Ok Ok

So I haven't been so good at the "image a day" thing. Life gets in the way as it often seems to--overtime at work, an hour or two of printing squeezed in here and there, working on the comic, a rash of uninspiring dates (and one good one). With all the mayhem, I almost forgot to post the final save the date for Jenn and Brian's wedding.

Behold the horror of the deckled edge for yourself. Kidding! I like them very much, bumpy edges and all!

I Heart NY

Guess I don't really need to say anything else.

This is Where I Last Saw It

A very pink print for a very dreary day. It's pouring out! I like the sound of the rain on my window, it's soothing. I have a feeling I'm going to consume a lot of hot tea while I work on the comic. this afternoon.

This monoprint, with its melodramatic title (it's supposed to be a bit self-effacing and tongue-in-cheek, not melancholy. I meant, I "last saw it" in the same way i am constantly misplacing my keys and tiny important pieces of paper), is maybe a little self indulgent, but sort of how I'm feeling today.

Shameless Self Promotion

Check out Justin's blog, the journal entries of one Ms. Velma Grayden, heroine of our graphic novel in progress, The Wonder City.

She's pretty hot if I do say so myself.

www.velmagraydon.blogspot.com

Pretty Plastic Flowers

After three printings (and some minor hair tearing out) Jenn and Brian's save the dates are all finished and, Jenn informs me, in the mail! I won't post a picture until any friends reading this receive them in the mail, so instead, a photo of the polymer plate I printed from. And decimated.

In order to get even ink coverage, I had to cut the plate up and print each element of my design separately. One problem I had was getting the type to print up nice and dark. I added more packing to bring the plate up a bit, but then the edges of the plate would begin to show. I suspect that because I was printing on such small paper on a Vandercook and had to confine my printing area to the edge of the printing bed. I heard that the best place to place the type or plate is in the middle of the bed. (That's why bigger paper is better than itty bitty paper, on a Vandercook anyway). I switched over to a Pilot Press to print the flowers and didn't have such problems. Check out the Briar Press Online Museum to see photos of these different presses. They're pretty cool! Someday I'd love to have my own pilot press. Maybe I'll start a fund for myself. You can donate next time you see me.

I learned two things from this project: 1) print on larger paper and cut down later; 2) no more deckled edges. Ever. Evereverever.

Anyway, they came out quite dainty and pretty. And very purple.

All Dressed Up

and ready to go out.

This is a monotype.

The Result

Started printing my paella poster tonight. First I monoprinted a tan background, and then struggled with the plate I cut up. Note to self, don't ever cut up another plate; it a very messy enterprise. Fortunately I like messy things. I'll probably continue to add to this.

The Evolution of a Plate

Remember this weirdness? I decided I wanted to see the indentation of the plate on the paper, so I cut the part I wanted to print out. Stay tuned for the continued massacre of a poor defenseless lithograph.

Umbrellas in Midtown

I'm umbrella mad. I found another umbrella print. How long can I keep this up?

This is a lithograph. We've been doing this long enough that you should be able to tell that by now.

Finally, back on Blogger.

More umbrellas for you to enjoy.

Rain Rain Go Away

I had a lazy lazy day today. The temperature has finally dropped so I laid in bed this morning, awake, but enjoying my warm comforter. The rain earlier this week proved to be the transition we needed to usher in the fall weather.

I had plenty of time this weekend to relax after my tiny printing anxieties of the other day. These were tempered by the real-life problems of those close to me. I don't like it when it rains on my friends.

Having a New York day so I'll post a New York photo. Saw best graffiti ever on the 7 train out to Queens.

Le sigh

I had probably the worst day of printing ever. Feeling very discouraged. Not a stellar week.

This is sad me.

An Ordinary Swell

is a line from some French poem I stumbled upon when trying to name this paper lithograph, colored with gouache.

I thought it might be nice to have some juicy color after my ugly grey litho plates from yesterday.

I also think it's fitting since I heard a heart warming love story today: my little 3 year old nephew is in love with his teacher's sister, who helps out at his preschool. All afternoon he kept telling my sis how much he missed her and wanted to go play at her house. Finally he allowed himself to be distracted by a TV show.

