Exposing Myself

My new toy arrived today, a Speedball diazo exposure kit. I was pretty excited to explore the proof of concept. The FedEx transparencies weren't very transparent (the ones we use at work are generally 2.5-3.5 density unites, and my copy machine ones were barely .70du. Copier paper is denser. Because they used a scanner, the FedEx transparencies were also half-time. I've been studying solutions to the issue, if they turn out to be not opaque enough.

Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. A 5 minute exposure with the 250w lamp, and I appear to have nailed it on the first try.

I'm just waiting for the screen to dry before the BIG TEST.....!

And here we are! I have to admit, this was a big surprise. I promise, there are a lot of big surprises coming!

In The Beginning....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, NCP was originally conceived as a business, but not a wood cut printmaking business. Until 2007, my wife and I sold our artwork under the name "The Art of Nature."

In 2006, I left a job I loved, screen printing greeting cards, for a new job screen printing medical devices. About two months later, I was begging to be let back into my old job, but their gatekeeper sealed me out (of course, there's more to the story, and I'll admit it was mostly, if not all, my fault). So I started NCP, with little knowledge, no designs, no ideas, no equipment, no money and no plan.

And nothing happened. Avery, very rough 8 years ensured, and I focused on wood cut printmaking. All the while, though, NCP haunted me. Two years ago I bought screens and emulsion, and built a press. But that's as far as that went.

This year, as I tackled dream after dream -- the Plein air competition, cartooning -- I looked around and decided that NCP had to become real RIGHT NOW.

Now, I have no idea how far it will go. I will have made my first prototype by Sunday, and I'll know more. But your dreams do nothing for you or the world if you don't act. The way I see it, if the test works, and I love it, that's the best. If it works, but I'm not really excited to keep doing it, that's great, too; I can move on knowing that I've no ties to that dream anymore.

Worst case: it has LOTS of problems, but I LOVE it. Then, it becomes an obsession, and down into another vortex go I! Heaven help me!

I Second That Emulsion

A Blick box welcomed me home today! Two squeegees and an emulsion kit....what on Earth does this have to do with reduction WOODCUTS printmaking???

Leaps, Unbound

Napping Cat Press is actually a legal business name, filed at Erie County Hall on January 3, 2007. At the time, I'd been 4 months into a new job and deeply unhappy. I had big plans for NCP, though in hindsight they were dreams, not plans, and oh, what one must go through to understand the difference.

The eleven years since have been...challenging, but on the upward trend for four or five, and I'm grateful for that.

Time seems right to return to the NCP legend to see if I, now armed with a solid plan, can make that dusty dream a reality.

This is a photo of some humble beginnings, a basic R&D for a project rooted in woodcut but employing the screen printing that has been my day job for nearly 18 years now. Please keep checking back to see the progress.

Tied Up With A Ribbon



A quick update on the last print, now called "Amy's Hill (St. Martin's)." As you see, it won a blue ribbon in it's class, which was surprise enough. But it also netted a green special award ribbon, which turned out to be a 1 year membership for two to the Albright Knox Art Gallery, which was a stunning surprise.

I was humbled by all of the great work on the walls at the Fair. Such great local talent!

I also participated in the Plein Air competition. I'm not a painter, but I had the BEST time. Great weather, great people. My effort was less than stellar, but I'm proud they I participated.