Happy July!

So! Though summer is formally introduced to us on the 21st of June, Reno has been casually calling upon her since April. Within the few days since our official meeting things have escalated quickly here regarding temperature. Going from an expected, even comfortable, 80-90 degree average to triple digits for five days running has been exhausting.

Really I'm trying to find excuses for not being outside more. When it's 105 Fahrenheit outside the weather is a willing scapegoat for my lack of motivation to seek out the world at large. That means, however, I have fewer reasons to put off more sedentary pursuits, namely art.

In an attempt to get myself on the right, read: galvanized, path I've been going through my portfolio and deducing which works I'd like to develop and which I'd like to leave behind, at least for the moment. My work has always been a bit of this and a bit of that from inspiration through execution. It's highly likely such an approach will always characterize my art, but for now it's making me think on new projects! I've only printed a couple things so far this year, and said year is nearly half over!
In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this new image.

Stage 2 of 4 in Her Name is December

"Suicide Cut", also know as a reduction cut, has been one of the most fun and interesting techniques I've learned over the years. There may be more coming. In any case, this is the second stage of Her Name is December. Perhaps a demonstration is in order? Eternal thanks to Bob Blesse of the Black Rock Press for allowing me to occasionally loiter about in his beautiful studio.

Rob Borges NMA Binding Class

This spring I attended a hard-cover book binding workshop at the Nevada Museum of Art taught by Rob Borges, a Mills College grad who completed a grad student residency at the Black Rock Press and now runs the Fat Elk Press here in Reno, Nevada.

Binding, block, and "covers"

This is a style of binding I've done before, but the cover system is different consisting of an envelope type front and back cover and a floating spine. Please be aware this is my description of the technique! There may be a better way to explain. The front and back are covered by a folded stiff paper that's been scored and sewn into the binding like a regular signature.

Spine and block together!

The covers are then filled with museum board, map folder, matt board, Davey board - your preferred "hard cover" material. The spine is measured to the book, mine is off by a noticeable 3mm (for shame, Rachel!), covered in book cloth and glued to the cover and text block. The cover papers are then attached.

This is a handsome creation, one I may well make again if I have extra oddly shaped matt board lying around. It is an alternative to the structure relying more heavily on adhesive (on an exposed binding like my December books), book cloth or the binding itself (as with my coptic stitched journal).

Carol Brown of the SMAC!

Carol Brown, a fellow printmaker and book artist, was also in my class! It was a pleasure to see her again, she works at the Saint Mary's Art Center in Virginia City, Nevada which has a beautiful press that I will be lucky to use this summer! Thanks so much to Carol for helping organize that print day!

Indie Reno at Wildflower Village

If you aren't aware, the Indie Reno etsy and local artisan group has teamed up with Wildflower Village. Read about our excellent Captain Shelly's efforts and our fabulous boutique as published by the Reno Gazette Journal. Unfortunately the Village has had a rough couple of years and is in need of some serious support if they hope to avoid bankruptcy.

Check out this link to an arts raffle - products donated by Indie Reno members including myself! - to benefit Wildflower Village and this link on the story.

NEW! Donate to support Wildflower Village at this site. Thanks for your time!

UPDATE: Indie Reno is no longer at Wildflower Village, we wish this fixture of Reno the best of luck. Keep checking for continued updates on more Indie Reno activity at www.IndieReno.org

Book Winter

I made all these books in Decebmer!

Often during the winter I have a difficult time responding creatively to the things affecting me. This can lead to the calm part of my artistic cycle that continues through the year. If ever there were a sign that I am a creature of warmth and daylight it is that my love of summer is sincere. As weather turns warmer and daylight hours extend I am more energized and productive.

Orange, grey and blue? Oh yes, it's lovely.

At the start of the New Year I was struck by this beautiful schedule by Julia Kostreva. This color theme was one I hadn't seen before and I decided I liked it so much I would make a journal to match it!

Because I've pretty hard on the books I actually use I decided to use a library-grade linen book cloth and some beautiful acrylic paste-papers I decorated years ago with Katy Govan while she was still at the Black Rock Press. I believe Megan Berner, a teacher of photography at UNR, lead the group that time and Katy showed us how to use the paper as book cover. I don't have much of this paper left but I like it a lot! To stay frugal with such powerful paper is hard for me, but this journal deserved the punch up some orange and gold glittered blue would give it! I decided to do most of the spine reinforcement with cloth and the paper just on the front cover. Though the colors don't match my schedule perfectly they are pretty close and make a lovely pair.

