squirrel and tree

A busy week in Artlandia! A new squirrel and 6 feet of art-tree - thumbs up!

To get to that point, first, there was carving and proofing the new squirrel block:

 

Like the rats, I find this little guy so funny for some undefinable reason. Also like the rats, the first block (from July 2014) showed a more static pose, and I feel like I'm progressing toward more complex and expressive postures - thumbs up. Once I was happy with the block, I went ahead and printed this and the older squirrel block on a gray paper and then added ink and acrylic to individualize them.   

new print of squirrel block from July 2014

I also finished the tree trunk block.  Then I prepared paper for it by marbling gray paper with black and then adding green paint for moss so that each print would be subtly different.  I wasn't sure how best to make moss, so eventually, I went with the very straightfoward approach of dipping actual moss in paint and pressing it on the paper. 

  On the one hand, I'm stoked how well it turned out; on the other hand, the amount of time invested into each sheet of paper limited the quantity I was able to prepare and so I did not want to waste any of it.  

Fortunately - no misprints (Whew!)

Combined with the base, that makes
6 feet of art tree so far :). 

  

 One of the cool things about the print is I designed it
so that it can be flipped over and aligned to itself
to act as two 30" segments of trunk.

So many blocks!

A very busy week in Artlandia - working on 5 blocks at once :o (which is not normal for me, and probably not a good idea, but let me explain...)

So...for the first block, I'm continuing on the "seven deadly sins through (faux) consumerist garbage."  This week I made the block for "Acedia" [*fair warning - about to nerd out] - which is usually translated "sloth," but since that's not a commonly used word anymore outside this context, I don't find it that useful as a translation. But! one of the great things about translation, is you can go back to the word in the original language and re-examine it any time.  I'd say it means something more like despair - not having the energy to begin because it's hopeless. (To me, sloth covers the "not having the energy to begin" part, but I think kind of misses the "because it's hopeless," where as despair leans more heavily toward the later part but still incorporates the first part...but neither is perfect.)

...Anyway...so I made a syringe for "Acedia" and that was the first block - I'm especially proud of getting the shine within the tip of the needle and the letters (ooooh the letters.)

Carving Gothic script, backwards, on this scale was definitely "exciting" - oy :P - happy with the way it turned out though - thumbs up!

Next, I've been working on the phoenix block. A close friend requested this, and when I finish the seven deadly sins in individual panels, I've been thinking of making one big tapestry-scale piece with all of them, and doesn't every good garden of Earthly delights need a phoenix?

I was especially inspired by Chinese screens for this, but also (always) Durer and early Northern European blocks.  Still  ways to go on this, but lots of progress, and that was the second block.

black and white of Durer's watercolor,
"Wing of a Blue Roller," 1512:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer#/media/
File:Duerer_wing_of_a_blue_roller.jpg

I made the primary feathers striped to keep things interesting ;) - fun times

The third block is a continuation of the tree trunk from last week. Now the I have the base, this week I got new MDF panels and had them cut to 12 x 30" (because 30" is the length of a standard sheet of Stonehenge paper, and close to the maximum length print I can pull from Lucille's 36" press bed.)










Like the base, I free drew this one directly on the block from imagination, and like how it's developing, but there are a loooooot of cuts in this. When I need a break from it and to help me stay motivated, I also started a squirrel (because what's the point of having a tree trunk if I can't put a squirrel on it?) I just started the squirrel (so holding off on photos), but that's the 4th block. 

Medieval manuscript depicting animals

For the 5th block, I'm trying an experiment - I want to add repeating patterns onto a solid color background to use behind the animals (I'm thinking particularly of the fox). This is a common feature of Medieval manuscripts (example to the right). To get the most pattern per carving, I'm trying a pattern that can be quartered, so that I can carve 1/4 of it and rotate the block.  I got the pattern by cutting out a snowflake in black paper, scanning it, then printing 1/4 of it on the block as a template.  (This is also early, so no photos until I print it and see if it works :) ), but that is the fifth block.




