Bonus!

Just printed this and too excited to wait until Monday ;)

phase 5 - have the fortitude to try again (and again)

 We have a tree! This week I carved the tree trunk and now have the base components to try building a tree! Even though I'm still missing some critical components (um - like the entire body below the neck, haha) I couldn't help testing it out right away. 

a closer view - 7 parts  - once I have the composition I'll heal the seems between the parts with color pencil
so that (hopefully!) the junctions won't be distracting in the final piece

last week

 In the spirit of phase 5 and trying again, I also made adjustments to the squirrel from last week. I went in thinking "O, it just needs a few minor adjustments" (uh oh).  I ended up printing ants, recarving and reprinting the acorn and leaves, carving a new block for the plane, heightening the drawing on the squirrel... [note to self: "minor adjustments" = false ]

now

Once the parts were glued down and dry
I drew around the collage parts
so that the paper around them takes on the pattern
 from the background, making them subtly blend in..

new blocks this week

Phase 5 is turning out to be challenging. Part of the challenge for me is admitting that the previous attempt was in some way insufficient, and analyzing why and/or what has changed that would make re-attempting worthwhile.

For example - I started carving a new skull this week. Even though I just made a skull 8 weeks ago . It's hard to admit, but even though it was my best effort at the time and I like it, since then, I've changed the block material and upgraded tools. Also, the practice from making the first one may make the second one better, so I decided to try again...

irrationally, irritatingly, irresistible

I also decided that I "need" another parrot,
and when I think: "I'd like one with it's head frontal
 and the wings slightly fluffed,"
I can go into my personal archive of parrot photos
 and just happen to have exactly that (not kidding -
#symptoms of parrot obsession). 

 In thinking about trying again and what changes to make, I decided to put the new big tree collage on fabric that I matched as closely as possible to the paper of the collages. (I may sew the pieces down so that they aren't dependent on the glue... hmmmmm.)

In analyzing what changed to make, it occurred to me that there's a pattern in the way I modify the materials - always moving toward softer/lighter (i.e. things that I can carry/move myself). To make bigger things, I may need to give up the ghost of hope for a collaborator/ assistant/ or corporeal muse.

Researching tapestries
including this favorite -
 from the Apocalypse Tapestry,
Angers, France
late 14th century 

For me, one of the hardest parts of trying again is accepting that sometimes, it's more productive to let a piece go, that, as much as I might wish it otherwise, time/space/attention are limited. This week, I disassembled old unfinished pieces for parts, cleaned the studio, and painted the floor and am trying to look at it as "making room for new work."
(Self #2 asks: "yeah, how's that going?" Self #1: [sigh])

the garden continues to grow, but the leaves have started to fall

Farewell to Summer

On the one hand, listing "things I did last week" without much constructive commentary is kind of lame (sorry!); on the other hand, while it was an exciting week, my energy tank is empty, so a list it is (ah, would that I were more/better/more).

1) Moved toward finalized pieces:

using the new round paper and marbling techniques! and new oak leaf block
the leaf placement is not final - still working on that ;) ), but I love the way it looks like there are ripples extending out from the squirrel.

glued down and done, done

tried white printed flowers with white ink and color pencil here (also glued down and done, done :) 

still figuring out the bird placement (which will affect the feet - I may have to carve new/different bird feet).
 I made this paper just for this piece, and it includes the blue, gray, and gold tones of the objects and
I think will help the transition from the objects to the wall.

 2) Experimented with different techniques to make the most of pieces I have:
 

using a traditional material for the zodiac - gouache and ink

sharpened/ cleaned up the edges of this mini-block with the new, finer tools

I love, love my brand new Akua gold ink!

trying printing on different color papers 

a drawn original on the right and print, gold ink on green paper on the left -
getting closer :)

I drew on and individualized all the parrots
 (yes, all 12 of them - oy!)

added magnetic strips to the studio
walls so I can see all the
"parts waiting for homes"
(and feel slightly guilty/motivated)

 3) carved new blocks and learned 2 new techniques - Japanese and European paper marbling:

carved this full block, 9 x 12"
(possibly the most annoying block I've carved
so far)

not sure the zoomed out view does it justice
(in all its irritating/beautiful extraneous intricacy)

a new flower (and new white ink) -
these are from the same block -
getting more strategic and "building in" ways to adapt the
prints to give a variety of results ;)

this weeks new blocks -
branches, oak leaves and acorns, flower, (recarved) ants

the stars aligned for me to learn paper marbling!
Fantastic workshop at Publication Studio Hudson

4) prepared for new work next week

drew on, cut out the portrait head

after photographing dozens of trees all over town
(and no doubt looking like a flora-paparazza - zooming in on the bark, touching the trunks)
I found the one that matches as closely as possible with my ideal
(this block will coordinate with the branch block to
hopefully provide a home for all those parrots)

5) Museum/ gallery visits

I went to the Morgan Library and the Met (heart - pitter patter, pitter patter) where I got to see exhibitions on manuscript miniatures (including a zodiac!) Japanese wood block, Italian Renaissance drawing, and contemporary photography. 

some things that caught my attention from the permanent collections:
 Medieval zodiac ivory game piece, Roman gold glass, Dutch mother of pearl floral still life inlay, and more trees in giant pots in the courtyard:

Not only was I the strange person photographing trees on the streets of Hudson
(and in the museum) this week, I also got to be the weirdo photographing
just the frames all over the Met (a selection of some favorites)

I went to Double Bubble  opening at Press in North Adams, MA
featuring regional printmakers (! exciting and inspiring to see the fantastic prints
being created here and now!)

enjoyed art locally at Basilica Hudson,
a screening of recent films by Jodie Mack; an installation  (pictured - whale vertebra from
 "Bump" by Dan DenDanto and Frank DenDanto III) 

Also enjoyed great shows - Crazy in the Head , work by Pauline Decarmo at 

Gallery @ 46 Green Street and Three Artist Retrospective, work by Andrew Chan, Dallas Owens, and Zach Zeeger at Concepto Hudson. 

6) Para-art - applications submitted (1), gallery follow up (1), and gardening ( - visual plant research ;))

My sunflowers bloomed! (I had to cut this one because it was too heavy for the stalk)
I think this is so funny - like the little one is looking at the sunflower  thinking
"I want to be like you when I grow up" :)

Saw this at the Met last Sunday  - love.

Trying to wring every last drop of life out of summer before "the dark seasons" arrive.

zodiac

This week, I carved the signs of the zodiac.

[a voice of reason asks:] "The whole thing?"

 - Yes, the whole thing (oy.)

Aquarius

Pisces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cances

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

 These are small (but mighty ;)) - 1.75" in diameter (my fingers show the scale and a preparatory drawing).

I know I said I was going to slow down on carving (cough, cough, denial, cough, cough), but then, I got new tools... a little self-bribery was necessary to get through week 3 of the phase 4 block project, and I promised myself some new tools when I finished the project...

Up to now, I've been using mostly very inexpensive (i.e. costing less than a fancy cup of coffee) tools. They've served me well, but I was running into problems in the finer, more delicate areas. My new beauuuutiful, Japanese tiny tools and sharpening stone arrived Monday, and I couldn't help myself - I just had to see what they could do...

I worked on some other pieces and had additional art adventures this week, but right now, I'm so happy that I met my personal goal of finishing (and printing, and photographing) these this week, that I'm going to take a break (and possibly a nap ;))...