Prints and printmaking

Above is an example of a stone Lithograph print.  I did this while in college.  The second picture is an example of the correct way to label it.  These types of prints show a space around the actual print when it is matted.  Although the whole process could be quite frustrating, I absolutely loved doing these prints.  The image was actually drawn onto a stone the exact size of the print.  We used a grease pencil to do it.  Since the stones were very heavy, I had to get the class assistant to help carry it from one place to another.  After the drawing was finished, there was a process to prepare the stone for printing.  The stone was inked and then ran through a hand cranked press.  The press was humoungous and it was hard to crank it.  Thus, you have a hand pulled print.  The whole process is a little more involved than all of that, but you get the basics.

The above picture is an example of another type of hand pulled print.  The drawing was hand engraved onto a metal plate and then printed through a hand cranked printing press.  The metal plate was much lighter than the stone.  I am not postivie that we used the same press for this.  I did not like this process as much.  Mainly because the hand engraving did not feel like drawing or painting to me.  It seemed more tedious.  I do like the way the print turned out though.

Next are a few examples of prints which were scanned and printed on a printer:

Both of these prints were made from original watercolors, scanned, and then printed on a printer.  Someone else actually did the dirty work on these for me.

Next time, I will write a little bit about photography.  :-)



A Thing or Two about What's New

First off, I am contemplating moving half way across the country.  This is not definite, but I have made a definite attempt to slim down my personal possessions.  I have decided that my bigger pieces have to go.  I have implemented a section in the Etsy shop labled pre-moving sale.   I have more to add to it, but who knows when that will happen.  Anyway, these works need to go.  Some are greatly reduced and some were underpriced to begin with.  Needless to say, there are bargains!!  I have also relisted a few items.  Some are in the sale and some are not.

I am still planning on having a giveway when my shop Facebook page reaches 75 viewers.  I have some new likes. Keep them coming; tell your friends.

In an upcoming blog, I plan on explaining the stone lithograph print process.  I currently have one print up using this process.  I took a course in college which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I would love to have access to this kind of equipment 24/7.  I would also love to have the muscles to do it!!

In other news, today is the first day since injuring my back (in the shower doing absolutely nothing) that I will be venturing out in the real world.  I will be visiting my dad for Father's day.  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!!!  I'm pretty sure he doesn't read my blog, though.  Also, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all of the dad's, stepdad's, and father figures out there.  You are loved and appreciated.  :-)

Inspiration and motivation

Should have.  Would have.  Could have.  These phrases do little to enhance motivation or inspiration.  Yet at times, we get caught up in this barrier to productivity.   Other times, the blank sheet of paper can seem so ominous.  The latter was my biggest problem in college.  I also had performance anxiety.  I could not paint or draw with others around.  This led to an enormous waste of studio time.  Our studio classes were 3 hours long.  I often left with nothing done at all.  One of my instructors gave us helpful advice about overcoming "The Block" know to all artists and writers at some time in their lives (unfortunately).  One of his best suggestions was to always carry around a sketchpad.  In the sketch pad should be any art related thought which came to mind.  Therefore, if you have a fleeting thought about drawing or painting butterflies dancing in the wind you should write it down in your sketchbook.  In fact, he asked us to take class notes in our sketch books.  A brilliant idea for ideas.  However, I have never followed through with this other than taking the class notes in my sketch book. I bet I still have them, somewhere.  It is a great idea, though, and I think I will start doing that.

At one point in time, I had an acquaintenance that called me his muse.  I was not sure what to think of that.  At the time, my life was kind of tragic.  It did not seem to me that anyone could grab any kind of inspiration out of my life.  Later on, I found out he was a preacher.  I have never had a muse. 

How a split second can change your life forever

Everyone has had one of those moments that changes your life drastically.  Something that happens in just a few seconds of time but has an after effect that lasts a lifetime or just a whole lot longer than you would like it to last.  I recently had two of those moments.  My life won't change forever, but I really wish I could take back both of those moments. 

The first was coming back from the second art show I have shown my work at.  Although I didn't sell anything, the show did generate some publicity.  I was within 30 minutes of my home when I managed to pull out in front of a SUV.  I wasn't hurt.  No one was.  It cost me about $500, my pride, and some minor inconveniences.  However, I had a lot to be thankful for.  Since my car is already 8 years old and paid for, I had recently contemplated dropping my comprehensive insurance.  I was so glad that I didn't.  I would not have been able to drive the car without body work.  I would not have been able to afford it without the insurance.

The other instance that I regret would probably have happened anyway.  I pulled something in my back.  I have not been able to do much the past few days.  The pain is horrible.  Yet, I still feel fortunate because I already have all the painkillers I could possibly need due to a knee injury.  Life is funny that way.  Now my knees seem to hurt a lot less too. 

More tomorrow!!  :-)