Stepping out...

image via etsy

I met with a local painter I admire the other day...it was something we had been wanting to do for a while and the time finally lined up.

***

I know the painter I met with, in a casual sort of way.

You know when you are familiar with someone because you frequent their stall at farmers market, say hello and how do you do. The person you always seem to get at the coffee shop.

You know them but haven't had a meal with them kind of know.

She is someone like that.

She is amazingly talented, and making it as an artist and designer.

In all fairness she also knows me about as well too.

We are far more familiar with each others work then each other.

We agreed to meet at a coffeeshop in the town between my home and work...she told me the name,

I knew the place and agreed.

I arrived a little early because I wanted to seem cool and relaxed by the time she arrived, and so I ordered a chai, opened my current list book (book I am making to-do lists in) and relaxed.

Taking in the scene:

Be cool, you are cool enough to be here

Boy, there are a lot of yoga people here, everyone looks like models

I don't feel so cool right now

That table is talking codes and meta links, I kind of know what they are saying

Hummm that one looks like Justin Timber...

ohh I know this song, I like this album.

OK I am cool enough again

I feel like I am looking for a blind date, looking up at everyone that enters this place...

focus on your list

Sipping chai...mmmm

Wow there are a lot of laptops in here

Ohhh check out that guys mood medallion, it is huge but not overly sooo

I should try their chocolate chai next time....

What time is it?

*

Then the text came : looking forward to meeting with you today

I texted back I was waiting for her.

She said I am here where are you?

I, it turns out, was at the wrong coffee shop.

I was at the original location, she was at the newest.

I blew it!

I told her I would be there in a moment.

I gulped the top third of my chai, leaving the rest to be thrown down the drain and

my calm eroded as I walk/ran to the car three blocks away and drove to the correct location.

By the time I arrived, I was a half hour late!

ugh

Comfort zone shattered- check

I am never that late person, but today I was.

She was gracious and we ended up talking for an hour and a half.

I got to learn about her process and her other businesses, she has two others besides her painting.

It is funny to hear highly productive people say how they wish they were more organized or better at scheduling. We talked about personal goals, exchanged website inspiration and simply shared some time. We giggled with guilt at how unusual it feels to meet someone in the morning at a coffee shop, on a studio day and wondered if it fed the stereotype of what people think artists do all day.

We both then commiserated on how much work we actually do to get our work seen.

She had multiple client meetings so we visited as long as we could.

It was a good morning, didn't start out as calm as I had hoped but it ended that way.

I also know a little more about her making our next chat that much easier.

Things learned:

Triple check addresses of agreed meeting places

Be kind to yourself when things go wackadoodle, it isn't always bad

Try a chocolate chai, if you are gonna spend $5 on a drink make it a splurge

You are doing just fine...keep on keeping on

Shaking things up

I am working on shifting things in my life....picking things that feed me creatively, giving myself the gift of space to think and breathe.
It has been four months since my surgery, and I am methodically working on creating a new to-do list and ditching the stuff that shouldn't matter any more.

 

 

Step one:

Get back into the figure drawing open studio class.

It is a two hour period, and I have access to a model, and can just sit and draw.

No teacher telling me if this or that is right or wrong.

Just me in a mind space of drawing and no judgement.

A gift of time to do or not do whatever comes to me.

I have been in figure drawing classes since I was in high school. A couple friends and I had special permission to leave school to take college drawing classes and then return to school for the rest of our classes. It was a great introduction to the freedom outside the high school walls and we felt far more mature than our classmates. After all we got to sit and draw naked people for credit.

Before heading into the lab, I texted a friend that I took classes with back in the day, telling her I was anxious about drawing...she sent back a text

" just like the ol' days, watch out for the crazy penises"

***

 

Let me explain:

In one of the first classes, a male model sat down in front of me,

spread eagle and posed for an hour.

Some would say he was simply sitting....I think he was showing off.

I was taken aback and was acting as cool as I could.

Sharpening my pencil, looking for the right charcoal...looking at lines of the body...

but I could hear my friends giggle behind me and we were all trying our best to be

mellow and all copacetic with the scene, you know...

OWN the fact that we were there for a reason and a purpose.

 Well I drew, and as I got to his crotch his penis moved.

Not huge amounts like a sword battle, more like it rolled this way and then when I came back to that part of the drawing it had moved another bit...so I erased the first position and re-drew...well this went on for another half and hour.

Needless to say, by the end of the pose, it looked like something exploded in his crotch.

my poor drawing.

My instructor just smirked and said nothing.

I was mortified and vowed to never sit that close again...I never have.

Needless to say, that day created a reputation for myself amongst my peers and NOW we all joke about the penis with the mind of its own.

