tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74052551007120422132012-01-21T11:49:39.920-05:00Printmaking, painting, drawing, all to satisfy the muse.spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.comBlogger701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-16024083951116633202011-11-26T11:52:00.004-05:002012-01-21T11:49:39.935-05:00

I do most of my etching work at the wonderful Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop (RBPMW) on 39th street in NYC. The top photo is me at RBPMW working on one of my latest etchings. The photo underneath is also at RBPMW and shows a view of two of the Charles Brand presses, artist Beth Sutherland working on one of her etchings, and beyond her is the aquatint box and door to the acid room. Over

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-15495198523433218032011-11-25T20:48:00.003-05:002011-12-06T20:02:28.147-05:00

Sandow Birk first came to my attention a few years ago when I was introduced to his woodcut series, The Depravities of War, in a book by the same name.  I just read an article about a new project where he and his wife, artist Elyse Pignolet created two maps of the world, one from an American, politically conservative point-of-view and another from an American, politically liberal point-of-view.

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-75915894294873736422011-11-06T18:36:00.005-05:002011-11-06T18:47:54.213-05:00

"Scream" Monotype, 2010 My work (including the monotype, "Scream" seen above) is featured in the current issue of Carrier Pigeon Magazine which is celebrating its 1st Anniversary! Stop by the reception for the 1st anniversary exhibition on November 18th (see detailed info above) and check out this beautifully crafted magazine and some of the original works that have been featured in Carrier

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-44295225130177688202011-10-07T11:17:00.002-04:002011-10-07T11:19:47.197-04:00

Cattle Car Etching, 9" x 6" This was a test plate where I mixed different techniques together to see what effects I could get: strong hatched lines mixed with the crayon aquatint as well as white ground effects. I usually don't do alot of crosshatching and rarely combine this with my usual aquatint tonal shading but since I was experimenting here I wanted to see what would happen. The jury

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-18071419062068997172011-09-27T09:41:00.003-04:002011-10-09T23:25:58.465-04:00

Got some upcoming shows if you are in the New York metro area. See calendar on the the right for more details. From October 15 until October 25, I'll have work in a show at the Sacred Gallery which highlights artwork contributed to Carrier Pigeon Magazine. Some of my work is included in the upcoming issue 4 of Carrier Pigeon.  From October 16 until October 29, my work can be seen at the Robert

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-78340012665943816702011-08-01T14:06:00.000-04:002011-08-01T14:06:51.187-04:00

 For the Kidsetching on paper, 2011  12" x 18" Above is the second state of an etching that I had been working on for months (not continuously but I started this back in April). I decided that the shadows under the truck needed deepening and I figured this would be a quick finale to a long process of working on this plate. Since I don't have an etching set up in my studio, I need to etch at one

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-90653325102838612652011-07-03T17:27:00.003-04:002011-07-03T17:31:52.701-04:00

As someone who has worked as a graphic designer I've seen how the Constructivist and succeeding Bauhaus movements influenced designers tremendously in the 20th century. My work has also been inspired and greatly influenced by these masters of graphic communication and I am always eager to see more from this genre. So, I thought I'd share some info on this show in NY at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-30310464453796014732011-06-12T16:25:00.001-04:002011-06-12T16:29:37.057-04:00

Why?aquatint etching on paper, 2011Currently on display at the National Arts Club in New York City Well, I had a two openings this past week, back-to-back on Thursday and Friday nights. They both had great turnouts and the artwork in both of these group shows was first-rate, really great work. It was great to see many of my fellow artists (and friends) and their incredible work. If you can make

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-45140492071622508962011-06-12T16:04:00.002-04:002011-06-12T16:30:43.882-04:00

I just discovered this new art form and I think it's pretty fabulous. It's reminiscent of reductive monotyping and it also draws attention to environmental concerns. The "graffiti" is created by cleaning dirty walls in strategic ways to create art reductively. Though the police are seen harassing these artists in the video, I can't see anything illegal about cleaning a wall. Even so, it seems

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-26166492718440718392011-06-07T14:37:00.003-04:002011-06-12T16:31:10.707-04:00

