Sorry for the Spammy Postings

I posted this, and then a ton of my old posts posted right after this, burying it. So, to reiterate:

www.karenmacauley.com
I'm moving over to Wordpress because Blogger is having technical problems that I haven't been able to solve hates me. Please visit my new blog website and choose to follow via RSS or enter your email address to receive posts.

Update

Those of you who got my blog by email WILL have to sign up to continue to receive the new blog posts. Go to the new website at http://copperplateart.wordpress.com/ and fill in your email address on the right side of the page. Let me know if you need assistance.

Moving to Wordpress

http://copperplateart.wordpress.com/

I'm moving over to Wordpress because Blogger is having technical problems that I haven't been able to solve. Please change your RSS feed readers. Those of you who get my blog via email don't have to do anything: I will sign you up at the new location.

Building the Store, Brick by Brick

I've been working for three straight days adding items to my store. It still have lots of spitting and polishing to do, but all but two items are listed. In total I will have 42. I have a list of ideas and pieces that I want to do, so I'm sure that I will be able to reach my goal of 60 items within a reasonable amount of time. So, all the folks who have been asking to buy art and cards from me can now easily do so, and that makes me happy. All the money I earn will go into making more art, trying new techniques and branching out. Learning. And buying boring things like rigid mailing envelopes. *yawn*.

I'm looking forward to cutting the ribbon on Labor Day! Spock is unimpressed, but I'm excited.

Still Here

 

I have done a piece since completing the Hamlet poster, but no peeking for ya'll. Some pieces are personal, and one of a kind. So, you get a picture of linochad as a consolation prize. It was on my desk posing for this photo, but within days it had worked its way around the carpeted areas of our house.

I worked very hard today on inputing items into my Artfire store. I haven't made it to 60 items yet, but one year of hard work has resulted in 40 items. That's enough for me at this point. Since the art isn't flowing in a fast and furious manner that it once was, it's time for grunt work and search engine optimization. Ugh. Facebook. Ugh. There must be a better way. Somebody send me a Google+ invite, I implore you.

The perfect is the enemy of the good. I will be ready to cut the ribbon on my good store by September 5th.

Final Hamlet Poster

Here's the final artwork that I used for San Jose Youth Shakespeare's production of Hamlet. The play is halfway through it's run, and it's excellent. See it if you are in the area!

If you are with a non-profit Shakespeare company, and would like to use this image for your poster, please do. Just let me know, and I will send you a high res image.

Honor Upon Honor

Here are the hands of my friend. My friend who was the catalyst that lit the fuse that touched off the art inferno in my life. He is hanging a piece on his wall by the artist whose work made me choose linocut as a medium. Right next to that is a piece I made. I was bowled over by this moment. My memory of it will always be clearer than this photo... which I guess means that it might get rather blurry and yellow over time.

Here's the artwork:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/12713584/merman-original-linocut

And the hands:
http://www.harpmusic.com/

#29 - Hamlet Poster - In Which the Fountain Splits

Today was a long day in the studio. A bit grueling, but very successful. I did my first real split fountain, and I think it came out really well. Always trying to learn new things. The first step in the process was sort of ridiculous: I spent nearly two hours just mixing ink to get the right color. The rest of the process went like this:
Get the inks and brayers all raring to go...

Ink up the title...

Ink up the middle...

Ink up the gradation at the bottom...

Ink up the gradation at the top...

Press that sucker... Lather, rinse and repeat 28 times.

#29 - Welcome to Linochadia

I got the big OK from the director, and off we go! This should be a pretty straightforward piece. The only thing that will require a little futzing around will be the split fountain background.

Here's the first block, waiting in anticipation of the gouge:

And here it is, all done, waiting in anticipation of the ink:

I've made buckets of linochad already, and my studio is Linochadia. Ah, the feel of strips of lino stuck to the bottom of one's feet! Track it 'round, I say! Track it everywhere! Track it to the outskirts of our fair home!

#29 - Hamlet Is Finally Feeling Final, And That's That.

I really have drawn this to death. Even the guy in the mirror died, right? This piece feels ready to print. I just need to get feedback from the director of the play. I hope he gives me the thumbs up, but if not, his input is always excellent and helpful. All of his suggestions have led to better sketches. There's no reason not to improve on this, so I'm ready for whatever he says.

I've had to distill things down to be more basic so that the various parts of the composition harmonize rather than do battle with each other. Also, certain elements started looking like other things: the circle looked like an eyeball, the fleur de lis (which are now gone) looked like Dickensian lamp posts - things like that. Now everything looks like what it is supposed to be. I'm going for the look of nature growing up into the man made.

#29 - Hamlet, Hamlet, Hamlet

I've sketched, cut, pasted, Sharpied, White-Outed, photocopied and stared at this poster. I've been working on it pretty much every day since my last post, but I haven't been happy with anything I've made until now. It has been a difficult process, especially the not liking it part. I think I've finally achieved a visual harmony, with all of the elements marrying well. I'm beginning to love it, and am looking forward to doing a final sketch.

So, here's the latest.

#29 - Hamlet

I've been sketching out ideas for the poster for San Jose Youth Shakespeare's upcoming production of Hamlet. After trying a few different ideas, I think it's starting to gel into something good. Here's the latest:

Seems like a skull is a must do for a Hamlet poster, so this one is reflected in a mirror. Pretty spooky.
I like my sketch, but how to manage the layers and planning? I needed to try it out. I used little blocks and chose parts of the image to work on. I only spent a day on this, and carved at high speed just to get an idea of colors and layers. I still need to put another color on: gray to go over the skull in the mirror, and maybe to add some highlights to the plant life. The test print really gave me some good ideas of things to try, but it also showed me the pitfalls. I do see that a piece like this has to be planned out, every inch of it. Here's my sample print:

#28 - Better Color Scheme

This is happier! Good enough. Onto the next project.

#28 - Silly Harpist Redo

Again I learned a lot doing this print. Am I happy with it? No. The colors are wrong. I want to do it again with different colors. This one is just too dark and makes no sense.

The carving is very good, and it took hours and hours. I have come so far since I began doing linos about 9 months ago. Someday I will look back on this print and be amazed at how my skills again improved. Practice, practice, practice.

#27 - The Violin is Done!

I put this on the scanner wet:

Click to Embiggen

This print was an adventure. I got to go down new paths and make new discoveries around each corner.

#27 - Bet You Still Can't Guess What It Is . . .

Please excuse this woeful excuse for a photo. The camera batteries are dead, so iPhone saves the day. The darkest green is really much lighter, and the yellow is brighter. Trust me: it looks more harmonious. So, this is up to four colors, and I'm done with the first block. The next block will contain the mysterious creature, the flowers and some accents on the background. I'm very excited about it, and can't wait to get back into my studio to carve and print.

By the way, the press is amazing. The prints are so much cleaner, and it's now rare for me to completely flub a print. I can print lickity split. It used to take many moons.

#27 - Can You Guess?

I'm not going to reveal the sketch so you can watch the image unveiling.

Also:

A big, heavy pile of lino. This will be enough for at least 11 prints.

#26 - Better Image of Final

Taking Stock

This blog is about my progress as I learn linocut techniques and discover how to fearlessly make art. It's also about creating an inventory of 60 items for my ArtFire store. Recently, I had several of my reduction prints made into greeting cards, and some of my images can be hand printed onto blank greeting cards. As a result, I have more "items" than I have pieces of art. Overall I now have 39 items with a wide variety of price points. Only 21 more to go. I'm going to be focusing on 8x10 and 9x12 color reduction prints. I'm looking forward to making all that art. I'm excited to see what will happen.

#26 - Another Color, and Another, and Another

Color Number Three

Color Number Four

Color Number Five, and... all done!

Close Up

#26 - Koi - Second Color

#26 - Koi Again

I really enjoy the koi that I made for the people on our Christmas list. I thought it would be fun to do some more koi, but this time as an 8 x 10 reduction print.

This sketch is pretty loose because I would like to be a bit more free and easy in my carving. The carving will be challenging, so I want as much wiggle room as possible. I'm getting better and envisioning what will happen when the color goes down.

#25 - Boxer - A Better Image of the Final

Click to embiggen.

#25 - I Can Haz Cheezburger?

It was so hard to wait and print patiently through this print's gawky teenager stage. What a challenge it was to trust that it would work out like I expected it. But I trusted, and it actually turned out better than I expected. I'm very happy with this print.

Here are the sketch and final print side by side:

#25 - Boxer - Seven Passes Through the Press

I've been reluctant to share my progress with this print of Boxer. I have been using the second plate, which has resulted in this kitty looking like an evil zombie cat. I have a few more colors to print, including black, which will bring him back to normal.

This print has been a good learning experience for me because I've seen how I can "wing it", and use the printing technique a little more like painting. The printing press has enabled that to happen. The process of printing another color is faster and so much easier physically. Looks like I'm headed toward 9 colors all together, and as a result there is a lot of depth to the image.

#25 - Boxer - Second Color

I wish I could do more than one color in a day, but there is too much carving. I also have a life! It would be delightful to have the stamina to draw, carve and print - AND do laundry, cook, clean, teach, etc.

I want to get some yellow onto this print tomorrow. We shall see if I get enough time to carve the second block. It's about 25% complete...it's loading...it's buffering. I'm thinking in computer language, even while doing analog tasks.

#25 - Boxer - Thinking, Cutting, Registering, Printing.

I was happy enough with my revised sketch to get going on carving. I decided to make two plates: one for all the grays and black, and the other for the yellows and rust. I'm undecided on the green. I might put a bit in at the end, just after the black. I love that trio of colors (yellow, rust and green). I'm going to see how it goes as it takes shape.

The print is just about the maximum size I can do on my press, so I had to set up the registration differently than I'm used to. Behold:

Yes, that's an eraser cut from the top of a pencil and hot glued onto a piece of foam core. Isn't it just mahvelous?

Here's the whole set up:

I go through duct tape like a meticulous gaffer.

I cut the paper extra wide and punched holes. The paper goes on the "pins". You get the idea.

And check out my awesome press blanket:

I choose you, Pokemon playmat!

#25 - Boxer - Refined Sketch

I like how this shaped up. Now: how to deal with the colors. I know I don't want brown, but rather a burgundy color. I'm going to use two blocks like I did with the scorpion. I need to think this out with a clear head before I start carving, but I'm hankering to get started! And it does look like Boxer, so it's a good portrait.

#25 - Boxer - Does He Look Offended Enough?

I don't know. He could look more irritated. Just a bit more. Will keep working on this.

This is just a first sketch. I'm aiming for a 9x12 reduction print.

#24 - Stepping Stone Print

This is my daughter playing on a little harp. I have had a sketch for this pinned to my bulletin board for months, and finally decided to make it happen. I took several chances with this print, looking at it as a stepping stone. I tried not to worry too much about the face, or anything else for that matter. I just wanted to fearlessly step ahead.

First off, this is the first print done on the press. Hand printing is very hard on my shoulders, but the press was gentle to my body. I was able to print all three colors in one day with no pain. The print quality is far better and more consistent than I can get by hand-rubbing. The registration was absolutely perfect. I am so pleased with this press.

The second new territory was going for a more "sketchy" look, with texture in the background. I let the lines be loose and free, and didn't sweat the little dots and lines that I normally meticulously eliminate. I like the look of it.

The third thing that I did differently is color. I'm not thrilled with the colors, but they are adventurous for me. Blue hair? It would never have occurred to me to do such a thing, but it looks kind of neat. I'm looking forward to exploring more unusual color schemes in the future.

Again, it's not the best piece I've made, but it was treading new ground. I'm always trying to go new places with each piece I make. This deliberate adventurousness will eventually help me overcome my fears with regards to art.

Thank You, Chuck and Ruthann.

The Littlest Linoblocker

Well, it's carved into one of those rubber blocks, but here's his MONSTER!:

#23 - I didn't make this, but I will put it in my store, so it counts!

My daughter drew this, and I carved it. It's 2"x3". Tiny! I really like it. I think I will put it on a card. Here's another print she drew and carved:

Imaginative and well carved. Well done, child!

#22 - Peacock

I carved this with white lines instead of my usual black lines. I wanted the feathers to be very detailed and delicate. The size is 3x5. There aren't peacocks here, but I had some drawings of them in my nature diary. There are several up at a place called Pichetti Winery in Cupertino, and I sketched them years ago.

#21 - Humboldt Tree Frog

Here's a little black and white print I did on the first day of our trip. When we were here last year, we were able to collect some tadpoles. We put some of the tadpoles in the Koi pond where we were staying, and we took a few home. We managed to get one of the tadpoles to make it to frog-hood. We are staying at the same house, so we brought the frog back to come and live here. When we let her go, we noticed a huge clump of frog's eggs. Anyway, the print I made is of the frog we let go.