Upcoming Show - Foxy Olive April 2013

As always, keep on keepin' on with my Currents tab to find out what I have coming up next.

This month I'll be showing a collection of skull related prints at the Foxy Olive in downtown Reno just off Lake St. Thanks go out to the lovely Katie Berdan, art coordinator for the Foxy Olive.

Calavera from Las Calacas II in 2012

The show will feature work I've produced over the last several years including my submission (pictured) to the beloved La Calacas Print Exchange curated by Carlos Barbarena, viscosity prints from my time at the now closed Oxbow Press, and relief prints from the incredibly successful Belt and Braces show coordinated by Alana Berglund. Though this show will not have new work it will be an exciting chance to see all the work I've done for the last several years all in the same room!

Please be aware that the Foxy Olive, excellent example of Reno bar culture that it is, is a smoking location. If you are sensitive to smoke please be aware.

More Time Wasting?!

Perhaps, perhaps not! I've been doing a thing or two and have a show coming up in April, check Current for more information, in the interim I'm working with some new imagery. As much as I love anatomy and skulls they've only ever felt like a space to stop and think for awhile. They're a great jumping-off point and will probably continue to feature in my work for the foreseeable future.

For now here is a block I carved. Yes it's SafetyKut, don't judge me it's all I had on hand. This design is rather appealing to me for purely aesthetic reasons, but also because I feel continuity and flow.
It's a small block but has potential. Maybe I'll continue to work with this for the next body of work I'm completing.

 

*Only recently (3/18/13) has it come to my attention that my images were not loading. My apologies. Have some pretty pictures and expect a few more soon. -R

Projects New and Old!

Sometimes, let's be honest - most of the time - what I need to get my inspiration up and running is a simple drawing, request, or project. When I come up with these ideas on my own I tend not to follow through as faithfully as I should. Friends and family created plans get more devotion which, as they can attest, could use improvement but are still fulfilled!

Deadlines are a necessity for me if I intend to accomplish any serious work.

If you enjoy video gaming check out my friend Naz's latest project: The Pink Orangutang channel on Youtube. I am doing my best to assist with what I can as it is requested from logos, to images and possibly basic animation in the future. I'm less than perfect but he's creating some neat things and has begun updating videos on Mondays. This is where some of my creative time has gone in the last couple months, so keep checking as new things are posted and more of my work is apparent.

Shocking, Just Shocking

It's been far too long since I updated, that being said not much has happened during that time. Happily I taught a couple of classes at the Nevada Museum of Art and assisted with the Nevada Chamber Music Festival put on by the folks at Reno Chamber Orchestra.  Please check my Workshops tab to find out about upcoming classes at the Museum and elsewhere. I also have an opening scheduled in April. Come back for updates regarding that event soon.

Skeleton sketch from last fall

As I explain to those with enough time to sit down and enough tolerance to listen to my ranting, art production seems to be connected to a cycle of loathing what work I have recently created, deciding I should probably destroy all of it, and then starting over. That being said I frequently come back to the same themes over and over again.
Printmaking is so much fun. Every time I get a chance to do it I remember how much I love the process, the materials, and watching my work come to fruition (whether I like it or not.) Thanks, again and again, to the Inklings group, the Inkheads printmakers, and those wonderful teachers who gave me the tools I have today.

SafetyKut Relief print from the class I taught.

There are wheels turning and projects in place but few of them are well defined. For now, enjoy this picture from my sketchbook and my most recent print from the Valentines Relief class I taught this past weekend and come back soon to learn about more Adventures in Racheland!

Ghost Hard

Bat Lady loves the darkness!

Were you able to see my work at the Inkhead's Ghost Hard group show at Sierra Tap House this October? They were kind enough to hold the Inkhead's last annual Halloween show. Yes, sad news indeed, the Inkheads are no longer going to show together - at least for the forseeable future. This doesn't mean that we won't meet up to poke fun, and other things, at each other, discuss our work, or our laziness, and generally promote better art in the city of Reno. We'll just do it for fun.

My little Skelly in the gold frame!

There's another one!

And another one!