Spider Ink Studio blog has been listed as one of the 50 Best Blogs by Printmakers. Please go to http://www.interior-design-degree-online.org/printmakers and see all the great listings they've got for all you printmakers out there. Thanks to Tracy for including this blog in the top 50. Interior-Design-Degree-Online

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-36618021544339373402011-05-06T21:17:00.001-04:002011-05-17T00:10:54.374-04:00

I just received an e-mail from someone who read my non-toxic etching post from last year. I realized after rereading the post that the information there needs to be updated. It was written after just one test with a copper sulfate solution and I erroneously reported that the etching time for zinc in copper sulfate was the same as with nitric acid. This is definitely not the case. The copper

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-36346450854413905492011-03-14T12:29:00.000-04:002011-03-14T12:29:46.505-04:00

It's been a rough couple of months with my husband being very sick requiring frequent trips to the ER, surgeries and quite a few hospital stays, but I'm hoping that we're coming out on the other side of all of this. Though we just spent the weekend in the ER yet again and I'm sitting next to his hospital bed as I type this. I know my postings have continued to be few and far between. I'm not

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-83763869561939162862011-01-04T14:58:00.003-05:002011-01-04T15:04:36.278-05:00

After reading my last few posts from the fall semester, I realized that I had promised to post work that I had done then. I wish I had been more timely with this post, but I have a few photos that I can share with you now. Here was my first installation project. It was lit from within so that you could see the shadows of people hovering over the animals (etchings printed on very thin asian

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-50431259933741979312011-01-04T14:38:00.001-05:002011-01-04T15:13:06.569-05:00

The SkepticEtching on Rives BFK This past fall, I experimented with etching techniques that I hadn't tried before such as white ground etching. For the print above, I used white ground as an acid resist on a zinc plate. White ground is a soapy mixture that allows the artist to build up thicker layers of resist where the acid can't reach the plate as well as thinner, gradated areas that are more

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-65484592786247968072010-12-07T22:30:00.002-05:002010-12-07T22:36:03.522-05:00

School turned out to be much more intense and demanding than I had originally thought it would be. I had hoped to keep an online diary of my progress on this blog throughout my grad school experience but I felt like I barely had time to sleep and eat, let alone do anything beyond the endless assignments required of my first semester. I had expected more time to develop my ideas and explore new

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-29071043662409528862010-10-21T11:33:00.001-04:002010-10-21T11:34:36.712-04:00

Reaching10" x 6.5" lithograph Sorry for the very belated post. My schedule has been insane and I've been struggling to fit sleeping and eating into my school schedule, so the blog was neglected for a bit. But I'm back, hoping to close the gap in between posts. The above lithograph was my first attempt at this medium. I used a stone for this particular print and I must say that I like the texture

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-49210200329177006462010-09-05T11:34:00.004-04:002010-09-06T09:55:17.660-04:00

I've just finished the first two weeks of my first semester in grad school and it's been a pretty intense time. It's been an big adjustment going from setting my own schedule as a freelance artist/designer to adhering to one that requires me to be in class 5 days a week and there late most nights of the week. The exciting thing is that I am learning alot of new stuff. One project involves

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-36705724171347673222010-08-13T15:47:00.002-04:002010-08-18T19:53:13.431-04:00

"Altered Direction"Monotype on Lama Li paper  I'm to going to soon start graduate school in printmaking. This marks a big change in my career direction as well as my life. I'm going in as a non-traditional student due to my advanced years compared to my fellow grad students. It should be an interesting experience since the last time I was in college was in the mid-80s. Even though I have a

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-87183440325674928472010-08-01T12:27:00.000-04:002010-08-01T12:27:27.413-04:00

Carrier Pigeon Magazine is being published by a really talented artist and printmaker, Russ Spitowsky. I've seen the pilot issue and it's beautifully designed and features several talented artists including quite a few printmakers. The cover image was created by Bruce Waldman (Amie Roman had a great post last year on Bruce that you can see here). Russ is looking for contributions in order to

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-66776182465425278822010-07-21T14:17:00.004-04:002010-07-21T14:26:31.256-04:00

Quick sketch from my visit to the Grand Tetons last week. I visited Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons last week and it was really beautiful. The sky was cloudless during most of my stay there and the temperature rarely went above 73 degrees according to my rental car's thermometer. During the day the sky was bright blue and windy for a couple of days leaving me mercifully bug-free

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-35526757406458251802010-06-26T20:01:00.002-04:002010-06-27T08:48:58.375-04:00

"Pain"Monotype on Rives BFK Here's another monotype from my primates-held-captive monotype series. 

