inspiration

I think our job as artists is to help others to see differently.

So often I something catches my eye and when I try to photograph it, the essence is not captured.

For example this solo beech tree looked striking and beautiful to me, but that is not so in this photo.

But what I could do is make a painting or print or drawing that captures and conveys what my eye selectively sees.

I encourage you to look and see differently today!

Sometimes we grow in directions and then stall out in a funk.

When that happens to me, I like to go back to my source of inspiration – playing with printmaking. I turn to play to move beyond the rules and should “do’s”.

I give myself the space to play with out any expectations, and then I can usually break out of the funk and move on with a few new ideas.

Three ways to play with printmaking

One – Ten sheets of paper – I pull out 10 ten sheets of paper and just print with abandon. I get a couple of stencils and stamping tools and just print. No goal of making beautiful prints – just get into the process

Two – Use “stencils” from the waste basket. This one can be quite surprising. It is fun to play with scrapes from a collage project. I get inspired to work in new abstract ways.

The print above is a combination of ideas one and two. First I printed 10 sheets with the “found” stencils from a collage project and then I cropped and collaged the prints into a larger print. And I am pretty pleased with the outcome.

Three – Print with a kid. And follow the uninhibited and fearless way of printing. Kids will just do it, use too much ink, layer with abandon and go through tons of paper.

How does if feel when you say:

I am an Artist. I make………………

I have a defensive denial reaction, that I quickly bury. And I am a bit uncomfortable with the statement. Hmmm?

• Why is it hard for me to declare?
• What am I afraid of?
• Why do I not feel like an artist?

Probably as with any belief, I need to say it, and live it until it is in my bones.

How can I do that?

• Be aware of my resistance
• Tell myself and others that I am an artist
• And step by step I will start to believe it.

As artists we:

• see things differently
• notice the usually unseen and
• create new combinations of materials and ideas

We are all unique and that is our gift to the world. Enjoy a video from the Artist Project from the MET.

 

One thing that does help me to feel like an artist is to be with other artists, to take classes and go on art vacations.

That is why I am offering the Mixed Media Printmaker’s Online Retreat. I hope to bring the art “vacation” to you.

I modeled the class around elements of art vacations that I have taken. I combined reflection, action and learning into an intense week long event.

Class starts July 7th. Check out the details on the workshop page. You will have access to the lessons for at least 6 months, so even if this is not a good time for you it may still work out.

If you have a pile of prints and papers that you would like to transform, then this may be the class for you.

I move through most of my day on autopilot not really seeing what is before me. How about you?

There are times though when something crosses my path and makes me pause. These are times when I am really “seeing.”

I think as artists and printmakers that is our job and gift in life. We get to see things that most others do not notice. Then through our art making we help others to see differently too.

What do you think?

Sometimes I forget that seeing things differently is my gift and that it is my job to share it. But it only takes a few moments in nature or even a city street to remind me.

I challenge you to be open to seeing things differently today. I don’t think you can force it, just be open to it. I think something magic will happen for you.

One way artists see differently is we see shadows, shapes, textures and lines when others see things as whole objects.  If you are building your artistic eyes, look for those elements instead of seeing objects.

We then use these elements of design to create something new. In screen printing we can focus on shapes and lines to create a matrix to pull lots of impressions of the same image. Then we can share that image with lots of people.

Here I took a drawing and photocopied it, reduced it and printed it on a transparency so I could burn an EZscreen for printing cards and mixed media art pieces.

This is a simplified emulsion based process that uses sunlight to harden the emulsion coated mesh in all the areas except for where the black design is. Then the screen is soaked in water and the soft emulsion under the design washes away. This leaves your with a screen for printing.

The blue screens above are examples of some images that I turned into screens. I use these for making cards, tea towels, napkins, and to add a detailed line drawing to mixed media work.

If you would like to take an online art class – check out the current offerings.