You're Invited to Our Mid-City Studio Tour!

We've just finalized the dates for the fourth biannual Mid-City Studio Tour in Long Beach! And this year it is extended to a full weekend! Mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th, from 11 - 5 daily. This free self-guided studio tour opens the doors to the normally private work spaces of many Long Beach artists. Join us for a festive event with refreshments and art for view and sale. If you aren't already on my mailing list and want to receive an invitation, add your name through this website.

Ahhhhh... the Oregon Coast

We were in Oregon last week for a special family event. The view of Haystack Rock, at Cannon Beach, was particularly appealing one afternoon between rain showers. Such fun, walking on the sand under cloudy skies, feeling the cold, wet wind on our faces.

A Small Transfer Drawing

Bird Feet, 2007
3" x 3"

Recipe for Mexican Fruitcake

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. soda
2 eggs
20 oz. can of crushed
pinneapple in own juices
I cup walnuts, chopped

Mix and pour into a greased
and floured 9" x 13" baking
dish. Bake at 350 degrees
for 35 minutes or longer.

Icing:
1 8 oz package cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Spread on cake while hot.

Who is My Favorite Artist? See Answer Here...

Ark III, 1977 woodcut



Arkansas Rabbit Tobacco, 1983 intaglio

Beautiful work by Marian Shuff. She is my favorite artist AND
she is my MOM! See more of her art on her website,
anniestromquist.com/marian.

The Hole-Punch Saga, Chapter Two: Not Necessarily a Better Mouse Trap

Despite a brave and gallant effort, the fancy new hole-punch has come up short, we are sorry to report. (See below for the first part of this story.) Yes, indeed, the punched holes are the perfect size. But we find that punching them accurately on each sheet of paper - a very important requirement for perfect print registration - requires too much finesse and luck, due to design flaws in the back stop. So, by popular demand and with some fine-tuned contract negotiations, the old hole-punch has given up retirement and returned to duty in our screenprinting classroom. The new hole-punch has no hard feelings and is happy to share duties with a seasoned colleague.


Above, the old hole-punch is welcomed back to work by tool crew buddies.

Another Exquisite Book by Artist Tari Brand

While Tari works in several media, her books have become a focus in recent years. They are beautiful, mixed media works of all sizes and formats with content ranging from autobiographical to philosophical and fantastical. This book contains pages of quotes by others, including Ram Dass and sculptor Dean Smith, mixed with blank pages on which thoughts can be added by the book's owner (me!!!).

Tari Brand and artist Connie Sasso are currently developing book workshops, to be offered soon. I can hardly wait.

Resembles a few Republican Senators, perhaps?

The Myopic Man, 2008
collagraph, edition of 10

Day Trip to L.A. County Museum of Art

Chris Burden's Urban Light, an installation created in 2000 and now settled in the entry area of the Museum, was one of the highlights of today's outing with my friend, artist Cynthia Evans. Other great sights: an exhibition of Indonesian textiles, a row of lovely Persian miniature paintings, a much too small show of Arts and Crafts furniture and other objects, and a room of inspiring German Expressionist prints and drawings. It was also fun to ride in the huge elevator in the new Broad building.

Requiem for a Hole-Punch

This worn out, bedraggled hole-punch has served honorably and impressively for almost nine years in our screenprinting classroom. The only punch we could find that made holes the exact size for our registration pins, it has worked tirelessly well beyond normal retirement age. Recently, however, the inspired sleuthing of a student uncovered a shiny new energetic punch that could also make perfectly dimensioned holes. Our beloved old punch will go into semi-retirement in my studio at home.



Here is our new hole punch! Can you see how it is smiling proudly?