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-13351839791804022222010-06-19T13:59:00.004-04:002010-06-20T09:52:54.120-04:00

"Sundown"WoodcutPlate size: 13 1/4" x 12" I am attempting to expand my printmaking focus and create more woodcut prints. One reason is that I love the way the wood grain comes through on the print. I also find the act of carving the wood very therapeutic, almost meditative. The wood also guides me, helping me with the direction that I take the work and I love aspect of the creative partnership

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-52462877368726264032010-06-07T00:10:00.002-04:002010-06-07T09:42:42.429-04:00

Digging through some boxes, I came across this note that I haven't seen in years but kept because it's part of a story that I always wanted to remember. When folded the front reads, "To the woman with the long brown hair on the parlor floor..." and the inside reads, "There's a duck in your backyard, this isn't a joke. Please take care of him." It's a story that partially inspired this etching

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-40136606550511640422010-05-23T11:17:00.002-04:002010-05-23T21:04:27.260-04:00

"Lab Animal"Plate size: 15" x 11 3/8"  Monotype on Rives BFK This is another monotype that is part of a series that I'm doing on primates used for vivisection in the labs. My work on these monoprints has been difficult in two ways. Firstly, and more poignantly, I have to work through the anger and disgust that I feel at the scientists who torture primates, sentient and sensitive cousins to our

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-81826896954481439612010-05-14T10:32:00.001-04:002010-05-14T10:34:07.994-04:00

"Not Alarmed Yet"Pastel on monotype, Rives BFK There are times when monotypes don't come out the way you planned and that can be a good thing resulting in a "happy accident" where you end up with something both wonderful and unexpected. However, this is not always the case with some monotypes, sometimes they just don't come out well at all. So what to do? I had been taking all my failed prints (

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-49584693112414009322010-04-30T07:32:00.003-04:002010-04-30T11:41:07.818-04:00

 "Nowhere to Hide" Plate size: 10" x 8" Monotype on Rives BFK Amie Roman let me know about great idea by Carol Nunan over at Horsley Printmakers. Carol has a post on her blog, Carol's Original Prints, asking printmakers to post their techniques for creating monotypes and monoprints. Amie has a great post about how she creates monoprints, please go check it out. Also, you should take a look at the

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-84168938394497999762010-04-26T17:37:00.008-04:002010-04-26T18:00:14.506-04:00

 "Vivisection Victims #809,689,432 & 3"Plate size: 18" x 24"Aquatint Etching Keeping with themes that define my work and that mean the most to me, I am working with an issue that invariably cuts to the heart of how misguided and immoral we can be as humans. I am specifically referring to vivisection, torture of animals in the name of science. The word "vivisection" literally means "the action

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-1999816005902647512010-04-06T16:46:00.001-04:002010-04-06T16:47:23.799-04:00

"Scream"Plate Size: 8" x 10"Monotype When I just want to get into my studio and work spontaneously I've been turning more and more to monotypes to get my creative juices flowing. I find the work addictive since it's such a fast and satisfying way to produce a print. It's also a way that I can quickly experiment with different ways to ink the plate and helps give me ideas for other printmaking

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-45763967990290582812010-03-26T13:16:00.000-04:002010-03-26T13:16:53.600-04:00

MoMA has a very short video featuring Kiki Smith working on a copper plate using a spit bite method. Here's the link: http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2003/kikismith/flash.html, click on "Process" and then you get to the video by clicking on her Come Away From Her (after Lewis Carroll) image. The "Process" section also includes other works including a state-by-state image gallery of

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-47766415206294982992010-03-19T14:40:00.000-04:002010-03-19T14:40:44.615-04:00

I came across a video by master printer, Emily York at Crown Point Press. It explains aquatint and sugar lift processes pretty clearly and succinctly. If you are interested in a primer on sugar lift etching, this is worth a look. I had mentioned in a previous post, one of my plates where I used sugar lift and then aquatinted over it completely obliterating my original sugar lift image.

