Experiments in Mark Making

Acrylic and Sumi Ink on Paper
58" x 40"  

Acrylic, Acrylic Ink  on Paper and Silk Organza

Sumi Ink on Yupo
26" x 40"

Collage and Acrylic and Ink on Silk Mounted on Panel
12" x 12" 

Collage and Acrylic Ink Mounted on  Panel
12" x 12"

Monotype and Acrylic Ink on Silk Organza
20" x 38"

November Update

24" x 12"
Acrylic and Pigment Sticks on Panel

Acrylic on Tar Paper

11" x  25"
Sumi Ink, Acrylic on Paper

The work has shifted to an internal landscape.....My meditation workshop ends tomorrow, the twelve week workshop was based on the Elements and associated aspects: Space, Air, Fire, Earth and Water. I wish I had the time to research more on this, but the focus is more on my studio practice and readings, though I have been doing some reading on the practice of meditation.

44" x 31"
Sumi Ink, Acrylic and Oil on Paper 

Lately, I have been drawing and markmaking with sumi ink, pouring acrylics and re-visiting using silk organza on my work. According to my instructor- the "veil" (that obscures the clear mind) is lifted by the breath (a bridge and connector between the body, mind and spirit).

96" 35"
acrylic, sumi ink

72" x 26"
Charcoal, Sumi Ink and Walnut Ink

21" x 36"
Sumi Ink,Charcoal, Acrylic Ink and Silk Organza

Acrylic Ink and Silk Organza and Fabriano Watercolor Paper

October Update

 2 panels 36" x 10"
4 panels 8" x 8"

Usually I work quickly and do not go back and revisit work ....not the case with the following pieces.  Even when looking at this post I see things that I may have to go back and adjust.
Most have started out as one thing....ended up quite different than my intent. It appears that "fragmentation" has become an important factor in my work.
I also started collecting tree branches on my walks....thinking of a sculptural piece~but Heddi suggested I draw them and I love the life those branches have taken on!  Looking forward to a large drawing of branches!  

Acrylic on Paper 30" x 40"

Acrylic on Paper 30" x 40"

Acrylic on Paper 30" x 40"

Acrylic & Sumi Ink on Paper
60" x 20" 

Sumi Ink on Paper21" x 35"

Sumi Ink on Paper 18 x 24"

Acrylic 35 x 130"

Response to the Landscape

I am continuing to work with the concept of meditative space and landscape~focusing more on the emotional quality of the spaces we occupy than the literal. I have also worked on mark making with blind contour drawings plien air. Though some pieces have a figurative element, others are more focused on the rhythms and forms in nature. At the advice of my mentor Heddi, I plan to start journaling my thoughts on the landscape and possibly other spaces I occupy.

Acrylic on Paper 35" x 133"

Acrylic on Paper 20" x 60"

Acrylic on Paper 7" x 21"

Acrylic on Paper 7" x 21"

 Tomorrow I begin a meditation practice which will focus on space, air, fire earth and water. We will start with the element of space (or lack of) and its corresponding qualities and emotions and how that plays out in our daily lives. This could be a new and interesting way to approach my work. I apologize for any extra shadows in corners of photos...due to the rocks holding the papers!

Encaustic Collagraph  12" x 36"

Carborundum Collagraph 12" x 36"

Monotype 6" x 24"

This weeks work~

 While on my morning walks I lisiten to the artist interviews on utube in hopes I will not encounter a bear and I will be inspired when I get back to work....it has been a struggle getting back into the groove!  
That being said a 16' piece of white paper is intimidating ......I decided to start with some black tar paper we had in the basement.  Earlier in the week I decided to experiment making some black, warm and cool grays.
Here are a few images I worked on using  walking and meditation while up in the White Mountains. I am working only in black/white/gray.

18" x 67"

18" x 67"

36" x 96"

Update

It has been a difficult start....but I am at least starting! The focus is on mark making,  I began with a large trace monotype done with sticks. I then printed the plate which was not so succesful because Idecided not to wet the papaer and I ended up with more texture than I wanted! I am using the solar plates as reference for the drawings/paintings.

Trace Monotype 20" x  60"

Monotype 20" x  60"

Monotype

The Residency went by so quickly!  It is hard to believe that I am starting my second semester!  The work was reminescent of meditative space....some realism,  abstraction and prints which were actually done as walking meditation excercises.
Meetings with my new advisor Tony Apesos and my mentor Heddi Siebel (a multi media artist) went well!  Tony suggested several books and essays. He also asked me if I work quickly ...why not make "several" drawings or paintings....etc.  This also came up when I met with Heddi.  I brought almost everything I had at the Residency and we had a critique....discussed mark making, the walking meditation process and landscapes.  Heddi also suggested that I work on many pieces....working through the process of walking meditation.  She also suggested that I work on color and value studies.  I am very excited about the upcoming semester and wworking with Heddi~her work is amazing!
The above piece shows a bit of the angst in getting started.....when faced with a blank sheet of paper!

New books for the coming semester

I just received new books for the semester~

The Artist Grows Old - Philip Sohm
The Coming of Age - Simone de Beauvoir
Sky Above Earth Below -John P. Milton
Trust The Process An Artist's Guide to Letting Go - Shaun McNiff

Walking Meditation Prints

Relief Plate

This is a series of prints I started this week~I have been working with the solar plate process. It can be used both italgio and relief. Both the relief and intalgio plates were created as I was walking through the park with my prepared plates and sharpened a branch from a tree. I took a few moments to meditate before I began drawing on the plates. Then: Taking time to draw what inspired me as I was walking, not looking at my plate just looking at the surroundings and drawing quietly. I did this for several plates. This was about the feeling one gets in being with nature~not drawing a representational tree but letting the drawing evolve and capture the energy of nature, quiet and the mark. Whether it was a lamp post, tree or a park bench....the lines just emerged. I took the plate back to the studio where I worked on varying the width of mark, in order to convey a sense of air and emotion. This was challenging for me because I was working small....but I chose to work small in order to work through the process and see what effects I could achieve.

Relief Print  8" x 6"

Intalgio 6" x 4"

Intalgio 6" x 4"

June Update

Most of this semester has been spent working in a somewhat realistic manner, though I would consider it abstracted realism. My goal is to respond to my surroundings in an expressive and conceptual manner. I have referred to my landscapes for the following paintings.

38" x 28 " Acrylic on Panel

38" x 28"   Acrylic on Panel

29" x 22"  Acrylic on Panel

New Work

Winter Drawing
Charcoal on Paper

Winter 2014
40" x 30"
Acrylic on Panel

Echo Lake in Winter
40" x 30"
Acrylic on Panel

April Update

The last few weeks have been challenging, though I have completed the large acrylic on panel. There were many starts, scraps and stains! While sitting at home I spent sometime drawing...some successful~some not so much! The plan is to paint two more large landscape inspired paintings with the cool palette. I have finally been able to work in my studio for a few hours.....looking forward to completing the series inspired by the White Mountains of New Hampshire!

Graphite on Paper

Pastel and Graphite on Paper

Acrylic on Panel 40" x 30"

Surroundings

I have decided to draw and paint objects surrounding me for the next few weeks since I am stuck at home recuperating!  Starting with a redo...a painting I have been experimenting with making an acrylic skin. Next when I can I will soak it and remove it from the panel, from there we will see what progresses.

After the snow storm last week I had lunch with an artist friend and she gave me some advice.....when drawing-draw something you love to look at because you will be spending alot of time looking!  That being said I went out and bought some fresh flowers and began to draw.....the painting is not quite finished just a few adjustments to the  background.