Whew!  Luckily I've had lots of help from my feline assistants.  They keep me motivated,  going into the studio immediately after breakfast and getting the carving pillow warmed up while Honey and I walk.  There are blocks everywhere, but they've been taking shifts on the pillow while I work.

  

Zea Mays flat file submission and tree trunk

 A busy week in Artlandia...

I finished the third and final new piece to submit to the Zea Mays flat file , then photographed, filled out the paperwork and shipped them to arrive just in time (thumbs up!)

T. Klacsmann, "Pride," mixed media collage, 30 x 22," 2017

Stoked how well the Superbia cigarette box turned out - it was weird after designing, printing, assembling
this to crush it to make it into "more naturalistic garbage," also, making the faux cigarettes and burning the tips, haha. 

 I also re-photographed "Greed": 

T. Klacsmann, "Greed," mixed media collage, 30 x 22," 2017

That was three big pieces in about 8 days (they mailed January 5th, and 2 of them are dated 2017, haha) so by the time I put everything in the post, I was about ready to collapse and spent a lot of the next day or two sleeping. Then it was time to clean - not surprisingly, the studio was a huge mess after the whirlwind of activity.

In cleaning the studio I took a look at the 'long term goals' board for 2016. While I feel like I did pretty well, there's one part that bothers me - tree. I made the Gothic Tree, which I like very much, but I feel like I haven't quite reached the life-scale I was picturing.  

So...I started, carved, and proofed a new 12 x 18" block.  This was a little atypical for me in that I free drew it directly on the block and went for it. There is no preparatory drawing and no specific source, (though I've photographed tree parts in the conservation area numerous times.)  Since it's not the first (or second, or third ;) ) time I've tried carving a tree, I decided I was ready, and it went surprisingly quickly.    

block with kitty paw for scale.

12 x 18" block

close up of block

proof

 Those individual parts at the sides are roots that are meant to be cut out and arranged around the trunk to show the roots surfacing from the ground. Different arrangements will help the one block be used for different trees, also the print can be cut down along the dark lines in the print to make it smaller, and individual roots can be cut off to further individualize the prints - so far so good, but it's like the wings in that it's a big, multiblock project, so a ways to go.

The feline assistants, helping in the way that only kitties can :p - I got up to pee, and when I came back
there was no pillow or space left for me in front of the block - hard to believe they got that settled in and comfortable within the five or so minutes I was gone, haha. I think I need a third carving pillow.

last of 2016, first of 2017

This week was all about making new finished pieces to submit to the Zea Mays flat file  in which I am honored to be included.

New collages! Last of 2016 and first of 2017 - 30 x 22"

I always want to send the latest and greatest, and this year, that means that I want to submit the faux consumerist garbage with creatures in patterned landscapes with Gothic architectural elements...(except, of course, I didn't actually have anything like that, as of last week, haha; so, I made new things.)

I'm working as hard as I can, and hoping to have three 30 x 22" collages (since that's as far as I've gotten with the seven deadly sin blocks.) So far, I have 2. The last piece of 2016, Gluttony, and the first piece of 2017, Greed:

Last Collage of 2016! 30 x 22," mixed media including relief and polyester lithography prints, ink, acrylic, color pencil, on paper. 

First piece of 2017! 30 x 22," mixed media including relief and polyester lithography prints, ink, acrylic, color pencil, on paper.
(How did I get this 22 x 30" piece of the large tree block on such short notice? - I hand printed it with a spoon - biiiiig Oy.)

Especially stoked about how well the transparency  turned out in the Avarice-shopping bag - thumbs up!

To fully focus on getting these made, I told myself
that I was absolutely not to carve any new blocks....
but then I reeeeeally needed these rosettes. Just oooooone
 more little block? O:) 

The holes are to sew the pieces down with tread that matches or accentuates the piece (I used silver
in the bug wings so that they actually shimmer - nice!) This is the laaaast part I need to sew down on this piece, (and I hate leaving  holes in the face) sooooo back to work. Wish me luck!