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-82584941271770710102010-03-02T23:30:00.000-05:002010-03-02T23:30:36.590-05:00

Back in March of last year, I posted some info on Pronto plates and mentioned a demo by Mirka H. on printing from Z-Acryl plates which are similar to Pronto plates. Well, Mirka H. has a new post up with some great added info based on testing she's done on Z-Acryl plates as well as close-up images of some of the prints based on her tests. So, if you're interested in this process, check out her

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-41462941706318768362010-01-22T14:49:00.005-05:002010-01-26T10:23:31.834-05:00

Typical Day at the Circus plate size: 18" x 24" aquatint etching on Rives BFK This is one of the latest etchings I've done. It was a big plate and a bit more difficult to aquatint and get the tonality that I was trying to achieve in some areas but after a few etching states, I finally got the depth and atmospheric tone I was going for.

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-26774862195395444522010-01-14T11:50:00.002-05:002010-01-14T11:53:16.952-05:00

For all of you printmakers out there, I've been doing some research on non-toxic (or much less toxic) etching techniques that I can do in my studio without needing to install an exhaust system. I came across NontoxicPrint.com and they outlined a way to etch zinc plates (which I use) without nitric acid and the toxic fumes it emits. You can actually etch zinc, aluminum and steel in a mixture of

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-13414558890482279342009-12-28T14:28:00.005-05:002009-12-29T13:52:36.426-05:00

"Taken," plate size 6" x 9" “Awaiting Their Fate," plate size 10" x 8" "Dairy Cow II," plate size: 28” x  20” I have been experimenting with monotypes and I find the process pretty addictive. I work on a plate from anywhere between 1 and 3 hours (depending on the size of the plate) and I get a unique print with qualities that I can't achieve any other way. Also, it's a such an enjoyable

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-5400203307691990312009-12-11T13:17:00.001-05:002009-12-13T16:43:32.995-05:00

  "Interiors," a group show presented by the Flat Iron Gallery that is hanging at the Upper Gallery of the Paramount in Peekskill opened last night. The etching above is included in the show. It depicts a recurring dream I had as a child and fit the theme of the show nicely since it reflects my interior mind and is staged in an interior. It was a good thing this piece was finished when I was

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-85264178709812541822009-11-15T19:51:00.000-05:002009-11-15T19:51:25.296-05:00

My solo show came down today and I thought that as a celebration of a successful run, I'd post a drawing from the show. This is a magnificent ram of the Jacob Sheep breed. I loved photographing and drawing him as well as his little son. His son was featured in a couple of previous posts here (with mother) and here (scroll down for photo).

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-12643899451963284352009-11-05T11:09:00.005-05:002009-11-05T11:18:55.912-05:00

I just discovered a cool ephemera blog that has many vintage photos, drawings and prints. Check out the latest post of vintage Mexican prints at http://assemblyman-eph.blogspot.com/.

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-2533154593357367162009-10-24T16:20:00.010-04:002010-01-26T10:23:00.439-05:00

I've been working on an etching series featuring animals being stalked by human shadows alluding to the deadly fate that they face daily in the human world. By experimenting with textures and different acid resists I was able to achieve the eerie atmosphere in the prints that define the series. This series was created with a mixture of effort to tap into my most gut-wrenching feelings about

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-37173101113822421152009-09-20T10:40:00.004-04:002009-09-20T10:49:15.350-04:00

I realize it's been a while since I posted but I've been getting ready for a show coming up which has kept me pretty busy. I'll be showcasing a new print series of etchings along with some of my drawings and paintings. The show starts next Sunday, September 27 and runs through to November 14. If you're in the Peekskill, NY area, please come to the opening on Saturday, October 3 from 3-6pm at the

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-2948620195252171162009-08-26T10:48:00.006-04:002010-01-26T10:24:17.322-05:00

I've been experimenting with textures in my aquatints and the results can be surprising and interesting. I used a burlap texture for this subject, a cow who spends her days with her head locked in bars that do not allow her to turn around, move very much at all. Her eyes are truly void of any hope, or light, or anything beyond her misery. UPDATE: For a good article on the plight of farm animals

