Rainy Day Rainbow Roll

I used to work very small -- 6"x4" -- and while I loved that size, it had too many limitations for the work I wanted to do. I started the larger sizes (9x7) about 13 years ago, and it has challenges of it's own.

On the small blocks, I could easily do a rainbow roll, vertically or horizontally. My largest brayer is only 6 inches, so if I'm doing one, I need to be creative about it. The biggest problem is that -- for the last couple of years -- I have, until right now, been using a large block with registration grooves cut into the edges. While this is good for registration -- REALLY good -- it is also very hard to get full coverage with the roller.

I finally built a jig that allows me to pop out the block to ink it, which means excellent coverage, and more rainbow rolls.

Rainbow rolls allow a printmaker to put multiple colors down, and also to use the gradation to show atmosphere, distance, shape. This should be a huge gain in my work.

Floored

For most of my formative years, up until the last decade or so, I was a night owl. You could find me at 2:00 am walking the quiet streets. A favorite place to go was the village shopping center. I loved to wander up and down the concrete walks, looking in the empty shops, quiet and cozy, with only a few lights left on. Woolworths, Pleasures & Pastimes, Ulbrich's Stationers. I can't say why I was drawn to these vacant night scenes, or why I still occasionally wander over there (P&P is now a Tuesday Morning, Woolworths is a closed tanning salon, and Ulbrich's was long ago demolished to become a Rite Aid parking lot). But a few things around there stand up against time....

Going Green

Just one more color to go. I'm really pleased with the colors and the coverage I'm getting from my Renaissance Graphics ink.

This light green will serve as the base for a darker green. I've had few issues with this print, and I'm surprised a bit because when a large area gets cut away, I am often plagued by ink getting on the block in areas it shouldn't be. Am--am I getting better? Gasp!🤔😁

Back & Forth

Years ago I worked in a shop with a talented printmaker who had studied under Frasconi. He showed me a number of his large portrait woodcuts, intricate and beautiful. The backgrounds, however, were just a series of scribbles made with a Steel. He commented that after the portrait was complete, he got bored. I get that, and the struggle with background is real.

I have struggled with background since I was in grade school. How tedious to detail what's BEHIND your subject. And too much detail camouflages the subject.

Luckily, I also study cartooning, and that has helped me immensely. Take any cartoon, and you will see most are not detailed, and instead they use spare symbols to impress upon a viewer the IDEA of what the symbols represent. Three rectangles in a blank field is a wall. A squiggle represents water, a few jagged spikes may be grass.

To that sensibility, I added an old technique I learned in kindergarten, but I've found traces it's roots to the surrealists: scribble drawings. I used the same technique with the Newt print, and found that it gives much depth. I imagine you will see more of this as I go.

This print was more an exercise than a work, but I'm quite happy with it. I'm very happy with the colors. I'm obsessed with photographing flowers, but I still haven't developed that as a skill for printmaking, thus the more abstract impression seen here.

Pretty As A Picture

With the addition of black, this print is complete. I would say that I have enjoyed this print more than about any since my very first prints 14 years ago.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the intention was to set this print in New Mexico. I have been through several times, and love it. However, don't go looking for this place out west - the model I used for the gas station is actually an old service station onbBuffalo's East Side. The tree is also an invention, a small homage to Gustave Baumann, the great printmaker. The blue Chevy is a tribute to my dad. The camper color is a nod to my wife.

I have done two other little camper prints, and I plan many more.

As per usual, I can only see the things I would change, little mistakes here and there. That's how I learn. But overall, it's exactly what I had pictured, and I am thrilled with the result.

Going to take some time to plan the next print, so please stay tuned!

Out of Control

The original design for this print called for about seven colors, and in my last attempt, I only made it to five before I had to stop due to the ink issues. This time, because the ink is laying down so well, I keep changing the plan, adding more colors. There's only supposed to be one blue green, and the blue here was actually supposed to be part of the rainbow roll; now it's the first of two blues.

The risk, of course, is going too far, either building up the ink layers to the point that the picture loses detail; worse yet is the deterioration of the plywood, which can crumble and cause pieces that need to stay to the end, start to disappear. But the failure to explore is where art stops and factories begin, and I already spend too much of my life in a factory. So, I will play!

Wind At My Back

Every year my wife and I enter various competitions in the creative arts building at the Erie County Fair (Hamburg, NY). We've been doing it for close to 15 years now, and love it every year. It's a pleasure to see such great art and craft work by our neighbors, and I'd be lying if it isn't a thrill to see a ribbon on your work. This year our craft work didn't collect any ribbons, but I was pretty surprised to find that not only did "Sweet Breeze" breeze into port flying a bright blue flag, but a green one as well. The green denotes a special prize, usually from one of the sponsors of the competition ("Autumn Camper" from a few years ago received a green from Hyatt's art supplies). And a first for me was a ribbon -- blue no less -- (AND a green) for a photograph taken at the Fair last year.

