PROCRASTINATION

So...I have this eleven block relief printing project that I know is going to be the most difficult attempt I've done. Looking around my work studio, I can see that it really needs a good SPRING CLEANING!! Coincidence ??

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

Finished a new pastel drawing (I never know if they should be called drawings or paintings) last night. It's on Canson Pearl paper and it's larger than my scanner, so this is just part of the drawing.

J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM

The link below is to a great site if you're short on time but want your friends to think you're part of the museum smart set. The website lets you explore the museum's art collections. Also techniques, conversations and videos.

http://www.getty.edu/art/

Somehow, the acrylic painting I did of my son was excluded from the museum's collections.

PASSION PASTEL

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music."     ~Angela Monet~

PASSING TIME

I have spent the past few nights working with pastels while waiting for my shipment of woodblocks. I have a couple of Linoleum blanks that I could start, but nothing jumps out at me subject wise,  for them.

'I Need a New Gig'  - From a jazz painting.

NEXT WOODBLOCK PROJECT

I just placed an order with McClain's for blocks and paper for my next woodblock prints. This will be the hardest and most time intensive project I've attempted. Ten color blocks plus the key block. I have a good picture in my mind of what I want to do, just worried (as usual) about registration. "In thePark' (at left) was printed with four blocks and my hardest to date.

http://www.downstairscreations.com/Detail.htm

'In the Park' detail

ACRYLIC PAINTINGS

My watercolor shortcomings have been mentioned in many earlier blogs. So many failed attempts, yet when I work with acrylics I manage to get close to the result I hoped for. Though I love the look that can be obtained with watercolor, I think I need to embrace the great qualities of the acrylic medium. The painting on the left is an acrylic done by Justin Beckett, a Canadian artist and photographer. Below are two of mine that turned out the way I pictured.

ARTIST TOOL KIT PLUS ONE OF MINE

Here is another informational website plus an acrylic painting I did of an old historic cabin here in Big Bear. The Artist Tool Kit is filled with the basic concepts used in creating art. Animated demonstrations show many art principles including color, balance, line and shape and much more. Also has videos of artists at work.
http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html

BRIGHTENS MY MORNING

Santana and Laurel and Hardy...PERFECT! Santana's fantastic blues guitar lines with his Latin, African rhythms (plus that great percussion that I wish I could do) combined with the greatest comedy team EVER!  The world became a better place with the pairing of Stan and Oliver. I'll have a good day today!!

DRYPOINT ETCHING

Drypoint etching is an intaglio technique used in preparing metal plates for printmaking by means of which lines are scratched directly into the plate. Thicker lines are made by applying more pressure to the burin (graver) or etching needle (also a roulette, chalk roll and matting wheel). Thus incising the cold metal creates ragged ridges, called the burr, thrown up along to edge the furrows cut into it. The burr is removed in copperplate engraving but not in drypoint, where it is kept to produce soft, blurred line and painterly effects.

The etching on the left was done by Emil Nolde in 1907 and prints sell for $3,000 to $4,000. The prints I did (below) could be obtained for considerably less!!

ART HISTORY

Below is a link to a wonderful site on art history. You can view different time periods or artists. Lots of information. I can remember laborious hours studying this in college. This is much easier!

http://smarthistory.org/