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My studio was all dressed up for the reception and open studio event in June, so I took a few pictures. This is where the magic happens. It is a great place to work!
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 I'm pleased to offer a Woodblock Printing Workshop on June 8 at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City, MD. All experience levels are welcome! Materials are included, so it's a great chance to try out woodblock, print with color, and learn to work with Akua inks, which are intensely pigmented, non-toxic, professional quality inks. Woodblock Printing Workshop Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $100, materials included Please register here by June 4 Learn the process of creating woodblock prints, or "woodcuts". Participants will create a line drawing on wood, then carve away the negative space to produce a bold, linear "key block." We will then transfer the design to a second block to carve and add color. Printing techniques will be introduced, as well as instruction on using non-toxic Akua inks and modifiers. The woodblocks can then be used to print an edition or experiment with color variations. Participants will have hands-on instruction in exploring a variety of techniques including: · Carving a design into a woodblock (suitable for printing) · Transferring a printed image to a color block · Registration (lining up the key block and the color block) · Inking woodblocks · Printing by hand or with a press (I have barens AND a baby press!) Walk away with 2-3 woodblocks, a set of prints, and a list of resources for printing supplies.   I hope you'll join me!
 The Resident Visual Artist Exhibition is on display at the Howard County Center for the Arts through June 23, 2013. This is a great chance to see what all the resident artists have been working on in their studios. Come check it out! Also, please mark your calendars for the closing reception, June 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., with open studios from 7 to 8 p.m. This woodblock print is one of 5 pieces I have in the show. It is based on a view of the Niagara River, in Niagara Falls, NY. The artwork is printed from one Shina woodblock. It was printed using the reduction method, in which a single block is carved and printed in stages. Title: Niagara River Medium: Woodblock Print (Reduction Method) Paper: Rives BFK, White Paper Size: 10 x 14" Image Size: 8 x 12" Block: Shina Ink: Akua Intaglio Edition size: 13 
 Alpacas for the Ace of Hearts in an Art in Hand animals deck. I previously posted about the Alpacas in Progress and here is the final print! My goal was to get One Good Print for the Art in Hand deadline. When both my kids were sick the week before, I wasn't sure how it was going to happen. I carved my color blocks at home, over several days, then printed in my studio, on the very day/night that they were due! There must have been some magic in my studio because it all came together, calmly and not in a hurried frenzy. I was even able to go to bed at a decent hour, and for that I am grateful! I took some photographs of the process:  This is the black and white proof, which I hand-colored with watercolor crayons. I have a set of 40 Caran d'Ache Neocolor crayons, which provide a great range of colors and I can get a sense of what will happen when I layer colors, as well.  The key block is on the far right, and to the left are three of the color blocks. The fourth color block is actually the backside of another block.  Here is the set with the two-sided block flipped over. Side note: check out my new Ribba picture ledge from Ikea! It is great for getting blocks and frames up off my table tops to clear the surfaces (or make room for more stuff, as you can see here). Next time I go to Ikea, I plan to stock up on these and line my studio walls with them. 
So, there it is! I said before that it is for the Queen of Hearts but it is actually for the Ace of Hearts. I'm looking forward to seeing the decks in a few months. In the meantime, my next step will be to print my edition of alpacas--I'm planning for an edition of 35.
Here are the details: Title: Alpacas Paper: Rives BFK Paper Size: 10 1/2 x 13" Image Size: 8 1/2 x 11" Block: Shina--5 blocks Ink: Akua Intaglio Edition size: 35  This Saturday, I'm offering a gelatin monotypes workshop at the Howard County Center for the Arts, in Ellicott City, MD. I've taught this technique at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Creative Alliance, School 33, and the Greenbelt Community Center, and it is always a lot of fun! This will be my first time offering it at my new location. Printing without a Press: Gelatin Monotypes Saturday, May 4, 3 - 6 p.m., $60, materials included. Please register here by Thurs. May 2. Create one-of-a-kind, painterly prints using gelatin as a printing surface. Ink transfers beautifully from the smooth gelatin surface, with very little pressure. The material is very versatile, and while it can mimic traditional printing processes, it possesses its own unique qualities and the process lends itself to experimentation. Participants will be instructed in a variety of techniques, and then create a set of experimental prints. A little bit about the process:  An inked gelatin plate, with stencils placed on top. Gelatin monotype printing is a low-tech, non-toxic form of printmaking that requires no press and used water-based inks or paint (we will be using akua kolor inks). The printing plate is made from a simple gelatin recipe.  Ghost print (left) Direct print (right) Ink can be painted directly onto the plate with brushes and then printed onto paper. The ink transfers easily with very little pressure. Of course, there will be a little ink left on the plate, which is perfect for creating "ghost prints."  Press nature specimens or textured items into the ink to capture and print the incredible detail. Feel free to bring plant trimmings or other textures you'd like to try printing!  You can also cut your own stencils for blocking out on the gelatin.  They can be used alone for a high contrast design,  or printed in layers, for more emphasis on texture, color layering, and transparency, or even to create a pattern.  You can even cut and carve your gelatin for a relief technique, using clay tools cookie cutters. Create patterns, line work, or cut "puzzle pieces" that can be inked separately and put back together for printing. I always save this step for last since it permanently changes the plate! Try these techniques and more at my workshop on Saturday! You will walk away with a stack of experimental prints and a recipe to make your own gelatin plate for printing. All experience levels welcome!