If you get a chance to attend the Fair this year, please stop by and see all of the great work from your friends and neighbors, and if you have a creative bent, PLEASE pledge to participate next year. You'll be glad you did!!!

Almost every revolutionary building or artwork was shunned, derided and hated before it was loved and revered. I grew up despising Brutalism and the likes of the Shoreline Apartments. But as I've been studying the art and architecture of the mid-20th century, I have come to understand that we must protect the truly revolutionary until their importance can fully be understood. Anyone who's parked in the lot that was once the Frank Lloyd Wright Larkin Administration building understands that. Take a minute to fill out the petition. Thanks.

https://www.change.org/p/mid-century-modern-buffalo-preserve-paul-rudolph-s-shoreline-apartments-in-buffalo-ny?recruiter=166688124&utm_source=share_sponsor_thank_you&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=facebook_link&fb_action_ids=10205793561091968&fb_action_types=og.shares

The origin of Brutalism is fascinating, and I recommend doing a little research, particularly if you are NOT a fan. Buffalo has a high concentration of buildings in the style, including the convention center, the bus station and the small boat harbor. They are cold, monolithic and devoid of humanity. They were also inexpensive to construct and maintain. The roots of the style goes back to before World War II, but the aftermath of war made the style necessary.

Spudnik

When I discovered printmaking, I had just ended a 12-year chapter in my life devoted to writing bad fiction. I was desperately looking for a new outlet for my creativity. I'd been working as a prepress technician at a large local commercial printer which was, due to economic downturns and post-9/11 consumer wariness, heading for a massive layoff. They'd been very good to me, but I was first in line to be shown the door. Sensing this instability, I was looking in all directions for a trade to learn. In late summer 2001, I'd been flirting with carpentry, but I think I knew it wasn't going to work. Poor math skills and no real passion for woodwork, coupled with owning exactly two tools -- a hammer and a hand saw -- suggested that I was in big trouble. In January 2002, I started writing again, but found it terribly unfulfilling. It was a very ugly time, full of stress and doubt. It was also January, which is cold, white and awful anyway.

One night I lay in bed, trying to think of a direction, looking for some sign to help push me forward. I just began to fall asleep when I dreamed a quick image of a block of wood with an image carved in it, inked up and pressed on paper. My eyes flipped open, and my heart was racing. For a quick moment, I had thought that I'd invented woodcut printing. It sounds silly, but even though I was in the industry, and for a time in the 1990s even worked as a letterpress printer, I never knew the possibilities of printmaking. It was similar to a moment in 1987 when I was having dinner with my grandmother and her sister, and I mentioned wanting to be a writer, and I first realized -- again, silly to think now -- that people who wrote books got paid for their work, that it was a job (yes, debatable; but let's just say for now).

The next day I spent hours on the Internet researching woodcuts and printmaking, and names and images flooded my head, and it was wonderful. I'd found home. I went to the library and looked up every book on the subject (all three!).

And when it came time to press my dreams to paper, I used the only materials I had: a paring knife, a bag of potatoes, some of my wife's fabric paint, and some old newsprint.

The very first print was a goldfish (npot pictured). The second was the guitar, which I eagerly shared with my musician friend, Damon Pipitone, who promptly used it as artwork in the CD packaging for "Dark Guitar," an album from his band, "The Willies."

The third print was of a leaf, and it was printed in two colors. It has a very mid century design feel to it. Finally, I tried a bunch of grapes, printed in two colors. It was my first multi-color print, multi-block print.

A month after I discovered this world, I was carving the block with my brother's face on it. I created a quartet of prints for him for his office wall for his birthday, a take on Warhol. Here's another proof from that project, hand colored with sparkly fabric paints. I call it "Glam Rock Bill."

Hmmm...

Re-Membering

When I first began woodcut printmaking, I knew nothing about it. History, theory, practice -- nothing. After having a dream about printing wood and pressing it to paper, I began carving potatoes in different shapes, stamping them out on paper. I quickly moved to a plank of pine board I had in the garage, some rusty X-acto knives long abandoned by my wife's dad, and some of her fabric paint. I then discovered Speedball ink, brayers, and poplar, and fancy papers.

This was all in the course of a week or two -- I move quick when I get obsessed.

Once I discovered Gwen Diehn's "Simple Printmaking," which helped me really straighten out the process, I went to the internet looking for as much information as I could find. I stumbled on  Baren Forum, a group I've written about in past posts They have been a great source of knowledge and friendship throughout my education in the art.

One of the features of the group is the "Print Exchange." Members who want to participate create a print, usually with a common thread (size, style, or a theme). After my "comeback" last summer, I decided that this would be the year I really became a member and participated. So, I have signed up, and I'm very excited to participate. For me this will be a "graduation" of sorts, a commencemnet into the next level of work. Please check back to see what I'm up to, and in the meanwhile, check out some of the past exchanges here:
http://www.barenforum.org/exchange/exchange_58/intro.html.

