End of the Art Workshop

Today was the last day to make work in my silkscreen class. I have become a much better silkscreen printer after two weeks. Not nearly as many misregistered flubs and ink all over the place! Tomorrow our class of 13 has a look at everyone's work, cleans the studio and each student picks two prints for the show. Our exhibit is up for 2 hours in the gallery... 125 students showing work ranging from ceramic musical instruments to Holga photo prints. Cool.

And Saturday I get on the train and come home. I will be glad to see my loved ones. 

Photos next week! 

Accomplishments for Today

1. I got my old screens cleaned so I can use them. (This was no easy feat!)

2. I stood on my loaner rubber mat and went for walks. Hard to do because class is so interesting I don't want to take a break.

3. I set up a new bucket for Shelly's composting toilet. Don't ask.

4. I printed layers over existing layers when to do so might "wreck" the print.

5. I said no to going out to dinner so I could come "home" and rest. 

Can't quite believe tomorrow is Tuesday. Wow. I have so much I want to do before this ends...

love to all, Janice

Art is Tiring!

I'm tired. 

But, it's a good kind of tired. No class today, but I met up with Angela in the jewelery lab. She is working on etching plates, making prints and then making jewelery/sculpture from the plates. It's amazing. We had a yummy lunch and great art/life talk.

I worked on my own prints for a while, looking for backgrounds, and talking with Angela about where the figures "live". I'm ready to get back to work on Monday and first reclaim/clean my old screens and then print lots. 

I'm getting around ok. I have renamed the "dog car" the "Justy Subaru". If my religious upbringing taught me anything it was to personalize inanimate objects so the molecules stay in alignment! And a proper name should do that... This 1983 little, used-to- be- white car

 is serving my needs just fine. 

Ink on my shoe=happy

I am here in Santa Cruz at my workshop dressed in my thrift shop work clothing happy, happy, happy to be learning and making. If there were a photo to go with this post it would show 150+ people in 10 different studios painting, making jewelry, printmaking, and creating a site installation (I'm not sure what that is yet). Tonight the first 5 of the teachers gave presentations of their work. This was interesting and inspirational.

I love my class. There are some great artists in it, and the teacher is amazing. Tomorrow I print my first runs from my screens. Image? I hand drew some ladies with hairdos from a magazine I found in the studio. 

I forgot the cord to my camera so can't download images... Tonight I start my house sitting gig here in the country. Three dogs, four cats and lots of plants to water. I'm thinking of everyone and wish that all my art buddies were here with me. Maybe we should go as a big group next year???

Yawn, goodnight!  Janice

Fussing and More Fussing

I'm all wiggy about getting ready to leave home for 2 weeks. I'm always like this before a trip. I feel the need to take every item I own with me. I drive myself (and poor Ginger) crazy getting ready to go.

I'm really glad I took my own photos. This little plastic doll from the 60's is my favorite. She's a survivor and a traveler. I love the strange ball and how it's melting onto the floor. I hope she translates into something in my workshop.

Hi L. I miss you way too much, ouch.

Getting Ready to Go

I'm leaving for my two week silkscreen workshop on Saturday. I'm gathering supplies and trying to make some images for transparencies, but I can remind myself I can also work without xeroxes. I can draw! I took some advice from my friends and made my own photos of some of my favorite items. I have been playing with them in Photoshop Elements. I just wish I knew how to use this program!

Rule Number 7

Many thanks to Shelly and Beth for their comments. My Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rule#7 says: "Don't try to create and analyse at the same time. They're different processes" Good advice. I'm just going to get up tomorrow and paint and take a lot of photos of my stuff to use in my silkscreen workshop.

Time for Information

I'm getting a bit weirded out.
I'm leaving in less than two weeks for Cabrillo College Art Camp.
The instructions say to start working on your imagery now.
I have a pile xerox images, lots like the doll above and old books and a feeling of general insanity to back it all up.
Will I fly off my broom, never to return?

Sometimes my own art weirds me out. I work on this general theme of trust and process and just try to move forward.
But at the moment I have three new paintings I'm working on which both unnerve me and make me happy all at once.
It's like greeting old friends...
"Oh yes, those four strange rabbits, well yes, now that I have been painting you I do remember your story."

If this makes any sense to anyone let me know.
Why do we do what we do?

Chef Pito or Chef Pedo

One of the highlights of the holiday weekend, A. made homemade mac and cheese.

We ate every bit.

It was 95 this weekend in the valley and 68 and windy at the coast. This am when I walked the dogs I wished I had a jacket on instead of a sweater. To live right next to the Pacific Northwest ocean one has to adjust one's thinking about what constitutes summer. The Waldport fireworks got fogged out, but the Yachats fireworks display was beautiful. A, M and I watched from our plastic chairs with layers of clothing, hats and blankets. So funny and different from my childhood.

I'm glad to be home.
I started new paintings tonight. One I'm especially interested in has 4 demonic looking rabbits. More soon.