Waiting for Spring

 

Monotype print 5"x7"

The days are getting more lovely every day.
The ice in the Northumberland Strait is moving, more out than in.
I have been checking our garlic if little sprouts are showing - not yet!

I have been working on material for the two shows I have plant this year.
One is titled "Peace" and the other "Peace is, without Judgment".
I am exploring what Peace, in it's simplest form means to me.
Very interesting process.
This monotype print above and bellow is part of the collection coming.


What does peace mean to you in it's simplest form?

monotype print 5"x7"

"Fair Trade" - Sold!

Experimenting - Feelings Overload!

I have been experimenting with creating woodcuts and mono-prints and last Friday my second show exhibiting prints opened in Tatamagouche. 
As a painter and as a print-maker, I need to be inspired by looking at other peoples art, taking an image and making it my own. I have been working hard for this show and was satisfied with the result.  
You may think when creating a wood plate I can print numerous prints from the same plate, frame them and off they go. However, it is not that easy it becomes quite a process to select the 'perfect' print, even though, I may print 4 or 5 one may only be good enough to frame for the show. 
At the show, I wanted to say to people looking at my work, that these "prints" are really one of a kind, forget the term 'print'. Even though, the term "print" means the image can be reproduced but when working with a handmade print from a woodcut plate no print is the same. An ink-blotch there and sometimes adding ink with the brush later makes each print one of a kind.  My experimenting with coffee stained  backgrounds makes them even more unique.
Coming back to the show of last Friday evening. We, the Pugwash Artist Collective, have a great support/fan fair, they came out and applauded our efforts. My gratitude goes out to the people who came despite the heavy rain and fog - Thank You!

Opening at the Fraser Cultural Centre in Tatamagouche, August 15th 2014

Openings are always difficult for me, I never know what to do.Yes, you may think, talk to the people who come but it is hard, I felt vulnerable and spacy on Friday evening, the worst feelings to have at an opening. What to say, when people ask about my art when feeling disconnected to the human race and my feelings. Feelings overload!
So, the evening went on wonderful people commented on my art positively but I seem to never arrive at the Gallery while flying through space (Maybe, I shouldn't have watched all these episodes of Star Trek Voyager recently) .  

"Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind"

"Telling" - Sold!

"Now" - Mono-print

"Then"

  

Lore, is approaching fast. The preparations are going well. I found myself getting a little 'anal' about my printing. Which is unusual since I am more the spontaneous type .  However, I may be growing in producing woodcuts and mono-prints. This will be my second show displaying prints. I am very excited about the results. I have been exploring with coffee stained paper as background and like it very much. 

So, today will be the last day I will be picky about my prints. I have a coffee stained background ready for the last print. Then, they will be going into the frames. Tomorrow is the 'hanging', always an intense time. One of our members has lost her mom last week, we will support her the best we can with our love and friendship. 

After the 'hanging' we will celebrate our achievements at Big All's, the local tavern. The best sweet potato fries are on the menu.
Friday at 7:00 pm is the opening at the Fraser Cultural Center in Tatamagouche, 
makes me always nervous. The prints may have been looking good in my home but when they are hanging in the Gallery it adds a whole new outlook. 

At the opening a sense of vulnerability overcomes me, art is creating, joy, pain, and letting myself be vulnerable.  

Cheers!!