keeping it simple

President's Day was this week, and two things came to mind.  I need to prune my roses and it's free admission day at the Portland Japanese Garden.  Seeing that it was a damp and drizzly day, I chose the latter. 

I first wrote about this enchanting place last year in this blog post.  I have been meaning to visit in the springtime when the plants and trees are in bloom.  Rhododendrens and azaleas especially thrive in this wet environment, and I love the vibrancy of their flowers. 

handsome koi

 

Strolling through the garden is such a peaceful experience.  And I am reminded how beauty is often in the simplest of things.

This week, I worked on a small linocut of Mt Hood.  It was nice to leisurely work on a project without the worries of deadlines or expectations.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do with the prints yet.  I could leave them as they are or add details to the sky.  What do you think?

limited-edition "portland" print

Today, I hand pulled the first 10 prints of my latest linocut.

The paper I used is made from flax straw + denim and t-shirt remnants.  Very cool stuff.

Read more about the new print here.  Then watch this amazing printmaking demonstration . . . so effortless!

Limited-edition linocut giveaway

I nearly forgot that it is my Etsy shop's anniversary today!  I've been quite busy these past few weeks helping out with a church art project and spearheading the Holiday Market at my daughter's school. Oh, and did I mention we got a puppy?!  Pictures to come in the next post.

In all this craziness, I've managed to eek out some me-time at my art desk. . . sleep is over-rated, I say.  My latest creative output resulted in a batch of hand printed linocuts.  Printmaking was my focus in college, but it's been years since I've tackled a hand printing project.  My daughters watched me this time as I hand pulled the first lino print, and all the oohs and ahhs from the peanut gallery just added to the excitement. 

I used turquoise ink for the first few prints and then switched to a deeper blue (and oil-based) ink.  There are only three of the turquoise available, and I thought it would be fitting to give them away in celebration of my three year Etsy anniversary. 

If you'd like a chance to nab one of these limited-edition prints, just leave a comment below.  On Wednesday, November 28th, I'll randomly choose three winners and post the names here.  

I am also giving away these prints with every order in my Etsy shop.  You can check out the details here.

11/28: Congratulations to the three winners! David Thurston, Emmel Prutsemieke, and Emma-Lee

shopping for inspiration

I try to avoid malls and big box discount stores as much as I can.  I easily get disheartened by modern society's insatiable appetite for consumption.  The mix of mass manufacturing and instant gratification has become a dangerous cocktail for today's consumers.  We fill our homes with things that lack handcrafted tradition or thoughtful production, and, by the end of the day, we still find ourselves longing for a connection to others and this world.

Only buy what you love.

This was the motto of our retail store that carried handmade goods by independent designers.  As shop owners we likened ourselves to storytellers who sought to connect our customers with the stories and the makers of our products.  I believe it is this connection that gives a product its true value.

When I shop, I'm always looking for the history of the product.  Many of the items that I purchase actually come from second-hand sellers.  Shown above are some of the used things I picked up this past weekend at estate sales.  In general, I try to only bring home items that inspire me to take action (draw, cook, garden, etc.). 

/// recent finds ///

classic books, including two Pearl Buck early editions

a vintage Kodak Retina in near perfect condition

linoleum cutter set in its original box

yarn remnants for a new zigzag blanket I started

vintage backpack for hiking// whoops! snipped the fabric when opening the package . . . 

mended by affixing triangle patches

Fun hand-printing projects by artist Christine Schmidt

One of my favorite books on my shelf right now is Print Workshop by Christine Schmidt of Yellow Owl Workshop.  I've been a fan of Yellow Owl for quite some time now, especially their stamp sets.  So, earlier this year, when I heard Christine was coming out with a book on hand-printing projects, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

a page of triangles with the Table of Contents- already love the book!