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-5532724439371129342009-08-09T11:08:00.013-04:002009-08-10T17:52:54.666-04:00

We had a great day at Brown Street Studios. The Mayor of Peekskill, Mary Foster, officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new building sign. The pic above is of John Ford (the building owner) and me cutting the ribbon. Mayor Foster is on the left and the people surrounding us are mostly the rest of the artists at Brown Street Studios.After the ceremony, we invited everyone up for a tour of

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-53597116307024392462009-07-22T11:55:00.005-04:002009-08-03T15:29:11.286-04:00

I just took a silk aquatint workshop with Kathy Caraccio and it was a great experience. The technique uses only water-based mediums to create the plate and was printed with Faust AquaLine water-soluable inks. It was great fun and a more eco-friendly and inexpensive alternate to traditional aquatint techniques. I should say though, the results of working on this kind of plate differ greatly from

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-17807802175110690482009-06-26T14:35:00.018-04:002009-07-03T12:01:40.518-04:00

I did a test plate using the water-soluble hard-ground, Z*Acryl. I just freehand sketched this goat kid onto the plate feeling out the differences between the way the etching needle cuts into the Z*Acryl hard ground versus the traditional asphaltum-based hard ground. I found that in the areas where my hand was light, the point "skipped" yielding a dotted line. Yet, overall the line was even and

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-34257217777837367942009-06-08T16:42:00.004-04:002009-06-08T17:09:48.951-04:00

After a long process of internal deliberations, town approvals and the actual physical creation of it, the Brown Street Studios sign was finally installed above the door just in time for Open Studios.The weather was beautiful and we had a steady stream of visitors all weekend. Most of the artists in the building had their studios open and there was a festive feeling in the air as we came

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-87979696216592618952009-05-29T14:03:00.006-04:002009-05-29T14:26:11.041-04:00

I've been going to the local farm alot lately sketching new subjects and compositions for upcoming work. It's an exciting time there now since it seems all the animals have had children and these babes are running all over the place.And I love to visit the donkeys who are always so expressive in their body language and are usually pretty active. The larger of the two donkeys walked over to a

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-41383626482456113762009-05-11T19:17:00.021-04:002009-05-14T12:55:41.258-04:00

Sorry for the temporary lapse in posting here, folks. Tons of crazy and frantic stuff going on in Spider Ink land. I just finished designing and organizing the production of a new building sign for Brown Street Studios where I have my studio in Peekskill. I think it's going to look great once it's up, hanging under it's bracket, but alot of work went into getting the town permits as well as the

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-44532341911916490562009-04-15T10:26:00.007-04:002009-04-18T19:12:25.431-04:00

I've been playing around with multiple-plate etchings and it's an interesting process that yields interesting results. There are many printmakers that use this process to register intricate work with aquatints, overlaying color fields to create new colors from the overlapping colors.For me this process is a way to experiment with multiple plates each done with a different etching technique, to

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-17327631924508553962009-03-30T07:49:00.005-04:002009-03-30T08:36:23.493-04:00

There's been alot of things going on in Spider Ink land and it's been tough to squeeze everything I want and need to do in between everything I have to do. Sometimes when the schedule gets crazy like this I have to find a way to carve time out when I can just create in the studio and shut everything else out for a while. The problem is that my muse doesn't always show up on schedule and the

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-33368674287684243602009-03-12T16:59:00.003-04:002009-03-12T17:10:35.725-04:00

A friend of mine, fellow painter and printmaker, Kevin Kall, sent this link to me and I thought I'd share. There is a wonderful video demonstration by Mirka H showing printing process with a Z-Acryl plate. I just wish there was a closeup image of the final prints made. I am curious about this process since it allows one to make lithographic prints on an etching press and with a lot less

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-88102832034797206622009-03-08T11:11:00.003-04:002009-03-08T11:55:03.472-04:00

For this Hudson River landscape, I used a technique that Bruce Waldman (check out Amie Roman's great post on Bruce over at Burnishings) showed me that involves drawing with a litho crayon directly onto the plate (without a ground coating). The plate is then open bit and the image comes through the texture of the crayon's marks. As I've said before, I love the freedom and freshness of the mark

