Back in Print

A Pickwick Independent Press member (and friend) at work.

My work station - using Lisbeth's snowflakes as stencils, I'm etching a copper plate and a zinc plate with sugarlift...

This sugarlift recipe is sugar, Ivory Snow, and India Ink. Yesterday a couple of people in the print shop told me that you can use straight condensed milk! I have to try that...

Lisa Pixley at work.

Lisa's exquisite new bird prints.

Bulletin board paper doll lovers from a local gallery.

Those of us in The Artist Studio who have been pining to print are incredibly lucky! Lisa Pixley spearheaded the creation of a spanking new print shop in our building that is now in full operation, Pickwick Independent Press. I haven't done any intaglio since my senior year at MECA in 2006, and I am very excited to have access to a press again! I have started to experiment with transferring Lisbeth's cut paper designs to copper and zinc. There are several ways to do this, and I believe I will eventually attempt them all, but I'm starting with the very direct sugarlift process. This afternoon I will be putting the hard ground on these plates and putting them in the acid bath. I heard yesterday that you can put your plates in the ocean, and it will etch like an acid bath! I think you'd have to leave them in a long time, maybe several days...I really like this idea...

Nesting

Some corners of my home in Woolwich. I've been painting walls, sewing curtains and pillows, rearranging, cleaning out closets and re-organizing STUFF. Still a ways to go. After being away from the house part-time for five years, there is alot to do to get it in order. I enjoy chaos as part of my creative process, but I do not enjoy living in chaos! I made it back into my studio earlier this week to start the organizing process there as well. When I get everything whipped into shape in the studio (and it will require a whipping!) I will get back to my art. I read this horoscope on-line last night, and it really fits for what my fall has been about! Here's what astrobarry had to say:

Pisces...I'd like you to starting looking ahead to 2010, when benevolent blessing-bestower Jupiter will spend a good chunk of the year in your sign, bringing you an expanded vision of what you as an individual are capable of. Jupiter in one's sign usually delivers a memorable year, so I'm already getting excited for you. In preparation for this, use Mars's new long-term residence in your 6th for an attack on whatever unfinished work you've left to gather dust for too long now—your disorganized papers, your mediocre day-to-day job performance, your out-of-shape body, your household projects or other nagging chores whispering for your attention. Clear the decks during this tail end of '09. (my emphasis!) Make way for a bigger you.

(Suhweeet!)

Have a great weekend everyone!