Aww, there's the last guy right there!

Here are a couple shots of my work, sorry for the poor lighting - the Sierra Tap House is, in fact, a bar. They did a nice job with the work, however, and I'd be pleased to recommend them yet again.

All of my framed Skellytons will be available for purchase at the Indie Reno Holiday Show. Bat Lady prints will also be available for very reasonable prices! I will also be showing some of the work that was part of Belt and Braces. 

Book Workshop

This past October I was lucky enough to take a course from Lisa Cheney-Jorgensen, a very talented and friendly book artist currently residing in Idaho. She bravely journeyed south to Reno to hold a two day intensive on completing a multiple-signature artist book sewn on tapes and with headband technique. For those of you to whom that was a bunch of mumbo-jumbo take a look at the pictures below. 

Alphonse inspecting the new addition to our library and providing scale.

First off we bound our book with lovely Stonehenge watercolor paper, a nice solid 180lb which is thick but not quite as pillowy as a 220lb. This is a versatile paper great for inking, drawing, painting, watercolor, guache, and many other mixed media. I myself am not much of a mixed media artist but I do love ink and that's a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to machine milled paper. Stonehenge is a cotton fiber blend which gives it both longer fibers, therefore more durability, and more cushion to absorb the liquids I'll be inflicting upon her pages.

Fantastic pattern, very large, great for a big book like this.

The paper I chose for the cover is a multi-color block print gift wrap on a lokta-like substance. It's label claimed it was acid-free but even if that was untrue the color and pattern were so appealing I'd've used it anyway. I'm a particular fan of the floral motif interspersed with gold accents. Bling isn't really my style but gild, apparently, is. Since purchasing this paper I've neglected to use it because it was so pretty and I felt it deserved more than to be used as a disposable cover-up for someone else.

Love that lokta, and the thread!

Each signature's spine is strengthened by the addition of decorative paper. I used a Thai lokta marbled green and gold. I had brought a fantastic orange one as well but ended up selecting only the green. I felt that paper worked with the colors of the cover paper and the orange competed. In the shot above we can get a fair view of the headband - the waxed linen thread bridging the head of the cover in a lovely burgundy and supplying a little extra support and visual interest for the signatures and binding. This sewing technique was very difficult to understand but once mastered quite efficient. As much as I love the look of the headbands I don't think they'll be a regularly appearing technique. They take more time than the binding of the book itself and twice the thread. That being said I may keep it in my toolbox for special commissions or friend and family gifts instead of trying to sell them for profit.

Nice shot of the binding threads.

This is the best shot of the binding. The yellow ribbon are the "tapes" beneath the blue waxed linen thread and the beads with which we embellished the binding. Sewing on a "tape" lends further stability to a multiple signature binding than just the binding threads themselves.  What makes this an "artist book"? Well, for one it was created by an artist. Being bound, folded, and cased in by hand makes a difference, but the purpose is also to become a piece of art. My intention is to fill those pages with images, inspiration, and even finished work. Who knows if I'll ever do that, it's a very nice piece and during class we all discussed that we appreciated the books so much we didn't want to sully our newly pressed pages with art like ours.

In total it took over fifteen hours to bind the paper, complete the covers, attach the tapes, secure the beads, and strengthen and fold the signatures. It took another five hours to complete the head bands, and a few more to add finishing touches. Worthy of pride and praise, this book may be used only as an example for future projects but I'm glad to have completed it. I intend to complete several more for the holiday season, should time allow, but not for sale. A huge thanks to Lisa for making the trip down and bringing extra patience with her, to Candace Nicol for hosting the class, to my friends Penny and Carol for giving me a great deal on their beautiful hand made glass beads, and the lovely group of people who made up this weekend class.

You can buy books similar to this one as well as cards, prints, and framed art at the Indie Reno Holiday Show in just a couple of weeks! Free swag for the first 25 shoppers continues with the Indie Reno tradition, and we'll be full of cheer and beautiful locally hand made goods this year. I'd love to see you there! Don't forget to like Indie Reno on Facebook to keep up to date on our events.

Holiday Craft Fair

More art and photos to come soon, but a LOT  -  a seriously substantial number of prints - will be for sale during the next Indie Reno Holiday Fair. We'll be in Sparks this year, and are having a two day event. Please come on by and check us out, I'll have books, cards, prints and framed prints available. I am eliminating some of my collection so this is the time to avail yourself of my commitment to de-clutter the study.

Great Shows in Reno

"For Your Eyes Only" at the NMA

If you weren't able to attend the panels and discussions lead at the Nevada Museum of Art last Saturday then you missed a quick but well informed day of book arts, small press publication, and networking with local letterpress, printmaking, and art professionals. The show exhibiting some of the book art from the University of Nevada, Reno's special collections archive is still on display. Special collections at the University was curated by Bob Blesse of the Black Rock Press for nearly thirty years. Titled "For Your Eyes Only" this exhibit includes outstanding examples of artist books and book arts by local creators, including Professor Eunkang Koh, as well as nationally recognized book creators. This will be up through the end of the week and I highly recommend taking a look. These books run the gambit of structure, content, and image. A lovely little example of book arts.

"Undercurrents" by Bovey Lee

 Also at the Nevada Museum of Art is a collection of works by paper cut artist of Bovey Lee. Titled "Undercurrents" there are many intricate images carved in paper and beautifully suspended. If you've never had a chance to see this kind of paper cutting before this is a great time to go. Some of Lee's images depict slice-of-life scenes made majestic by the material, other images are ethereal and intriguing in subject matter alone.

"The Fox with the Golden Fur" Ultra Chocolates

If you like paper cuts get a load of The Fox with the Golden Fur. Seen through the G+ account of Lisa Cheney-Jorgensen, from whom I'll be taking a book arts workshop later this October.

This is chocolate packaging.

There are several different paper cut scenes for the different chocolates that come in a small package of chocolate. Each scene narrates a different moment of the story. I'm stunned, honestly, not just the effort but the precision of this project is exact and very impressive. I love the concept of the chocolate telling a story as it's unwrapped. Also, did you realize that each chocolate looks like a little story book? I'm in heaven over here.

While I'm here, let me tell you about the next show!

Tell me which paper cut piece you liked, ask about which of the panels I attended last weekend, or just drink and enjoy the fabulous Sierra Tap House. It'll be a great time and costumes are encouraged. This is all printed work by the Inkheads and is our third Halloween show as a group - last year almost 200 people came to Dickerson Road - we always rock the haus.

Sierra Tap House (Downtown Reno - West St.)
Thursday, October 25th 7-9pm

Print Day with Friends

Sam pulling a print from "Madonna"

Many people have the time and money to devote hours and expense to their favorite hobbies. Viki LoSasso is one of those enthusiasts who does her best to keep up-to-date equipment and supplies for some of her favorite activities, one of which is printmaking. Her beautiful Ettan etching press is in need of occasional exercise and so every once in awhile she invites a few friends to take "Madonna" for a spin.

Sarah keeping things clean!

After a lovely day of printing we had a delicious meal accompanied by a very appropriate vintage. Good times were had by all!

Excellent stuff!

After a Brisk Retreat

Long has this blog lain fallow. Languishing in the time I've spent on things less deserving, this site has twiddled it's thumbs and passed the time as any lonely html code may. Luckily I've begun to dust off my tomes and treasures so back into her lungs will I be breathing fresh air! And from this kiss of life I hope to find many new and wonderful creations.

Very soon I'll be meeting once more with my friends to print. Our group seldom meets more than once a month and I have pictures and stories of our last gathering. For now, however, I'd like to highlight the beauteous work of one Marina Terauds.

etching by Marina Terauds

First I saw her work connected to a book exposition, the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair, to be visited by the Corcoran College of Art and Design in the eastern United States. Here etchings have beautiful movements, deliberate focus, and are beautifully wiped. Seeing her images has re-kindled some of my own desire to etch!

Coming soon will be photos of my group's last meet up.

Getting By

My apologies for the lack of updates this summer. I've been busy at my full-time job and haven't made nearly enough time for my art. I get by with a little help from my friends, particularly Candace Nicol who is still teaching small size classes - I'm registered for a great "visiting artist" book arts class in October at her studio - and Vicki LoSasso who generously allows myself and a few friends to visit her lovely Madonna, a 26" Ettan etching press, once in a blue moon.

Coming soon are images of our last adventure in printmaking with Vicki, Sarah, and Sam!

La Calacas Press Print Exchange

Very excited to be accepted for the second La Calaca Press International Print Exchange, curated by Carlos Barberena. Despite a mishap or two the generous Senor Barberena accepted my edition! See the list of accepted artists here at the Press' blog. Sneak peek pictures will be here soon.

My next exchange isn't due until August - the Green Door Studios IPE 2012 - but in the mean time I have the artisan craft show with Indie Reno, my Etsy team, on Sunday, June 24th. Just printed a bunch of posters to get the word out about this and look forward to making things for the fair. It will be at the Holland Project space in Reno and looks to be lots of fun!

Calaca Riendo sneaks a peek at you!

Book Arts Display - See it Soon!

The fabulous Rachel Armstrong, who works with the Sheppard and MacNamara Galleries on campus, generously allowed me to display my book and box making skills in the Joe Crowley Student Union at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Sneak peek!

In addition to several books and boxes there are letterpress and relief printed works on display.

Wednesday, May 23rd this will be coming down, so if you're in Reno stop by the JCSU to see what I've been doing.

Sketching for Calacas

My submission for the Calacas print exchange is due at the end of this month. I'm deciding what methods I'd like to use for my print. Intaglio is unarguably my favorite printing method right now, but I worry that a plexiglass intaglio plate wouldn't have the resilience to print an edition of at least 12. Nevertheless I've been doing some sketching.

These complimentary color combinations are really juicing me up for a multi-color print. I may play around with multiple plate or a la poupie for this edition. Thanks to Vicki for her loan of fine-tip Sharpie brand markers! So bright and full of ink!

Print Exchanges!

My lovely Calaca print was created for the CALACAS Exchange, curated by the wonderful Carlos Barbarena of La Calaca Press. It was one of the best exchanges to which I've submitted and I am lucky enough to be working on another print for the second iteration of this exchange!

So much fun!

 Last year I signed up for Maria Arango Diener's City of the World wood block puzzle print project. I'm very excited to see that they have done printing and are getting ready to ship out the results! Taking part in opportunities like this are really rewarding artistically. Here is a peek of the blocks all arranged together.
UPDATE: Just got a notification that this print has shipped! Can't wait to see it in person.

Thanks so much for Maria's patience and willingness to collaborate!

I look forward to signing up for more exchanges this summer!
UPDATE: My package finally arrived! Five beautiful panels of relief prints from around the country. Thanks again to Maria for allowing me to participate. 

Southern Graphics Conference International: 2012

This year I was able to attend the seminal printmaking conference in the United States - the Southern Graphics Conference International. To attend one must be a member of the Conference which generously allows students to participate at reduced prices. The convention was held in New Orleans, Louisiana and ended last week. For five days printmakers from across the nation and the world met to discuss techniques, learn about new opportunities for education and employment, and discuss products with industry vendors. A unique opportunity to view and explore the art of others arrived in the Open Portfolio sessions. There were five hour-long sessions of about 100 artists during each session. Students, graduate students, post-grad printmakers, and professors or professional printmakers all participated in the open portfolio displaying a wide range of art.

I purchased a beautifully printed journal from the expressive Firecracker Press, art from several student printers, and was given some lovely samples by Hanco Ink and Arches Print Papers. My favorite experience from the conference was probably the open portfolios or the vendor and publisher fairs. I was able to meet and speak with a variety of people in different places professionally from students, masterprinters, professors, and publishers as well as those who were just invested in printmaking as a hobby or expression of work outside their professional careers.

The best part of the experience as a whole was traveling with the printmakers from Reno. As many people as we met we really had the best time hanging out with each other after the conference and other activities concluded for the day. Ashlea Clark was indispensable, the trip would not have come together without her organization, leadership, and fundraising abilities. Alana Berglund, Jesse Green, and Andy Gallian also attended.  Alana is responsible for my showing experience at the Sierra Tap House in Reno. Our teacher, Eunkang Koh, a current professor at the University of Nevada, Reno was also present and had several beautiful pieces showing in a couple of events through SGC. here recent work has included some fascinating book art prints.

My Portfolio Review at SGC 2012

There were two book exchanges in which I was asked to participate so I look forward to learning more about them and thinking about the books I might create. For now my book arts are on display at the University's Joe Crowley Student Union. They will be coming down at the end of this week.

Two part box now on display at the JCSU