Drawings for the Gillman Comic Book

Lubok the Popular Prints of Russia

Found a book on these today.  Most of it is in Russian with a brief English summary.  Maybe I'll write more latter.

Cedar Rapids

I did this last month, but I get so distracted and busy these days things don't always happen in a timely manner. I made the five hour drive down from La Crosse to Cedar Rapids.  For those out there not familiar with Cedar Rapids it is the sight of the Legion Art Center, where Mr. Kimm works.  It was also Grant Wood's city of origin and the heart of Regionalism.  Cedar Rapids also had some horrific flooding, which if I remember correctly hit to the second floor window of Legion art center.  It has undergone extensive renovation, and I would have to say that I was thoroughly impressed by the facilities.  Cedar Rapids is also the location of the Quaker Oats factory.  As Mr. Kimm will attest smells can vary in Cedar Rapids; things like Captain Crunch.  Coming back was a bit of an adventure I took a wrong turn and got lost in the city, but with a little help managed to make way back out.
If you can go now you can expect to see Gary Hootman's wood fired ceramics, which are indeed monumental and impressive pieces of work reminiscent of Mesoamerican art.  You can also see Four Directions, Four Printmakers, which I would highly recommend.  Chauvin had some very impressive etchings.  They were quite large, but still maintained a lot of detail and fluidity in them and are impressive from a technical aspect as well as for their content and design.

Habitat for Humanity Project

Gessoed Panel and Jumping Joe

Molding

I picked up my supplies for this one a few days ago, and thought it might be fun to do the montage thing with it. Hopefully I can get it done by the auction, I have really been procrastinating on it so far.  I am a bit of an art history junky, and this is a bit of trivia for people.  The Robes of the Madonna were traditionally painted blue because it was the most expensive paint to come by.   To be more specific it was painted in Ultramarine which is made from Lapis Lazuli, which would have been mined and shipped from Afghanistan hence the cost.

Glued some scrap lace paper and drawing in charcoal

Threw some paint

Took some paint away

 Glaze of orange

Painting with frame

This is going to be a very long post.


I am going to call this project done, and it has now been delivered to Habitat for Humanity.  If you would like to see the finished piece you can come to their Raise the Roof event on April 28th.

Johanness Oporinus

Just about everybody has heard of Vesalius, but who has heard of Oporinus?  Oporinus is the printmaker who published Vesalius's anatomy book, which as we all know was the first attempt at an accurate representation of human mechanics.  Previously anatomy lessons for physicians consisted of once a year watching someone from a great distance pulling the organs out of a deceased convict.  As to the medical texts prior to Vesalius's and Oporinus's De humani corporis fabrica (1543), they largely consisted of globular red and brown shapes mostly indistinguishable from each other. (Prints and People: A Social History)  As wiki will tell you Oporinus also published the first Latin Koran, which garnered massive protests at the time and was only permitted because of Martin Luther's backing.  Shown above was his printer's device.

Maybe someone out there will have an answer

Maybe someone out there will have an answer for me. On the job hunt, I am frequently stopped short by the fact that employers are really only interested in MFA. The interest in MA seems to be shrinking. A few years ago the NGA did extend their graduate internships to MA, but they don't any longer. I have a MA, and I am not particularly interested in going back at this point in my life. What sort of jobs are available with this degree?

Jeb Prazak

This is the first printmaker outside of my family who I had the pleasure of working with; my parents signed me for a class with her when I was in high school.  She had her own studio and gallery in Dodgeville, WI.  She lived above the gallery in a loft space reached by a ladder.  It was a beautiful facility and home.  I thought it was time I gave her her due on this, and in all honesty it should have happened sooner.  About the same time I was getting back into it in college Jeb had developed cancer, and due to the bills was forced to sell everything.

P.S.  I just a saw a flier for Wisconsin artists, and evidently Jeb is still working.

Book in Review

This past summer I picked up and read Magical Secrets about Line Etching and Engraving:  The Step by Step Art of Incised Lines by Catherine Brooks of Crown Point Press.  To any with a serious interest in printmaking this book is a must read.  I tend to be a bit of a technical junkie myself, and while the subject is not a new one to me this book did offer some new techie twists and tricks that kept me interested throughout.  Every printmaker I have worked with to date (Jeb Prazak, Joel Elgin, Peter Hoffer, Allison Wilse, Rob Hay, and of course my mother) all have had mildly different ways of handling things.  This book was no exception and did not disappoint.

New old stuff to the Naked Beast

I don't think very many people follow the Naked Beast, but to those who do.  Just posted some new old stuff.

Theme day-Pirate Arrrrght Day

Okay,
I feel like being stupid (granted I always am), but I feel that next weekend I will be celebrating Pirate Arrrght Day.  I will probably be the only one as I am a chronic looser these days.  I will be flying my artistically rendered Jolly Roger high.  Part of that Carpe Diem thing, or rather Carpe Annum.

Non print related just personal

I have problems with looking at my education and looking at where other people are in their lives, and where I am at right now.  That being said the last time I was able to be home for Christmas was 2007.  I will be able to go home this year.  2008 was unable to afford it.  January 2009 broke ankle devastated me financially.  December 2009 had to work it.  December 2010 unable to afford it.  It may not always feel like it or look like it to others, but I have made progress.  Thank you to all of the people who have helped me.

Year of the Dragon

Just a quick little wood engraving.  Thinking about Janus and this two headed dragon toy I had as a kid.

Kitchen Lithography

I've been playing with this one at home a little bit, I haven't gotten it to work exactly like it is supposed to.  My results have actually gone the other way, the soap remains white and the ucoated areas print black, but then again I have lost the magic touch.

How Ink is made

Got my Blog Back!

I lost my password to this for awhile and I no longer use the email used to create it (approximately two months ago.) I am a pushy woman though, and I managed to force google into giving it back to me. In the interim I have learned some new tricks, like how to link up to paypal to sell work.

The Wapsipinicon Almanac

For any who follow my work, I will be appearing with Todd Kimm in the Wapsipinicon Almanac. It is published out of Iowa and covers many subject. It has been described as a cross between the New Yorker and the Farmers Almanac, and is a Midwest staple. Founded in the 1970's the owner publishes on old letterpress presses.
Unfortunately the link option does not seem to be working properly; their website is www.wapsialmanac.com

Proof of my Family Oni

Yes, my family has an oni. We tend to be haunted by dyslexia with a touch of aphasia.

AN print

Blue Fork Lady

Immaculatta