Friday, April 28, 2017

"In Air Pursuit"

5" x 11"
2 Layer reduction
Oil-based ink on Stonehenge paper


This print was created for Baren Forum's Exchange #72. The theme was "Wings", so what better subject than a bird of prey in pursuit of a flying fish? I made my first print of a flying fish a couple years ago as a gift for my cousin's new-born son. In the context of Sky Ship, the flying fish represented the un-tethered innocence and imagination of children. Reading about flying fish, I discovered a great irony in their evolutionary story. Having gained the ability to fly out of the water in order to escape predatory fish, they became prey to the red-footed boobies in the sky. Here I put the emphasis on the bird seeking its meal, and the fish as a secondary player, simultaneously rising and fading in comparison.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Stamping Patterns with Middle Schoolers

After reading about Anne Nydam's One Inch Stamp Project on her blog Black and White, last month I carved a small flying fish stamp and played around with stamp tiling.

The past two weeks I had a chance to teach Nydam's lesson with my 4th-6th grade students in 2D Mixed Media at the University City Arts League. They did 3" rubber stamps.










Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Collages by 6th Graders at Morris

Last month I posted images of wildlife and botanical illustrations by 6th graders at Morris Elementary. I worked with them through the Wagner Free Institute for Science's SNAP program. For the final portion of their art curriculum the students took some of their prints and worked them into creative collages. Here are some of my favorites from Morris.









Collages by 6th Graders at Meade

 Last month I posted images of wildlife and botanical illustrations by 6th graders at Meade Elementary. I worked with them through the Wagner Free Institute for Science's SNAP program. For the final portion of their art curriculum the students took some of their prints and worked them into creative collages. Here are some of my favorites from Meade.





Sunday, April 23, 2017

Sketchbook Sunday: Daffodil and Tulip

While I was excited about creating them, I am not very interested in the finished results. Might have a second go at them again this week. Maybe not. At least I'm keeping my hand moving.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

"Hazel" by John Biggers

I wanted to post on this blog in honor of Earth Day. I started my search broadly and historically, looking at wood engravings depicting some of the first heliocentric depictions of the earth from Europe. But that felt too heady for today's mood.

You see, my husband took our older daughter to Philadelphia's March for Science - one of over 400 marches in 35 countries, in support of public policies that are supported by evidence-based research. I spent the early part of today engaging our 5-year-old (who is adverse to large crowds) with simple, colorful experiments with chemistry, circuits, and crystal growing.

After giving up on woodcuts of the entire planet, I began looking at the great woodblock printmakers of color landscapes, such as Walter J. Phillips and Hiroshi Yoshida. But while I observed much breathtaking imagery, it still all felt too detached for the day.

After quite a while, I finally rested on this amiable woodcut of a small girl in a floral-pattern dress, among tall flowers, by John Biggers. She walks away from us, and so it is as if we are her guardian, delighting over her movements while watching over and keeping her safe. She is so small an individual, and yet she can represent so much that our hearts ache with a mix of wonder, joy, and fear.

Monday, April 10, 2017

White Line Woodcut In Memory of Floyd

This is a white line woodcut I just made to commemorate my cousin's 16 year old cat Floyd who passed away last month. Half the credit should go to her for the gorgeous photos she sent me to work from.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Sketchbook Sunday: Watercolor Starfish

 This week I broke out the watercolors with my kids to make starfish. I had them trying out an art-making activity that I'm going to lead at the Wagner Free Institute for Science during the Philadelphia Science Festival.  Their work is in the photograph below. Sunday, April 23 from noon-4pm the Wagner hosts a "Be A Marine Biologist" family day with ocean-themed activities and demonstrations.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Bubble Wrap and Chine Colle with Middle Schoolers

Today was the last day of the Winter session of my 2D mixed media after school class for 4th-6th graders at the University City Arts League. These are some collograph prints over tissue paper collage.

I've been playing with bubble wrap lately, so I wanted to let them play with bubble wrap too. Who doesn't like bubble wrap?






Saturday, April 1, 2017

Nautilus and Ammonite: Summer Smiles

The next finished artwork for the Nautilus and the Ammonite book project. This is the fourth stanza and also the fourth double-page spread.

They swam 'mid isles whose summer smiles Were dimmed by no alloy; Whose groves were palm, whose air was balm, And life one only joy.