Printing Workshop

I attended a Craft Weekend workshop locally and had a great time.  I really enjoyed getting my creative juices flowing again.  We did wood block and linoleum prints.  Our supplies included paper and tools and the use of the ink and brayer.  We each received our own cutting tools.

I have a low confidence problem.  I am constantly finding fault with my work.  I want to work on that about myself.

We first began with a cut out of paper to experiment with black and white.  Next we were given a wood block and tools and a lecture about always remembering to cut away from your body and other hand to avoid injury.

We painted the wood block with green acrylic paint so that we could see the design that we were creating better.  It is difficult and you must carve out the light areas.  You have to train your mind to think in opposite and in reverse.

My first project was inspired by a Vermeer.

The girl on the beach was from a photo of my daughter which I cannot share. This was colored after it dried with watercolors.

Below is the linoleum carve out.

Its hard as I wish her toes were more anatomically correct and I am unhappy with the piece of beach above her legs.

 Our last project was a print of cloth made from a rubber stamp.  This design came from a collection of African aboriginal religious symbols.

I plan to do more art work, I even bought a brayer and some ink today.  I need to get paper and plastic trays and some linoleum or wood.

The Toad House

I gave my son a copy of an organic gardening book that I found at a book sale earlier in the year.  He was captivated by the idea of a toad house that is mentioned in the book.  I went on a Gurdjieff work week locally and made a few pieces of pottery, one being a toad house.  It was crafted with a mulberry roof!

How to make a Poppet

First I take charcoal and trace a form on some material.  I had been using muslin but an old sheet works too.

I trace the human form out on double folded fabric and stitch around on the charcoal line.  Next I cut it out  and right side it.  This photo is of my process to turn it right side out. 

You must clip corners and trim curves prior to right side outing the doll.  This one I left his shoulder for the stuffing entrance but sometimes I leave a side open.

This little guy needs to have a blue suit made with a red tie and white shirt.

Lavender Sachets

I had another blog, Amiable Blogservations which I have been writing for years and years.  I decided to eliminate it because it has socially incriminating thoughts and ideas in it.  I have three months to change my mind. 

I sew for a local organization and this is my work.  These sell for 18 dollars for a group of three.  They are lavender sachets.

If anybody reads this who is a reader of the other blog and wants to advise me, that would be great.  I would like to hear if I should keep it on the internet.

Saint Henry of Uppsala

This is St. Henry and a poppet of myself.

St Henry became a martyr when he excommunicated a murderer.  The murderer murdered him, wo he was wise not to absolve him.  Pope Francis likes to sell a Christianity where there is no limit to God's forgiveness.  There is actually, and a watered down version of Christianity is not honest or fair.  If you blaspheme the Holy Spirit, that is an unforgivable sin.  If you do not have true contrition, then you don't deserve absolution.

Latest Sketches July 2014

Here are some of my latest sketches.

the apple is gouache

gouache with ink.

Charcoal and gouache.  This is a porcelain monkey family figurine.  My mother used to tell me when I was six or seven that that was our family.  Then my sister was adopted and it was no longer true.

And another selfie- eyes are a bit dark.

A Drawing a day helps to keep the Blues Away

I have been experiencing a "block" I haven't been able to write blogs like I am used to.  As an exercise to prevent a "frozen" block I try to do a little sketch each day.  This is a little right brain work to help prevent me from becoming depressed....It is charcoal pencil.

 Floppy Lamby- a little stuffed animal among the pillows

 A Christmas cactus on a little table.  My son gave me the parent of this cutting in 2003 for my birthday.



 A little carved wooden bird on a placemat.

A pressed wooden highchair in my dining room area of the apartment.