I fell in love with printmaking when I was in college, but, since leaving teaching, I haven't been around a press for years.  Recently, I have been thinking about diving back into printmaking, and this book has intensified my desires to pursue this medium again.  The great thing about Christine's book is that you don't have to have a deep knowledge of printmaking to start with.  In the introduction, Christine gives a wonderful overview of various printing methods and materials, plus some basic understanding of color and composition.   

This book is perfect for the design and DIY enthusiast.  Unlike some other DIY art books, the project instructions in Print Workshop are easy to follow, and there are lots of images and illustrations.  I love this picnic blanket idea.  Just like primary school, you make the stamps [quite appropriately] out of potatoes! 

Christine covers a broad spectrum of hand-printing techniques, from silkscreen printing to sun printing to image transfer printing.  And the projects range from personalized stationary to home mural design- all ideas that align with current trends today.

It's always a huge bummer when the final product looks nothing like what is pictured in the book. Thankfully, Christine includes a generous section of templates in the back of the book.  So no more fretting over misshaped leaves or unrecognizable creatures!

If I could write a book on fun printmaking projects for the home, this would be it.  Well, it probably wouldn't be as good as Print Workshop, but you get the point.  And, as an arts educator, I truly appreciate Christine's approach.  Her knowledge of techniques and materials is evident, but she doesn't talk over the heads of those just starting out in printmaking. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

On another topic, a photo that I took for my featured seller interview on Etsy is now on Apartment Therapy! See it here.

Dear blank

[image source: sapling press]

Thanks to Sapling Press and Jared Wunsch of dearblankpleaseblank.com for the tearful laughs.  The eco-friendly letterpress cards are available for purchase here. 

Show and Tell: Art in my home

Arthound has a series called Art@Home that I enjoy following.  I love seeing what kind of art people have in their homes and how they display it.  Some of my favorite collections are those are more eclectic and look like they were thrown together in a minute's time.  I might attempt to do something like this in my bedroom, but, realistically, I'll end up overthinking it and spending a good chunk of time rearranging the whole thing.

Since I love looking at other people's art collections, I thought it was only fair to share some of the pieces I've collected over the years. 

The newest addition to my home is this mola (Kuna folk art that is handstitched and embroidered).  I have been wanting a mola for my walls for some time now and, a few days ago, saw this framed piece at a vintage shop for $25!  I absolutely love the design, and it goes perfectly with my red dining room table.

These limited edition prints were created by artist Maria Watt.  I first mentioned her work here.  Having studied printmaking in college, I gravitate towards art that is transferred from one surface to another.  And, like Watt, I am a huge fan of textile arts, which is why I instantly fell in love with these two works. 

I have two large etchings in my living room by Scottish artist David Law (1831- 1901), who is known for his beautiful landscape works.  I bought them several years ago from a frame/gallery shop in Eugene that was closing.  The works are dated 1886 and appear to be in the original frames.  There is some foxing (brown spots) on the prints, so I'm planning on having the works restored one day.

This 1978 etching by Michele Taylor was another piece that I purchased from the Eugene art shop.  It's titled Woodland Garden, and it reminds me of the lush Willamette Valley.  Every time I look at this piece, it makes me want to get back into printmaking.  And that's what I love about the art in my home- it moves and inspires me.

What art piece do you have in your home that moves you?

New work, "Sea"

This week I decided to "recycle/reuse" one of my older monoprints.  There was one that reminded me of the ocean, and I felt compelled to add some patterns and details to it.  The new work is titled Sea, and, measuring at 18" x 24", it's the largest mixed media piece I've completed in the last six months. 

Lately, I've been experimenting with flattened features in relation to three-dimensional qualities.  With this particular piece, I wanted to create a multi-viewing experience, kinda like looking at a fish bowl.  I wanted the viewer to feel as if they were underwater and also looking at the water from above.  To help with this interplay of perspectives, I added some tiny leaves that are falling onto the surface of the water.  

The pattern of ovals can be viewed as a ground or a structure.  I drew each circle by hand with a pen and then filled in the spaces with a small brush and black ink.  It was tedious but therapeutic at the same time.

