Saturday I met with my local art group for our monthly get-together.
It was a reminder of the simple pleasure of the hand printmaking process. Its pleasing rhythms.
While conversations and artmaking of other kinds hummed in the room behind me, I set up the few supplies I brought: Three different substrates to print on (Kraft paper. Sheer fabric. Muslin.) Three ink colors. (Raw Sienna. Burnt Sienna. Black.) A gelatin printing plate. A few of my favorite stencils.
I kept it intentionally simple.
Then I just printed. Ink up the plate. Press. Pull. Repeat.
Do again on the same sheet – different color. Press the ghost of that print to a new sheet.
I’ll show you below some of what I printed. And they may look familiar. This is a repeat of some work I started a few months ago to create yardage for a work that will be the sense of loss in a burned house. I just needed some more.
But what I want to communicate here is not so much the finished product as the process. Creating these textures by hand, with simple methods, concentrating on it for a few hours, was pleasing work.
The results of those few hours will be collaged onto backer fabric so I can use them in the large quilt.
And I will be spending time thinking about how they go together, and how I want it to feel, and all the things I consider when I put a work together.
But I will also just remember the pleasure of pressing my hands into fabric to create images. That experience and the memory of it will be part of the finished work too.
. . . .
This week I received an update from SAQA with the exhibition places and dates for the “Gastronomy” Exhibit. I am happy to have work in this exhibit. (Graphic above – mine is the breadmaker on the far left.) If you are near any of these venues, I know you will the exhibit worth visiting.
Original Sewing & Quilt Expo:
Dallas - Irving, TX | Aug. 1, 2 & 3, 2024
Fredericksburg, VA | Sept. 26, 27 & 28, 2024
Nashville - Lebanon, TN | Oct. 3, 4 & 5, 2024
Cincinnati - Sharonville, OH | Oct. 10, 11 & 12, 2024
Detroit - Novi, MI | Nov. 14, 15 & 16, 2024
The Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead, Minnesota: October 4 - December 31, 2025
. . . .
For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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