

I finished the pastel I did from my nephew's great photograph.

PASTEL STUFF

I've started a new pastel using one of my nephew's photographs as a subject. I did the gouache undercoating  and started to rough in the boat and foreground.

I also found a pastel of an old house that I did a few months ago that I had forgotten about.

PICTURESQUE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

My nephew, Joey Brisson, has gone from photography as a fun past time, to creating fantastic works of art. His photographs of Northern California really capture the beautiful area that he lives in.

PASTELS NORTH AND SOUTH

My Lopez Island friend (Pacific Northwest) sent me a scan of her latest pastel work. She does great watercolors, pastels, lino and woodblock prints. The landscapes and nature around her make wonderful subject matter!

 Below is a pastel I keep thinking is finished and then find myself foolin' with it again!!

MORE LINO THINGS

I discovered another great site with fantastic prints and information on printmaking. Ian Phillips is one of Wales foremost Linocut artists. He uses traditional Japanese techniques and creates beautiful and colorful prints. His webpage has a 'how to' section that will show you how to get started with lino printmaking.
http://www.reliefprint.co.uk/
Below is a recent reduction print that I did.

 1st cut

 2nd cut

 Final proof

SHERRIE YORK

I am trying to get back to my printmaking and found an artist that gives me some inspiration to do just that. Sherrie York, an artist who lives in Colorado, creates some of the beautiful reduction linocut prints I've ever seen. Her blog is a treasure of information on techniques and ideas. brushandbaren.blogspot.com
She also has a website where she displays many of her prints.

http://www.sherrieyork.com/index.html

NEW LINOCUT

Even though I promised myself that this time I wouldn't get caught up in the conventions, I couldn't let it go. I did finally get into the studio and started a new linocut. My first thought was to do just a single cut in black ink. Thinking now I'll do a reduction print again. I get to use more planning and thinking on those.





                                                        Brownie - Reduction linocut

OLD ART

Finding more and more old pieces. I was on a real tear a couple of years ago!

Big Bear Falls  -  Pastel





                                             Floral  -  Pastel

Abandoned - Pastel on Canson paper

I'm still trying to get everything put back into some kind of order in my studio. The fun part is that I keep finding pieces that I had buried in varied spots and corners.

Spending some quality time with my grandson this weekend....

GREAT PRINTMAKING

A friend sent me a link to a wonderful site belonging to an artist from British Columbia. Amie Roman creates beautiful prints using all of the traditional techniques. Her section on printmaking information explains many of the ways prints are made, and is well worth a visit.

http://www.amieroman.ca

NEW CARPET

I had my studio carpeted yesterday and had to move all of the things there myself. I have way too much sh*t! I did find some art that I hadn't seen in a while.

Family - Acrylic painting

STUDIO REDO

My downstairs studio area is being carpeted so I have not been able to work on anything except a small scratchboard piece. Moving my drums was a real chore, but will give me a chance to clean the cymbals.

GREAT MUSIC, GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

OLYMPICS

Ryan Hall from my little town of Big Bear will be running in his second Olympics August 12th. I've watched him run since he was very little and it will be exciting to see the marathon even though it will be in the middle of the night Big Bear time. This is a picture of the banner we have on my office.

BLUES REVIEW

The concert was a good one and the proceeds go to a good cause. Big Bear's animal park has been taking care of wildlife that has either been injured or some body's exotic pet, then abandoned since 1956. These are animals that can't be released back into nature. Pretty neat people!



                                                              I Enjoy Good Sax - Reduction Linocut