Oh Caden, I know how you feel. I have a big heart that is easily distracted too. How bittersweet.

Ok, it's like I can't help myself. I keep adding to it! It looks insane. I'm going to start making those notecards you get for free in the mail that say, "The artist whose work appears on this card is mentally ill. Please support mentally ill artists by donating $10."

Maybe if I got rid of those forks!? Damn those forks (and hands)!

(my mom just said she thought my newest litho looked very...unusual. that means she hates it!)

What I'm Working On Tonight

I'm working on a lithograph that is MUCH larger than the ones I usually do. My newest idea is to do a series of about four large prints inspired by vintage travel posters. A couple very quirky and a couple very simple. Anyway, first is my unfinished plate (which isn't crooked in real life; the plate is sorta bowed as it leans against the wall) and below it, a mock up I did started with.

I think, in a way, even though there's too much going on, the mock up is a little warmer and more lively. But there are certain things I like about the way the plate is turning out: the "slogan" at the top, the paella and the tablecloth. I need to mess around some more with the profiles and I hate hate hate the forks and hands. They look demented -- that one fork looks like it has a head on it! Those will be erased to make room for a big red "BARCELONA." (I think I might drop the "NAS" which was my little goof off way of paying tribute to my first piercing, Nas being the Catalan word for nose. At least according to the Internet)

Later, larger blocks of color will be added, probably monoprinted on.

All in all, I dunno how this is gonna come out! Drawing on a plate this big is messing up my sense of proportion. And the second drawing never seems as sincere as the first one. I'll be sure to post what I come up with after I print!

This is where I'll be spending Christmas. Pretty, huh?

My parents have lived in Sanibel, Florida for a couple years now, and with every visit it grows on me a little more. It's like forced relaxation there: eat, read, sleep, eat, read sleep.

Shoot the Clown

I'm sorry if clowns give you nightmares, but I like the super saturated colors in this photo.

This game seems sorta fucked up though. Shoot the Clown...point blank in the teeth? um...yikes.

Trip the Light

Tonight, my girls and I went to go see Fall for Dance or Dance for Fall, one or the other. I know nothing about dance, modern or otherwise, so Sara explained to me all about different styles we were seeing. Except for the ballet. I know a ballerina when I see one.

This is the closest thing to ballerinas that I could find. Confession, this photo wasn't originally black and white. (Thank you, Photoshop). I needed to make these square dancers look artsier. I hope you don't think less of me.

I took this photo at the Minnesota State Fair a couple years ago.

Well, my TV is turning on and off at will, so I think that means it wants me to go to bed.

Windows

This is another paper lithograph, printed from a xerox of a photo I took. I love the effect of these types of prints, but it's sort of strange to think that you're looking at this 4 mediums removed from the original. Photograph to xerox to print to web. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing the point.

Oh don't mind me. I'm just dead tired.

Quote of the Day

Overheard on 54 and Broadway:

"Oh, she's not evil, she's just going to hell."

heehee!

Here's a rather deranged monster lithograph, park of a Coney Island ride and rather messily monoprinted with color.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

Paradise

I can't believe I'm still updating this thing. It's been a while since I've stuck to anything for a month straight.

Walking through Soho from the graphics center to the subway tonight, I passed by a diner. One of those diners that is long and narrow, plopped right on the sidewalk. It had pink neon lights and all the people inside were lit up pink and happy. I envied them, the way you often do if you're on the outside looking in, especially if there's food and liquor involved.

Anyway, here's a photo of a different kind of diner (i.e. any diner that is not a Soho diner). I've been to Lowell twice and both times the Paradise Diner was closed. It sits outside one of the many former mills. I don't know if it's Lowell legend or fact, but I heard it's where Jack came up with his On the Road alter ego's name. I think I need an alter ego. Any suggestions?

This was taken with my beloved Rolleiflex.

My friend Vyvyan

Thinking about poor dead Sweet Pea the other day made me remember another anniversary--my poor fish, Vyvyan, has been gone for a year. Alas, Vyv suffered the indignity of being flushed down the toilet, but here is a portrait I painted of him in happier times.

Vyv hated this picture. He used to try to attack it through the bowl. He was a feisty lil guy.