Explore! It's worth it, I promise

Seattle alleyway

Had a great time visiting the north west of the United States this past weekend. Put over 1600 miles on my car driving from Reno to Washington state to see one of my best friends graduation with her B.A. in English from the University of Puget Sound. Believe it or not, the weather was sunny and nice until the last day - the day that she walked across the stage to receive her diploma. Regardless of the weather, which I was anticipating, my partner and I enjoyed exploring Tacoma's Glass Museum and the city center of Seattle.

"Skylight" picture taken from underneath the sidewalk

We decided to take a tour of "underground Seattle" which was incredibly informative and lots of fun. Our guide knew loads about the history of Seattle and the general northwest region. She even directed us to an outstanding book bindery in a restored section of these underground areas called Ars Obscura Book Binding. There I met the patient and fascinating Master Bookbinder Radcliffe who gave me great information about his illustrious profession.

shaping red-hot glass

artists using blowtorches

By then it was lunch time so we scarfed some delicious gyros and headed down to the Tacoma Glass Museum. At the Glass Museum we were able to watch an artist creating work in their studio space called the Hot Shop. It was amazing how quickly these people had to work shaping and molding the glass as soon as it came out of the 2300F degree machines.

Hot Shop from the outside - I couldn't fit it in the frame!

Experiencing different artistic environments is important. Don't think you know "how things are" just because that's the way the cookie crumbles wherever you live. Always strive to seek out the new, the old and the different together. I'm trying to teach myself this lesson and I want to pass it to you before you get into a rut!

Family Matters

Our time on this earth is transient, and whether we know the end is near or not we must always take advantage of opportunities to appreciate those people in our lives who are important to us. My wonderful grandmother, Gloria Meyer, is almost 95 years old. She was born in Reno to the Oppio family newly moved from Cinqueterra, Genova, Italy and lived on the family ranch while attending school here in Reno with her six siblings. Gloria was the second person in her family to get an education after high school, and she obtained the equivalent of an associates degree in business from a school in California before returning to Reno, and her family, to open the Dinner Bell restaurant which she ran for many years. She cooks like a fiend, has a self-castigating and aggressive sense of humor, and nothing is more important to her than family. My parents, brothers and I cared for her as her health began to fail almost ten years ago, and last night we were told she may not have much longer than a few days left with us. Gloria has an amazing story. She is an amazing woman.
My paternal grandmother, Phyllis Kaiser, passed away in 2009 and her death left an emptiness in me that I could not have forseen. I am trying to learn from these experiences, but it is difficult. I did a short series of small books about Phyllis and her impact on my life. One of my sharpest memories as a child was of visiting her home and shyly asking to watch her type on her "fancy electric typewriter," listening to the clicking of the keys and watching the physical impact of each letter on the page. I was enraptured. And as I got older she allowed me to type a few words, then a poem, then one day I began typing and was so absorbed that I didn't realize she had left the room and almost an hour had passed as I worked amid stacks of paper and possessions in her study. I have recently acquired a Selectric typewriter. Perhaps I can combine the memories of both matriarchs in a new line of work. 

Please remember, even if you already tell your loved ones how important they are, and how they matter to you take a moment to tell them one more time. Feel in your heart that connection and understand how much it can mean to someone to know that they are cherished.

Learn Box Making!

How cool is box-making? VERY!

We will make boxes like this in my workshop!

Make beautiful enclosures for your most precious of treasures or a unique creation for a friend or loved one. I will be teaching an introductory course on box making on May 28th. Students are encouraged to bring decorative elements such as buttons, special paper or cards, ribbons, photos, jem-stones and more to embellish their boxes. Oxbow Press will supply all necessary materials, but it would be so much fun to brighten up your box with things that have personal meaning.

This is only a One-Day workshop and will take place Saturday, May 28th.
Sign up at http://oxbowpressclasses.blogspot.com/p/book-arts.html

Class fee is $65 for Oxbow Press Members
$75 for Non-Members

Don't want to attend, but still want a lovely box? Check out my Etsy store online! Velesia's Bindery & Prints Or you can always buy books, art, boxes and cards from me at Oxbow Press - just come by on Thursdays between 10am and 5pm .

Hand Bound Recycled Journals

Peacock inspired screen printed Cards

This box is an example, but it is also for sale

with the lid closed

Lotus Flower Card on lavender paper

Look at that pretty Coptic stitch!

Just click on an image to view it larger!

Lessons from the RMPAS

Enclosures, Structures, Protection

Direction, Planning, Technique

Identity, Individuality, Emotion

Familiarity, Challenge, Definitions

If I learned anything from the Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance Symposium that I attended last week, it's that perspective matters. There were some very talented printmakers giving presentations at the Symposium, from Kathryn Polk's multi-color stone and polyester plate lithography to Justin Diggle's large copper etching and aquatints. The student's open portfolio was interesting as well, and a good opportunity for me to see where I was on the scale of amateur work. I don't consider myself a professional artist since I don't earn any money from my artistic efforts, but I'm beginning to go in a different direction. Artists are not people who like to be nailed down into one technique or stereotype. Just because money is an important part of my life that dictates what I can and cannot do (as far as travel, art supplies, studio space, etc.) doesn't mean that it defines who I am.
In my family who we are individually is described more heavily by our professions than our gender, skin color, or age. My mother is a teacher, a scientist, a mother and an activist. My father is a leader, teacher, father and activist. My grandmothers were mother, musician, volunteer and nurse - business woman, negotiator, cook and parent. I could drown in all the nouns that describe the people who inspire and affect my life.
This symposium showed me that I have a lot of growing ahead of me. My partner has shown me that I got a good start. My teachers have shown me that I have the potential to go far.