I'm offering a Block Printing on Fabric workshop this Saturday at the Howard County Center for the Arts, in Ellicott City.  Block Printing on Fabric: Design and Print a Unique Spring Scarf Saturday, April 27, 3 - 6 p.m., $60, materials included. Register here. Carve your own unique design into soft rubber, then use fabric inks to print the design on a jersey-knit scarf. Participants walk away with a hand-carved stamp, for continued use on fabric or paper, and two block-printed scarves that are ready to wear after a quick iron. Below are some photos I took while preparing for the workshop.  Learn to transfer a design to the block.  Carve away lines, negative spaces, and unwanted material to create the stamp.  Then, print on a jersey-knit scarf.  Here are just a few of the beautiful colors available for the scarves. I love seeing them all together--so pretty!  You're also welcome to bring your own fabrics to print on, such as tea towels, cloth napkins, clothing, quilt blocks or other materials to sew. The possibilities are endless! All materials are included, but it's a good idea to bring a photo or sketch to use as inspiration. The registration link is on my workshops page. Hope you'll join me!
As a new Resident Artist at the Howard County Center for the Arts, I'm pleased to offer some new printmaking workshops this spring! Workshops will be held in Classroom 8 at the Howard County Center for the Arts 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043.  Block Printing on Fabric: Design and Print a Unique Spring Scarf Saturday, April 27, 3 - 6 p.m., $60, materials included. Carve your own unique design into soft rubber, then use fabric inks to print the design on a jersey-knit scarf. Participants walk away with a hand-carved stamp, for continued use on fabric or paper, and two block-printed scarves.  Printing without a Press: Gelatin Monotypes Saturday, May 4, 3 - 6 p.m., $60, materials included. Create one-of-a-kind, painterly prints using gelatin as a printing surface. Ink transfers beautifully from the smooth gelatin surface, with very little pressure. The material is very versatile, and while it can mimic traditional printing processes, it possesses its own unique qualities and the process lends itself to experimentation. Participants will be instructed in a variety of techniques, and then create a set of experimental prints.  Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., $100, materials included. Learn the process of creating woodblock prints, or "woodcuts". Participants will create a line drawing on wood, then carve away the negative space to produce a bold, linear "key block". We will then transfer the design to a second block to carve and add color. Printing techniques will be introduced, as well as instruction on using non-toxic Akua inks. The woodblocks can then be used to print an edition or experiment with color variations. Materials will be provided for all workshops, but it is a good idea to bring a sketch or photo to use for reference and inspiration. Please see my Workshops Page for more details and to register.
I hope you'll join me for some printmaking! I tend to have several projects going at different stages, and each evolves at its own pace. Here is a quick slideshow of what's happening in my studio at present. Enjoy! After the open studio at the Howard County Center for the Arts, I took some photos of my space and they are below. Before moving into this studio, I was working in my laundry room, which was small, dark, and full of laundry. Having a dedicated space just for printmaking is really great. I have both daylight (with windows all the way to the ceiling!) and overhead lights, and there is wall space to hang up my work. I have arranged my work area so that each part of the process has its own separate space (carving, inking, printing, framing), so the space is very functional and I can work on any part of the process without having to clean up, break down, and rearrange.           So that's my space! In addition to moving in, I have been printing and preparing for shows, working on news prints, editioning, and such, so I will be posting updates with my newest prints and works in progress.
Wishing you Peace and Happiness in the New Year!  Please come visit me in my new studio! I moved into studio 7B at the Howard County Center for the Arts in November, and I absolutely love it! Tonight wil be my first open studio, and I'm really excited to show off my new space! My work space is all set up (including my press, which was a big move!), and I will be printing, as time allows. I will have hand-printed cards, framed and matted artwork on display, as well as carved woodblocks to show a bit of the process. I've also hung the City of the World up for display, so this will be its "unveiling" in Ellicott City, MD. Hope to see you there!  This is my press in the new studio. It is seeing daylight for the first time since it came into my possession!  This studio furniture was so generously donated to me! My dad managed to fit it all in his truck perfectly. |
Amanda
I'm a woodblock printmaker who is committed to a non-toxic (or less toxic) art practice. I started out as a painter but found my way to printmaking through a love of paper and process. I seem to be falling for papermaking in the same way. I went to Syracuse University, where I studied painting (BFA) and museum studies (MA). I was a Resident Artist at the Howard County Center for the Arts for five years and previously worked at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. This blog is for posting works-in-progress and new works, as well as a few creative projects I've done with my kids. Archives
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