line work

Tinted gesso light moss green then painted it onto  paper in random wide brush strokes for a bit of texture...

Once dry...started mucking about with charcoal and chalk pastel...occasionally rubbing back into the work to create smudge marks.

Just to then draw over the smudges with more charcoal & pastel.

line work

COLLAGRAPH PRINTMAKING

If your interested in collagraph printmaking, I just posted a brief "how to" on my Facebook page...so go have a look!

I've just finished running a collagraph workshop at a local community house, and it went well...considering I had to change the dates and times...not once but twice!!!! due to my hectic schedule...but I was happy the students were flexible enough to be able to finally attend.

And it looks like it is back on for term 4...with not only collagraph, but gel plate printmaking, drypoint etching and some deconstructed screen printing too. All this in 6 weeks... Do you think I'm being a bit enthusiastic here??? 

Til next Time

Jo

cooking up a storm...

It's been more than a month since I wrote a post!!!
Time just flies when your cooking up a storm!
Hmmm, where to begin!
How about in my studio, where I've been making screens for screen printing!
Have you ever made a screen? Not easy!!! I'm using some old wooden frames that I've had lying around for years and I bought some screening fabric through Ebay.
I found the old staple gun and watched the "how to" videos on Youtube...well my 1st screen turned out a bit wonky...but I'm happy to say it works!
I'm still experimenting with the technique of breakdown screen printing...I love the spontaneity of it all. No need need to think too much. It's quite the relaxing process, great way to wind down after cooking up storms, like having a good slow G&T? well maybe not :)

Cooking? Yes, I'm cooking. For those who know me, this is no surprise!
I like food and cooking, well maybe 'love' food and cooking...So I'm following a dream here and have enrolled at a college and I'm studying cookery...full time!
And I'm loving it!!!! Chefs uniform and all....well maybe not so much the uniform :)
So now I'm whisking, chopping, stirring and chiffonading  in between printmaking! (Did I mention I think I'm the most mature of the mature age students in my class).
Am I learning? Yes, loads! For someone who thought they had a pretty good knowledge about cooking!!!!

On one of my free days, I'm teaching collagraph printmaking at a local community house...the sessions started yesterday. I just love collagraph printmaking!!! I really do.
I'll put together a 'how to' collagraph soon with photo's, for anyone out there thats is interested in this lovely technique!
Just stay tuned.

For now, I'll leave you with some Instagram pics...

I have an art wall in my kitchen (yes I do) and my father gave me this lovely oil painting to add to the collection...all food only inspired art  in my kitchen :)

My brother and sister in law went on a trip to Japan and brought home this happy skull cookie cutter as a gift...they know us too well!!!

I joined a rally/march against one of the dreaded junk food giants moving into the hills area, where I live with thousands of others, who love our home and don't feel that The Hills and these guys 'fit'.
Personally... I don't feel they fit anywhere on planet earth...but they are here... making a huge dint on the health of humanity and our environment.
If your interested to know more, please check out    http://www.burgeroff.org

And ending on a nice note...look at our boy Seb!!! 8 months old and still growing :)

Til next time
Jo

breakdown screen printing

If your interested in the process I used to make these prints...you can read about it on my Facebook page. The link is on my sidebar.

support

I followed Louise and her daughter Coco around the world on this fantastic photographic project.
Would love to see her succeed with publishing the book.

In Louise's words;

"I’m Louise Hawson and in 2012, I’m going to explore and photograph the ‘unfamous’ side of some of the world’s most famous cities – their suburbs/neighbourhoods – and share what I discover in weekly posts on this blog. My eight year old daughter, Coco, will be coming along for the ride, as will you I hope, in a virtual, vicarious kind of way."

Louise needs financial help to publish the book...look  HERE

And HERE is her website where you can see loads of fantastic images...

Til next time
Jo

meeting past posts....

I took this photo in 2011 whilst travelling in Greece.
It's an image of where ancient Sparti meets modern day Sparti. Old meeting new! New meeting old.

So why have I decided to post this pic?

Well, I was looking back through some of my old posts here. I started this blog in 2008 and have over 350 posts in draft!!! Why? Well, I'm not sure why! There was a time when they were all accessible!
I've been going back through them all and have decided to 'un-draft' a few of my old posts. Ones I like or could possibly be useful to others in some way!
Anyway, I'm going to 'un-draft' a few over the next few days...so if you want to meet the past posts :) you'll  have to scroll back through 'older posts'.

Til next time
Jo

I love Winter...

I visited Hobart a few weeks back.

Our visit coincided with the   Dark Mofo  cultural festival.

One highlight was seeing Kurt Hentschlager's   Zee

And another was a visit to MONA Museum of Old And New Art.

Our 3 days...flew!!!

From the little that I saw of Tasmania, all I can say is the I can't wait to get back there with camera in hand! 

We had a birthday in the family...no not mine, but Beavs. I gave him a Joshua Harker 3D printed skull to add to his skull collection...he loves it and so do I.

Crania Anatomica Filigre by Joshua Harker

I'm still walking, and now with Winter here, Im walking through winter trees...which leads to my new drypoint plate.....

Yet to be printed.

Til next time 

Jo

Facebook

I've created a Facebook page and if you want to have a look, the link is on my side bar.
The 'Like" button if pressed, will give you the convenience of following my Facebook page, but that's only if you have a Facebook account too.
I'll be posting about all sorts of stuff, including "how to" tips & tricks. 

Cheers
Jo

Winter

Talk about feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place...pretty much sums up where I've been hanging out lately (artistically speaking)! I mean how long can a girl be gluing old prints onto wooden blocks for!

So I figured I'd just go back to basics and started by doing some sketching! 

Then my regular class started at a local community house...I have a great bunch of students this term...and I think some of their enthusiasm has rubbed off on to me!

I've pulled out my old oils...yes oil's and yes old!!! 

I melted bees wax and added some turps to create a creamy lush medium to add to my oils, it's called cold wax and the internet is buzzing with some great abstract work using this stuff...and I've been painting some old gessoed boards that I had lying around...nothing earth shattering to show you right now, lots of troweling on and scraping off, actually LOTS of scraping off :)...but painting like this has loosened me up a bit, I'm sure the oils have healing powers!...still up against the rock, but not feeling as stuck as I was!

Still walking here lots...Rhododendron Gardens, Olinda.

I'm making lots of small collagraph plates too, using all sorts of materials as well as mark making tools like scalpels, drypoint needles and anything else in my tool box that can make an interesting mark.

I'm running a 4 week Intro to Collagraph printmaking up at the Olinda Community house, near where I live, in late August...so if your close by and interested... contact  Olinda Community House.

...and lastly, we had Seb's sister Lexi visit for a few days while her owner was away on holidays.

Lexi is on the left and thats our Seb on the right :)

Til next time...
Jo

woodcuts

Gluing prints to blocks...

Here a 4 woodcut prints.

In different configurations...

Getting cold out now...it's gloves & hats season!