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-45852213783378312392009-03-02T13:54:00.005-05:002009-03-02T14:51:49.083-05:00

I don't believe that I've discussed soft-ground techniques before, but it's fast becoming one of my favorite ways to etch a plate. I've spoken about the use of litho crayons in etching in a previous post as well as my penchant for sketching and I'd like to expound further on how useful I find litho crayons (and pencils) to be on a soft-ground plate. The above etching was created that way. Though

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-65231703556638525012009-02-12T19:52:00.003-05:002009-02-12T20:20:43.833-05:00

I just acquired an etching press last week and I am printing to my heart's content without having to be at the mercy of printmaking workshop hours and lines waiting to use presses.It is taking me some time to figure out how to set up my studio in a way to make the printmaking process go as efficiently as possible. But I am well on my way to getting it all down and hopefully, I will start creating

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-32573507470281535082009-02-02T19:31:00.003-05:002009-02-02T20:16:06.277-05:00

I'm planning to get more involved with monoprinting and I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of effects I can get just by using a brayer loaded with color. I had started a bit of this while working on some woodcuts (as seen with the gourd print) and I am fascinated with the process of combining monoprint painting on a woodcut plate as well as on the customary plexiglass plate.My friend and

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-14682952363236610872009-01-22T18:51:00.003-05:002009-01-22T19:28:12.506-05:00

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, hence the interruption in my posting schedule. I will try not to do that again or at least give a "heads up" if it's unavoidable.I find that when working with etching plates, there are always endless ways to change the plate and sometimes experimenting as I go through a number of plate states will result in a final image that I'm happy with. But there are other

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-17156138199262800752009-01-08T09:33:00.003-05:002009-01-08T09:44:56.692-05:00

We had quite the ice storm Tuesday night into Wednesday resulting in us being stuck home for the day. I sometimes like to be home safe and warm while I watch a winter storm doing its thing outside, especially if it's snowing. But that wasn't the case on Wednesday, it was all ice and all day long we heard trees and branches crashing outside in the many wooded areas in our neighborhood. We sadly

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-35259474995029805242009-01-04T12:26:00.006-05:002009-01-04T13:08:56.673-05:00

I have mentioned the importance and the joy of sketching in a previous post. But I'd like to go further and talk about how a drawing can tell a story about what was going on that day in the form of a sketch or as seen in this post, a woodcut print.I like to use panels when creating my print plates to suggest a story, a context, for what the resulting print is to be about. Each panel represents

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-24805616027973964322008-12-30T11:35:00.007-05:002009-04-09T13:38:42.336-04:00

This print reflects the first state of a sugarlift plate that I did of the Hudson Palisades (for color version of final print see previous post, Hudson Line). I added aquatint and drypoint lines to the etched sugarlift plate before printing because I was too impatient to print the sugarlift alone knowing that I would take it further with aquatint.I really like the painterly quality of the line

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-44645750820964124492008-12-20T12:36:00.009-05:002008-12-20T15:29:56.147-05:00

I've found that I love most printmaking techniques that I know but up until recently I felt more drawn to linocut and woodcut printmaking. It may be because I am a graphic designer and these techniques yield a more graphic image than etching and monoprint does. Or it may be the therapeutic way I can "zen out" when I am carving a plate.Recently, though, I have been doing alot more drawing/

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-16261461907577405602008-12-18T14:05:00.011-05:002008-12-18T15:42:42.433-05:00

One of my challenges as an artist is trying to depict the energy that comes from a subject in motion. Releasing my line to flow with fluidity and abandon is difficult for me at best. It's such an alluring trap to tighten up as I draw and there is always the danger that by doing so I can suck the life right out of my drawing. But if I manage to stay loose and let my lines be expressive, I can

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-65205955817259735972008-12-09T08:32:00.007-05:002009-04-09T13:38:00.811-04:00

The printmaking studio that I use is in New York City and I have to commute to get there using the Metro North train - Hudson Line. The ride is spectacular as the tracks stretch along the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Across the river are the Palisades, cliffs that jut out from the tree-filled hills that rise above the river. I've always loved the view of the Palisades cliffs and as I passed