Although time-consuming, I enjoyed working at the larger scale.  And I'm all for taking art work that I'm not sentimental about and reworking it into a new piece.  I already have ideas for the next monoprint make-over! 

Water towers and the urban landscape

Michele Maule, Water Towers, oil

Old green water towers are classic features of the Portland landscape.  We actually live just two blocks away from one and can see from our home another water tower less than a mile away.  So, I guess you can say that I like water towers because they remind me of home. 

I recently found these amazing oil paintings of water towers from Portland artist Michele Maule.  I love how the water towers are painted in dark, neutral tones and with painterly strokes. It's industrial, but not too linear.   The softened edges in the works, plus the muted colors in the background, also add a dream-like quality.  What beautiful art! 

Michele Maule, Glisan Street Water Tower

Michele Maule, Chown Water Tower

Here is some more great art that I found featuring water towers. 

Renee Press, a crow caws in brooklyn, watercolor.

Crystal Powell, digital art, 2006.

Victoria Plummer,  Water Tower, linocut print.

View from our home of one of the water towers nearby.  It was a glorious spring sunset.

Totes that showcase art and help the earth

I won't be able to look at my plain reusable grocery bags the same after finding these artist designed totes- each under $20!

Bird Pattern Tote ($20) by Nick Lu

Geometric Totes ($20 each) by Pawling Print Studio

Recycled Mini Tote- Bird ($16) by Good On Paper Design

White Bag ($11) by Mieke Willems

Organic Tote- Mushrooms ($18) by Nikki McClure

Goodwill rivals famous auction house Christie's

I get nothing out of extreme sports.  In college, I went bridge jumping and all I came away with was a sore bum.  What gets my adrenaline going is bargain shopping.  I actually am not a huge shopper and try to avoid the mall at all costs, but I am fanatical about amazing finds at antique and resale shops.

The past several days I've been addicted to my new favorite e-marketplace- Shop Goodwill.  I discovered the web site while shopping around for a used vintage camera.  It's setup very much like eBay, where buyers make bids on items. Unlike eBay, however, all of the items on Shop Goodwill have been donated.  So there's minimal information posted about each item for sale and the product photos are fair at best. 

So, here I am, on Saturday morning, browsing the art section of Shop Goodwill.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just curious to see their selection of original art on auction.  Lo and behold my eyes stop at a title I couldn't believe.  It read: A pair of antique Goya etchings- Tauromaquia series.  Here's the photo that was included with the listing.

If you took Art History in school, then you have studied Francisco de Goya's art.  He is regarded as one of the great master artists of his time, and his art is hung in some of the finest museums like the Louvre. So naturally, you can imagine my surprise when I saw two of his etchings on Goodwill, with a current bid of $41!!

For most of the morning, I was in disbelief.  Then, as the shock wore off, sheer excitement took over.  (This is where the adrenaline part kicks in.) I started researching clues for authenticity and quickly became obsessed with the idea of owning an original Goya work.  Never mind that I really didn't have an art budget to work with!   

I ended up placing a bid just hours before the auction closed.  I felt like it was kinda wrong or insulting to place such a low bid and then completely stunned to find out that I was the highest bidder! Some people spend more on coffee each month with what I had bid! 

The world is sane after all, because the two pieces eventually sold a few hours later for $2,338.  As much as I wish I was the new owner of Goya's famous etchings, I can proudly say that I held that title for 20 minutes yesterday.  Maybe I'll have better luck with the Paul Cezanne piece on auction!

. . . doubt it.

Artist Liz Saintsing gives vintage accessories new life

I've been a big fan of Liz Saintsing's reclaimed vintage accessory line for the past couple of years.  Based in San Francisco, Liz designs and screenprints images of birds, insects, sea creatures, and flora on vintage bags, belts, and gloves.

Her products are functional works of art.   The attention to detail in each screenprinted design is worth noting, and so is the impeccable condition of the vintage items. Currently, she's working on transferring her images onto lampshades and bedding.  I can't wait to see her new designs!