October Update, where have I been?

I've been in the studio, of course!
Working on the "Baby Grand", a tiny print with a larger than life subject for (what else!) the barenforum.org (http://barenforum.org) 50th Anniversary Exchange. I thought everyone in the world should have the Grand Canyon in their pocket.

I'm busy working on block number 4 of 9 blocks but they go quickly. The print is 2.5 by 3.5 inches (ACEO size) and it is delightful to work on. All the blocks are carved, now I'm just printing like a mad woman, an edition of 160.

The Grand Canyon is all about color so I'm going to make this tiny print huge in palette. Well, it's all about size too and thus my tiny representation. I was going to call it Pocket Canyon but I think Baby Grand is better. What do you think?

Here are the first three blocks:

Right to left: The key block, blue background, green foreground trees.

And here is the fruit of my labor so far...all those tiny prints! I built a registration board just for these little cherry blocks and also a small printing "baren" made of wood buttons and a doorknob. Works like a charm!

All these tiny prints will be trimmed even smaller when finished. I had to leave a margin to register properly.

All the blocks required for this print. The first three (the dirty ones!) have been printed. I built the registration board from foamboard to accommodate the cherry blocks. The tiny doorknob with glued on wood buttons makes quick work of printing by hand.

From Brrrrrrrrrrrazil!!!

Priscila de Souza Bomfim is one of our many contributors from Sao Paulo BRAZIL
Her image through the window is perfect and to me it symbolizes the communal and delicate privacy we enjoy in big cities. Inside our "world" we feel safe from the eyes of the rest of the city...and yet the entire city is right there on the other side of that window. Very nice image.

******************************************************

Don't forget!
Deadline: December 31st 2011

Send Block Details/Information for the Colophon: http://1000woodcuts.com/forms/cityblockinfo.htm

******************************************************

The North and the North contribute

Nancy Osadchuk from Calgary, Alberta CANADA brings us a little greenery for the great city. Every city has (and NEEDS!) its own "lungs" in the form of parks and open spaces and the City of the World is no different!

Lynita Shimizu, in Pomfret Center Connecticut USA goes for a drive and brings the landscape back in the car. What a clever image! I'm a big fan of driving and enjoy the road almost like nobody else I know and this little car fits perfectly with the feeling of drinking in the landscape as I drive. The scenery stays with you long after the car is back in the driveway.

******************************************************

Don't forget!
Deadline: December 31st 2011

Send Block Details/Information for the Colophon: http://1000woodcuts.com/forms/cityblockinfo.htm

******************************************************

Citizens from Canada and Belgium

Virginia Sheehan from Ottawa, Ontario CANADA brings us a clever contribution. I like to share the cards and inserts that our citizens send me because I think they are unique and certainly enhance my experience.
I had to brush up on my French to read the paper but I got the gist of the enclosure.

And Luc VanQuickenborne from Brugge Sint-Kruis BELGIUM sends a delicately carved block which I hope to print faithfully. I thought the contrast between the block and the news was curious.

And I'm reminded I have another language to learn before I go to the great city in the sky.

******************************************************

Don't forget!
Deadline: December 31st 2011

Send Block Details/Information for the Colophon: http://1000woodcuts.com/forms/cityblockinfo.htm

******************************************************



An Old Plum Tree and A Memorial

The latest arrivals, just catching up on the photo taking and updating.

From my home state of Nevada, a beautiful tree image.

NAME:  Carolyn McLeod

LOCATION:  Reno, Nevada USA

IMAGE:  An old plum tree in my garden, partly influenced by a recent Japanese-style woodblock printmaking class.

And a heart felt Memorial dedicated to Barbara Patera, graciously carved by Sharri LaPierre.

This image is in memorium of our good friend and Barenforum member, Barbara Patera.  The image is taken from a block she did for Exchange # 12.  I think Barbara would want street entertainers and arts festivals with clowns and mimes and joy and laughter.  She had a marvelous sense of humor.  Barbara's print was on a tan paper with black ink and she had a white face on her high wire walker.  I love this image - it is SO Barbara, and is appropriately titled, "Sometimes It Rains".  To me it alludes to the sorrow of missing Barbara and also to all the fun we had with her while she was with us.

******************************************************

Don't forget!
Deadline: December 31st 2011

Send Block Details/Information for the Colophon: http://1000woodcuts.com/forms/cityblockinfo.htm

******************************************************

Discombobulated Bunnies

It's been "that" kind of a year, this 2011. I find myself finishing projects late, chucking others off my to do list altogether and just generally feeling out of control.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a control freak; that would imply I wish to control others around me. No no no...I just enjoy being under control, like...myself and my life. Unless I'm skiing downhill of course, but that's another matter.

So the Chinese Lunar New Year starts in February, yeah, like LAST February and every year I make a promise to some 50-70 printmakers all over the world that I will send them a Year of the- post card (http://barenforum.org). We all make that promise to each other. Quite fun to receive these all year long with postage from everywhere, some in envelopes, some in baggies, some just so.

My post-cards went out last week, naked as a jaybird this year but surely they will make it "there" safely, won't they? Surely. It's been that kind of a year...

In any case, here is my Chinese Lunar New Year representation of this crazy rabbit year. Officially crossed off my to do list.

Deconstructed Rabbit 2011

Go ahead, scan the QR!