Wear gloves when cleaning wood blocks

Don't freak out if they don't have your name at Registration.

They are just people, don't be scared!

Drinking can be good for you.

Costume Bowling is even better.

Especially when everyone participates!

Have a good time no matter where you are.

Heavy machinery can be very exciting; contain yourself.

Any excuse to make friends is a good one.

Especially when they give you flowers - thanks Stephanie!

Little Books, the NMA, and Ravioli for Easter

The Teaching Table with examples, my sign, and my board!

The Nevada Museum of Art is a great resource for the local community. Gaining national and international recognition by facilitating exhibits of famous artists including Raphael, Pablo Picasso, Ansel Adams, John Audobon, and many more as well as up-and-coming artists the NMA also provides classes through the E.L. Cord Museum school. Teachers independently contract with the school to teach workshops and classes, like life drawing, watercolors, and ceramics. This June there will be an Egyptian exhibit coming to the NMA from the Brooklyn Museum of Art and inspired by that I will be teaching a workshop called Carve a Cartouche! We will learn about heiroglyphics and cartouches, maybe get some inspiration from the exhibit then carve cartouches, a pictographic representation of one's name, for ourselves or someone else with basic relief techniques.

the block and my woodcutting tool kit

Wearing my Oxbow Press shirt at the NMA

There was a "Meet the Teachers" night at the Museum on Thursday,  and I brought a wood-cut I've been working on to demonstrate a relief substrate. This block is the center of a 9 piece exquisite corpse. Originating with the surrealists, the exquisite corpse is the concept of several artists working together to create one image but without seeing the art of the others who are involved. For this project I was given a board with several black lines, I knew I had to keep those lines but I could do anything else I wanted within or outside them. When we all fit our boards together at the end it made a very large bee! We had to use a truck to print it because the image all together was about 4'x6' - too large for any press to which we have access.

recycled materials now tiny books!

archival tiny books!

The Indie Reno train is rolling out of Fair station on the super fast crafting track! Today the Handmade Hustlers had a great meeting and made sure everyone participating was well informed. We learned about how the cashier and receipts will work (the VSA is taking care of sales tax and credit card fees for us!) and where we will each be located in the Lake Mansion or at the Pavilion next to the Mansion. Find out more about the Indie Reno Craft fair at the website or the facebook page.

Ravioli my family and I made for Easter!

I get the library! This is very exciting, but also daunting. In order to fill an entire room with my merchandise I'm going to... need more merchandise! The next couple of weeks will be packed to the brim with crafting for Rachel-Fingers. Add Easter and the Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance Symposium to the mix and we have one chunky time-management cookie. Somehow I will manage, I just need to print cards and journal covers while finding the time to bind said journals, finish my coptic books, and cut the cards to fit in the envelopes I bought.

Congratulations Handmade Hustlers!

If you're new to hand-crafting travels online you may not have heard of Etsy.com - the website that caters to cottage industry in a new way. Only a few years old, this site allows artisans, crafters and small business owners to sell their handmade or vintage wares (or supplies) on the internet. Essentialy Etsy is like an eternal craft fair!

Beyond providing this service, which does cost a little money (but not a lot!), the people at Etsy strive to share the culture of crafting and Do-It-Yourself with everyone who happens upon it. Etsy teams are made up of vendors who have common goals, locations, or motivations. For example, my team - The Handmade Hustlers - are all from the greater Reno/Tahoe/Sparks area and meet in person to talk about selling strategies, successes and failures, and all kinds of other things that are involved with trying to sell things that made by hand in an online environment. Last November our team worked with VSA Arts of Nevada, The Waldorf School, and other non-profits to put on an independent holiday craft fair at the Lake Mansion where there were booths for non-profits and part of the fees for participating were donated.

Our team leader applied for a grant from Etsy to help fund that fair, and we have been lucky enough to receive another grant for our spring fair: Indie Reno May Day! We were even written up in the Etsy Blog.
So thanks to Etsy for helping promote local and independent small businesses! Come see what cool things we have at May Day.

April is a Big Month

To say that I was surprised to find that April had a lot going on in my calendar is a bit of an understatement.

April 9th, Saturday: Assist with Screen Printing Workshop (a few spots still available - only $25 including materials)
April 10th, Sunday: Oxbow Press Monitor Meeting, then Board Meeting
April 14th, Thursday: Take down current show at Oxbow Press Gallery - Birds and Cats
April 15th, Friday: Finish wood block from RMPAS for a truck print today at TMCC
April 26-28th, Wed. Th. Fr.: Attend the Rocky Mt. Print Alliance Symposium
April 30th, Saturday: Assist with Engraving Workshop
May 1st, Sunday: Indie Reno May Day Craft Fair
May 7th, Saturday: Derby Day with the Reno Chamber Orchestra ( I know, these last two are technically in May but I will be preparing for them (or I SHOULD be!) all this month)

The Screen Printing workshop will be a blast. Check out a couple pictures from the last class:

This is a screen and this is how it works!

student Jordan makes her first print

Shannon demos screen-printing

washing out a screen with filler in it

Students had a great time and produced some really cool work. I can create items for my the May Day craft fair at this workshop, or at least things that will become saleable at some point. The wood block I really should have started when I first got it a few days ago, but I seem to be nothing if not a procrastinator. So, true to form, I have all of 10 days left to finish cutting my block so that it is ready to print by the 15th. Luckily I already have a few ideas.... now I just need to carve them into the wood, too bad that's the hard part (or at least most time consuming.) Stationary and other cool stuff will be made - there is no question! Books are also on my list, I'm making lots of tiny little books to give away in the swag bags. Don't miss it - be among the first 25 and get free goodies.