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-52063445354321428242008-12-08T09:38:00.010-05:002009-04-09T13:35:46.024-04:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, Danny Gregory has come out with a book that I can't wait to get, An Illustrated Life, which includes sketch images from artists of all stripes and should be inspirational in addition to a feast for the eyes.I have also come across a new book that looks very interesting, Exhibition 36: Mixed-Media Demonstrations + Explorations. A first book by Susan Tuttle, an

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-84820323507703929852008-11-30T15:04:00.012-05:002009-04-09T13:34:25.586-04:00

This is one of my holiday cards based on dogs that I've met at the dog park when I've been there with my dogs. It's called "Running through the Snow."I paint digitally only when I'm looking for the immediacy of having the image in the computer to use for printing (such as a greeting card). The application, Painter, has a robust toolset that enables artists to "paint" in a variety of virtual "

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-20057011134421609462008-11-22T13:32:00.004-05:002009-04-09T13:36:13.846-04:00

Sketching is one of my favorite activities though I don't do it as often as I'd like (or should). There is something exciting about the spontaneity of the drawing regardless of whether a close likeness is achieved. In fact, the freshness and lack of meticulousness of the drawing can exude a magical quality that sometimes is missing in more labored and refined works.I love to see other people's

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-89766207815156803932008-11-16T13:57:00.005-05:002009-04-09T13:34:52.488-04:00

This etching, titled "Begonia," was created using several techniques including aquatint. However the soft, muted branches in the background were done with the spitbite technique of painting with the acid directly on the plate with a brush. It's a nice way to get muted tones and/or subjects into your composition.

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-10445940154620009342008-11-07T11:35:00.004-05:002008-11-07T11:43:41.187-05:00

Though I am very fond of woodcut and linocut printmaking, I've been doing alot of etching lately. I like to see how my line etchings work with a few test prints and then if I feel it's necessary to take it a step further, I'll add aquatint values to the print.The coot above was looking for food beneath the water surface, however the reflection was so clear it almost seemed he was admiring

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-19981763677651708472008-10-30T19:28:00.010-04:002009-04-13T17:05:17.712-04:00

Here is another painting from the farmers market show. This pregnant goat was in the cage with the pig (mentioned in a previous post). The sign above her read, "goat - $100." I worried about her fate as I did the pig in this urban setting. I named this painting "Blue Goat" for obvious reasons but also to reflect the mood of this terrible situation for this unfortunate being and her

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-4020437321113808542008-10-26T19:19:00.010-04:002008-10-28T11:15:04.243-04:00

Here's a detail of one of four of my paintings in a local group show entitled, "Interpretations of a Farmers Market." This gentle pig is the same subject that I used for the aquatint etching previously posted. The pig was in a cage at the farmers market and I was struck by the fact that the pig and other animals in the cage (goat, chickens) were not given straw to lie down on and were subjected

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-5068080063858996342008-10-20T11:33:00.011-04:002008-10-28T11:14:32.292-04:00

My sister and I headed upstate to the Rhinebeck area to see a friend's open studio as part of an open studio tour happening up there. It was great to see James and his wonderful studio and he helpfully guided us to other notable studios participating. One, in particular, was that of a glassblower who's work was reminiscent of Chihuly and his demonstration of how he works was really fascinating.I

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-24785797093906893912008-10-17T16:28:00.001-04:002008-10-28T11:13:51.611-04:00

My work will be in a group show, a mixed media exhibit,  "Interpretations of a Farmers Market" in Peekskill, NY at Gallery 25 N, 25 North Division Street.  The opening is October 25th from 2-6 pm.  Gallery hours are from 1-6 October 24-26 only. It's sponsored by Artists on the Loose, a local Peekskill art organization.This very gentle and affectionate pig was in a cage at the market. I call this

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405255100712042213.post-74236537562274955942008-10-17T14:25:00.002-04:002009-05-11T20:50:49.108-04:00

After being a devoted blog reader (mostly political and art blogs), I am finally starting my own blog. I plan to post new works in printmaking and painting as I create them and I hope to get feedback that will help me grow as an artist. I am a painter and avid sketcher but currently most of my time is devoted to printmaking. I tend to get completely engrossed in my work when in the printmaking

spiderinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206866901146903319noreply@blogger.com2