I have a million figure drawing stories...that one just mostly set the bar for the next 25years

The figure model at my most recent class; she works at my local grocery store and spent a good portion of the time chatting while posing.

She had been stacking apples all day.

Wordless Wednesday

 

 



Back in the saddle

I am hunched over a worktable currently, working on new etchings and linocuts.

I don't really have a lot to say these days.

I had to work through a pretty thick creative block and then some frustration from said creative block.

I am pretty sure I am back on the right track again.

I am making things and dreaming crazy dreams...so that is all "normal-er"

As I spend so much time alone while making, I often find myself in conversations with the cats...or better yet myself.

My Nana use to say, "it is ok to talk to yourself as long as you don't answer yourself."

I don't think I have answered myself, have I?

 

Here is a little of what I have made so far:

A set is being sent to Australia for a fundraiser.
This is a small edition I made for myself, I have plans for them
 

 

skeleton seed pods, just another pretty little print

 

 

I made some Purim cookies too....they are yummy

 

step one of the most complex linocut I have set to make

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

Lets start back at the begining...

*****

OK, So I am soooo very behind on posting I thought I would start by posting the posting I have been wanting to post for a long time...so we are going to time travel a little.

 

Back before my world got a little crazy, before now...way back in October I went to the LA Printers Fair. This is a fair for all things printmaking, I am in a personal geek heaven and amongst my people.

Thankfully, I am not the only one taking photos of machines, presses and printmaking type.

In fact I am only one in a crowd doing the exact same thing.
 I would go as far as to say it is expected to take pictures!

Linotype printer at work, the sounds of the machine makes me cry from sheer beauty.
Linotype makes lead slugs of lines of print, the operator types it out and the machine casts the type as he types!
Many of these machines were melted down post WWII
See one at work HERE

 

The Printmaking Museum opens its doors annually for this fair and shows off its amazing collection of old and still working presses. Believe it or not, I first heard of this museum in Carson via Huell Howser on one of his whats great about California shows...(pat on the back Huell, rest in peace)
 

I have made the trek to lovely downtown Carson twice now and it is a whole day event.

I go with a graphic design friend and she and I pack snacks and slather sunscreen and head out around 7:30am to get there by 10am when they open the gates. Not only can you see how ALL the presses work, but a far number of them are hands on demonstrations! So last year I got to print off a field press from the civil war. SOOOOOO COOLIO

 

This year it was even more packed and I am proud to say the crowd was 75% women printers!

 

The museum itself is only one part of the fair, there is also the vendor sections that run through the museum and into the back of the building and then into a large warehouse that stores, sad and forgotten presses (many are for sale at the fair) and then you file into the book arts building.

my girlfriend

 

Which houses "my girlfriend" the letterpress that I would tackle someone for.
This is one of the hands on demonstration stops and I got to print my own poster to take home...and figure out where to put.
 

This years fair had an amazing collection of printers making stationary and my pockets were lighter by the end of the day, but really, this was hardly bad, as I met some amazing fellow printmakers, introduced myself to people I was exhibiting with but had never met and got a bag full of lovely little gifts for myself, and maybe a friend or two.

Fugu Fugu press's booth

 

One of the many highlights was seeing and meeting Krank Press. I had spied their cards in the William Sonoma in Santa Barbara and was able to find out what I job like that really looks like. Owner/printmaker Elinor was very generous with describing the reality of this monumental job, the contract and a few tips on where to source a letterpress when I was ready to make the leap and had the space.

Chandler and Price floor letter presses

wooden type for sale

 

Another great inspiration was talking with Monique from Metal Doily Press she had attended the fair the year before and was so inspired she promised herself she would try and be a vendor the following year...she met her goal and in order to not overtax herself in the effort, she shared a table with a friend. Very inspiring and put that little bee in my ear and brain for this years fair.


Backwards and upside down,
I knew this skill from elementary school would come in handy someday!
(Learn, Print, Play)

1850's Proof Press
I have my eye on you my pretty!

 

All in all I was overjoyed once again after leaving, inspired and felt like I had found my tribe.
I might not be making a living yet as a printmaker, but it is for sure in my blood,
as I can not imagine a life without it.

There were too many AWESOME printmakers to mention in this post, so I invite you to check out the list of vendors and check them out one by one.
I was thrilled to meet The Library press, and Pup and Pony press, as well as ....you get the point.

 

We'll be back to our regular program soon...

I'm working on stuff....
I'm distracted and a little overwhelmed...

but I'll be here soon with words and photos
and thoughts and stuff.

 

Until then, enjoy my latest favorite song to keep ya on your toes and dancing: