The jubilant audacity of sun & water!

Getting ready to print on the big press!

 So why am I celebrating sun and water? Why do I consider them bold?

When I first began printmaking and paper making, I worked in etching and stone lithography. The paper was environmentally sound, but the printmaking used toxic materials. The only way to make really fantastic prints was to use many hazardous materials,  I was unable to continue printmaking as it was.

 I am passionate about recycling

and using simple organic based cleaning products, I recycle overused clothing into cleaning cloths and use only cotton napkins. So I am always looking for ways to be more ecological about art supplies, without losing the quality. 

I took a workshop with artist and master printer, Dan Welden,

 who discovered the process of Solar Plate printing.  It is preposterous that such a simple humble combination of water and light could actually attempt to replace previous print mediums! Yet it does!

 I just had so much fun working freely

on the steel polymer coated plate.  When the print won a place in a juried show, I thought about creating a series using only sun and water for the print process, I am impressed by the simplicity of the water soluble, light sensitive ground that hardens by sunlight and even a controlled light box and etches with a small amount of water. I contacted Dan Welden who is also a Master printer for many artists. We are working to develop a portfolio of my prints in the solar plate process. To say I am thrilled is an understatement!                                                                                                                                                                      

  The series of hand pulled prints will be about our most precious water.

I will be spending two days drawing & painting on the plate, etching it with 'sun and water", then printing them with Dan. I will have some updates and photos, next week when I publish my next post, documenting the process to share with you! I can't wait!

To keep up with my progress, Subscribe below. I will be documenting the process to share with you.Questions,? Thoughts, ideas, Oh, I do love to hear them all and will get back to you!! Meanwhile, take a look at  the beginning of my water observations on Instagram. It is is exhilarating!Do you have any stories about the role of water in your life?

How changing methods can energize your vision & focus

Dan Welden teaching in Far Rockaway at Rockaway Artist's Alliance.(RAA).

I found out about his workshop by accident, when I mentioned his name to a new acquaintance, Valerie Zeman, at an art opening. 

“Dan Welden?”, She confirmed, Oh, I know of him! He is giving a solar print workshop in Far Rockaway!” Well, I immediately emailed them because I had worked with Dan, then a stone lithographer, years ago. 

I went to the workshop on solar printing, just taking a risk that it would be an ecological approach to making prints. That has been part of the reason I have stayed away from making prints for years. I played and came up with a very strong image, etched by the sun in its solar sensitive coating.  The print was incredible, eventually being accepted into the NYSS Alumni Invitational!  There is an opening Thursday from 6-8 pm. I will be there, excited to see it and all of the work by NYSS alumni artists! 

Now I am thinking of doing a series of solar prints, working with Dan Welden. So this new body of work is on my mind as I prepare for the show and process the work I did on my self-designed residency. 

Thank you to all who participated in my open studio and viewed work in my studio, my home or at the deliciousAutentico Restaurant! I f you are interested in the process, the exhibit or any of the work contact me and certainly subscribe, below!