Monoprinting bliss

Lately I've been craving a new way of creating imagery.  I feel like I need a big old gust of fresh air into my work.  So I've spent some time toiling away and staring into space at my desk and finally decided to try a technique that I haven't used since my art school days...Monoprinting.

Monoprinting is a method of printmaking where only one impression is made, rather than multiple.  There are many ways of doing this, but I used a piece of plexiglass, Dr. PH Martin's super saturated ink, and acrylic black ink with a paintbrush.

I found a piece of plexiglass lying around in my cabinet and I was ready to go!  Once I go started I wondered what had taken me so long to use this method!  Especially for texture and controlled, yet unpredictable, swaths of color.

I even tried printing on top of some existing etchings I had lying around.  I love the way these little blobby moths turned out.

Happy printing happy days

the lonely night

So thrilled to share this completed commission.  I've been waiting for an excuse to draw a whale, and then this opportunity presented itself.  Also got to use one of my favorite little printmaking techniques:  dusting magnesium carbonate powder over a freshly inked plate to prevent the ink from transferring in those spots.  Dusty stars!

"the mountain thinks it's left the earth"

A doodle inspired by a quote from poet, Mark Leidner.  This phrase has followed me ever since I first read it in Mark's book, "the angel in the dream of our hangover" published by Sator Press 2011.  I hope to develop this into something finished when I have the time.

<3

True Story

leafy leaves leave

I'm currently reviving a little book project that I put on hold over a year ago.  I decided just too much effort had gone in already to let it die.  Looking back at all my old sketches, it is fun to redo, and refurbish them in ways that feel fresh to me now.

Thought I'd just share a couple little details of weird scans and sketches as I play around.

April Shower

I'm not sure I officially announced it here on the blog, but I'm thrilled to have a line of holiday card designs and 2013 calendars coming out this year via Smudge Ink!  I know it seems early for holiday, but in the world of wholesale this is right on time.  I will be able to share more details later, but for now the production is finally done and here they are in a splatter!



Also, check out my freshly updated website, where you can view these in more detail.
Enjoy the April showers!

Study for a Whale

A sketch for an etching I will be working on over the next couple weeks. 

Hopefully I will finish this before my trip to Italy!! (more on that later)
In the meantime Happy Friday!