Work in Progress

One of the several projects in progress in my studio is a series about memory loss. This piece is unfinished, but so far includes screen print, hand printing, drawing and encaustic.

The primary visual element is a dying poinsettia, used symbolically. During what would be my Mom's last holiday season, I gave her a huge red poinsettia. She loved it and thanked me for it daily. It always puzzled me - she never forgot who gave it to her but could never remember if she'd acknowledged the gift.

Toshio Tanaka Prints His First Linocut

Toshio lifts the paper off the inked block after

 running them through the press.

Viola!

Photographs are by William Kenah. Thanks, William!

And More of a Good Thing

With another perfect weather day last Sunday, Joe and I visited L.A. County Museum of Art to see the Ellsworth Kelly print and drawing show. We had lunch outside (no salad for me, this time; I couldn't pass up a great Peruvian pork sandwich) and then hit the show. 

Ellsworth Kelly's Colors on a Grid, 1976

 LACMA is huge - multiple buildings and gardens. Joe watches a drawing class in progress. 

 Chris Burden's Urban Light installation is a popular hang out. 

Iconic southern California sky scene...

Summer in January

January has given Socal a month full of fine weather days and Saturday was yet another one with temperatures in the 80's, sunshine and a light breeze. Wowzy. Joe and I headed down to the beach to have an early dinner on the patio at Belmont Brewing Co.

Years ago, we lived just a few blocks from BBC and ate here several times a week. It's been a favorite place for a long time.

True to form, I ordered a salad. This one is made of arugula, blackened scallops, strawberries, mandarin oranges, blue cheese crumbles, candied walnuts and a vinaigrette dressing. Delish.

A band of wild parrots roam this area. They are a vibrant green, so they blend in with the leaves here, but they are all hanging out in the branches, squawking like a Congressful of politicians.

Cyclers head east on the beach bike path in the foreground; Belmont Pier stretches toward the south. The Pier has been a popular fishing spot for years and years.

Do Try This At Home

Thanks to YouTube, we've come a long, long way in the educational "audio-visual" genre. Remember film strips?

Here are two wonderfully creative how-to vids about printmaking found on YouTube: 

The first is a four minute stop motion production made by artist Armenio Rodriguez and friends from the Los Angeles based La Mano Press who demonstrate how to carve and print a woodcut. Here is the link.

The second is a quite different but equally inspiring presentation by Jared Roth of artist Bridget Henry demonstrating how to create a reduction wood cut. It is ten minutes long, so save it for later, when you can relax and enjoy the whole thing. Here is the link. 

Thanks, Loren Fierman and Pablo Sandoval!

I Think It Looks Like a "Max"

Our poor old work horse of a pressure washer finally died during the last week of fall semester's screenprinting class. Definitely an untimely death as far as we were concerned, since most students were feverishly finishing their final projects and screens were hard to clean without one. But we all got through it. (Except for the pressure washer, of course. Sorry, buddy.)

Today, I'm excited to report that we've scored! Our shiny, new replacement is the top of the line! Steel parts, strong joints, 400 dpi motor, fine design. Now, what should we name it?

Our shiny new pressure washer

Pablo Sandoval tries it out.

Happy Birthday, John Montich

Unsuspecting, photographer John Montich arrived at the Long Beach Museum one recent Saturday to have lunch with Joe and me. He knew the three of us were celebrating his 65th birthday, but little did he know fourteen more of his closest artist friends would join us!

John Montich, me, Joe

Terrill Cascia, Judy Chan, Jean Clad 

John Sanders, Bill Livingston, Mike Hamlin

David Braunstein, Terry Braunstein, John Montich

Gail Werner, Cynthia Evans

Lynn Shaw, Doug Pennington

Carol, Slater Barron, Mark Laurila

Sue Ann Robinson, Mike Hamlin