Sketchbook Project

Since I've not been posting a lot on this blog as of late, I thought I'd share one of the many other projects I've been working on, from my Life is a Series of Drawings blog.  Currently I'm exploring the depths of the Sketchbook Project in my Dirigibles and Submersibles themed sketchbook. I have been posting my sketchbook pages as the sketches come into being.

Woob, Woob, Woob. Nyigh, Nyigh.

As of late, life is suspiciously mimicking a Three Stooges routine in an unfortunate-series-of-events sort of way. First poked in the eye, then punched in the nose, and finally clobbered on the head, if not with a fist, then with a dead fish. To quote Larry, Moe, and Curly (&/or Shemp & Curly Joe) "woob, woob, woob. nyigh, nyigh."

My partner and I are readying ourselves (and our wares) for Holiday Market, but our interests have been splayed between that and 15 other (very important) ventures - none of which seem to be giving us much in the way of returns right now, which, while frustrating and stressful, is not foreign.

So, in a hand-to-the-nose eye-poke blocking move, I went in search of inspirational quotes that might fend off that final fish-to-the-head, at least for a minute: (nyigh, nyigh...)

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.  Charles R. Swindoll

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live. Unknown

To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent. Buddha

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.  Albert Einstein

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. Maya Angelou

Hey! I'm in Uppercase Magazine!

Excitement and Juibilee! Or as my truer, geekier side would say, "squee!" Uppercase Magazine chose my Dullard book cover design to be included in their 7th issue. If you're interested and want a copy of the magazine, they're offering a 10% discount to friends and family. Simply enter the code "bookish" @ http://shop.uppercasegallery.ca when ordering.

Falling... Drawings of L.A.

If you head over to the Life is a Series of Drawings blog, you can see some of the drawings for the L.A. picture book.

A Series of Seriously Abstracted Memoirs

My first thought this morning, before my eyes were even open, was I need to find a photo polymer plate maker.  (naturally, I mean who doesn't wake up thinking such things?) As if that wasn't striking enough, my second thought was, my memoir really needs to consist of a series of books. Then my brain starts listing off the titles. Annoying really, as I wasn't planning on waking up yet - or writing a memoir. But no, my brain insisted. so I got up and wrote the five titles down.

It occurs to me that this is, perhaps, strange? although maybe not so strange. I don't really know. I mean, how do other people's brains work, if not like mine?

I've had no designs on the memoir, other than making this book cover to submit to Uppercase Magazine.  So the fact that my brain wakes me up with such a final decision as 'my memoir needs to consist of five books,' and 'here are the titles,' well that's a bit unnerving. I mean, who's driving this cart anyway, and how big is THAT ego to assume a memoir of THIS life would be warranted? seriously.  Then again, how often do you awake with such clear instructions?

So, the titles? Well...

1. dullard, a loose connection of meaningful things
2. Shallow, Misconceptions of Depth at Art School 
3. Falling into the Ocean, [not so] accurate memories of L.A. [a picture book]
4. Sponge [no subtitle forthcoming] 
5. Manic, confessions of a pencil stub.

That's all I got - but apparently my brain has some work for me yet. At any rate, does anyone know where I can get a photo polymer plate maker? And while we're at it, can anyone tell me what a photo polymer plate maker is?

Thanks ever so,

.n

In the Studio

So, a couple of weeks ago I was forwarded a call for entries for Uppercase Magazine to create a self portrait through book design.  I've been working on several ideas, but the first is Dullard: a Memoir - taking the prompt quite literally, I created a self portrait in print, using linoleum blocks.  I then scanned the image into photoshop to work up the rest of the cover (which is still in process).

 Another idea is Bookish, for which I wanted to use scratch board to create an image of a book shelf in disarray. Problematic, as no one in my town seems to carry scratch board. In fact, no one seems to know what scratch board even is.  I realize I've been out of graduate school for a few years now - but we used scratchboard like crazy to create quick, print-like designs. (Perhaps it was an anomaly).

Summer's Light Cover Design

Mock up Cover

My latest project has been working on a book cover design for Summer's Light (a coming of age YA novel). Last week was spent creating a mock-up cover. It was one of those situations where I liked okay when it was on the computer screen, but as soon as it printed out I realized it was flat (and too dark). After playing with it on the computer for longer than my patience could endure, I decided to scrap the computer altogether and redo the design as a multi-drop lino-cut.  Today I will be printing the last block (black).

I'm using butter block (ez cut, speedy cut, whatever you call it). It's a bit crumbly (even though it advertises that it isn't), so I have to use canned air to remove all the bits. This is my first time using this material (usually I just heat up linoleum). I have to say it's nice to work with, although I have to be much more careful with the block, as it has ripped under its own weight in a couple of spots. (Thanks be to the strapping power of duct tape).

In-process linoleum cut cover 

I'm also using Speedball water based inks, although for longer print runs they do tend to dry out and get putty like, so I have to mix inks in batches and print quickly.  Thankfully, it's a short run, since I really only need one good print for the cover. Since they clean up much more easily it's worth the effort of mixing multiple batches of ink.

Once printed, I will scan the cover in to do the typography.

From Pulp to Paper to Pulp Again

In an effort to re-pulp this blog, I am redesigning it and starting anew.  As the days (weeks) progress, I'll add new tabs at the top and flesh out the ones that I have there now.  Since I already have a blog going about book collecting (see side bar), this blog will focus on the more creative side - printmaking, paper making, and book arts.  I hope to have new posts up soon, so please do keep checking back.

Arts council to offer five weeklong art experiences in Potsdam

Arts council to offer five weeklong art experiences in Potsdam