Art Conne-sewer

This weekend my wife and I went into Buffalo to poke around an estate sale. looking for a few mid century modern gems to hoard away in the garage. We found a beautiful mansion on the north side of the city near the museum district, a house that just went on forever. Not our style, but you have to admire places like that. Anyway, on one wall they had this gem. Couldn't tell you the artist or the price; I was so blown away by the exquisite hideousness of it, all I could to was snap a quick photo.

Later, after posting the picture to FB, a large number of friends tried to get me to go back in and buy it. I really wanted to, if only to donate it to the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts. I didn't, of course. I guess I was too sore from my pride being batted around -- got more attention for posting this than any of my woodcuts. But that's the way she goes.

So, without further ado, please enjoy this baby:

My good friend, artist John Redden, who is pretty quick with a computer, did his best to encourage me to add this to my collection:

Frankly, it really opened my eyes as to the imact of setting on artwork, cuz there it's a mite less creepy!

Sale Ends Sunday!

CHRISTMAS SALE ENDS SUNDAY 12/21/2014
Click on the press at the top of the page to get the great holiday deal! Order now for Christmas delivery!

Fresh Picked!

A little bit of summer year round. Put nature's bounty on your wall.

$15 bucks unframed, unmatted.

Free shipping in the US and Canada.

INSANE!

Click on the press at the top of the page to see more!

Ducks Go "Quack!", but...

...this is CHEAP!

Original woodcut, matted and framed, FREE SHIPPING in US and Canada, 40% off of show price of $50:

$30.

Insane.

Etsy Review: Sunflower Farm

I have  pretty well covered the making of "Sunflower Farm," so if you'd like, please scroll back to July and August for details. This sunny 11-color woodcut has an image area of 9x7, and is shipped flat, unmatted via priority US mail. It is designed to fit a standard mat with an opening of at least 7.5x9.5. Framed prints are available, and will be up on the site soon.

Etsy Review: Candy Canes Ornament

Welcome to Shameless Promotion Week here at Napping Cat Press. All this week I will be enticing you to pop over to the www.etsy.com/shop/nappingcatpress site to take a look-see at all the new merch.

Starting off is this piece, a collaboration between Amy and I. I, of course, made the print, a two color job in an edition of six. Amy handled the framing and adornments. I do anticipate making this a tradition, so start your collection today!

The piece is 4"x4".. The frame is black plastic with plate glass, and can be hung with the attached cord on a wall or your Christmas tree, or you can use the attached easel-back to set on a table.

Ships within 24 hours, US Priority Mail.

Back In The Saddle

Had a great time at the Nature's Gathering event for Reinstein Woods. It was my first showing in about 5 years. Thank you to Amy for all of her hard work in putting the display together and keeping me sane.

I'm taking a day off to clean up the house and get some rest, but I'll be updating the etsy site. Please check back here, go to www.etsy.com/shop/nappingcatpress or follow me at www.facebook.com/pages/Napping-Cat-Press/262140577451.

Oh, and one of my favorite things about shows is learning new things from people, things you may never otherwise find out. For example, you all know my print of the Desoto Motel in Olean. Well, a visitor from the Bradford, PA area clued me into a similar looking piece of real estate down there. Awesome!

No Cane, No Gain

This is for a collaboration with my wife, putting together a little ornament to put out at the upcoming Reinstein show. It will be a simple two-color job, red and green, perfect for that color-blind person on your gift list, I s'pose. If it works well, I'll probably do a couple different styles. They are small, about 3x3, more or less, and will be framed by Amy in some super-secret creative way.

My Ship Came In

Here's a  terrible picture of a pretty nice print. I had been planning a different print altogether, but that one needs more drawing out. To keep my printing muscles limber, I decided to do a fairly simple print. Clocking it at a mere 5 colors, it was a fun weekend job.

Boats and water are a recurring subject in my work. This is an irony, since I get terribly, awfully, horribly seasick. Honestly, I have no idea how my family came to America back in the day. But I love the idea of water, and boats, and the whole nautical image.

The palette here is blues and grays, which works very well for this print. I am planning a companion piece featuring the windmills along the Lake Erie shore. That's going to be down the road a bit. Right now I want to jump on something with some bright colors. Any requests?

It's Super, Natural

Say you like cheese. Maybe a little wine. Let's go so far as to say you even like art, too. And let's say you have nothing much going on on Saturday, November 1, from 5pm to 8pm. And let's further suppose that you have an extra $20 you'd like to donate for the upkeep of Reinstein Woods, one of the most beautiful nature preserves in Western New York.

If this all describes you, well boy-howdy, are you in luck. The annual Nature's Gathering fundraiser will be held Saturday, November 1 from 5pm to 8pm and will feature food, wine and art for $20 (less if you buy ahead. Follow the link and learn more.

http://reinsteinwoods.org/events/natures-gathering-evening-art-wine-cheese-2/

(I hope this doesn't change your mind, but I'll be there as well, as an art vendor.)

If you have never been to Reistein Woods, it's a great place to kill an hour or two. You may even see a birdhouse sticking out of one of the ponds, somewhat similar to a woodcut print you may have seen recently.

Hope to see you there!