It's All About the Red

When I finished cutting the stencil for the grey, yesterday after lunch, my mind turned red.  Literally, all I could think about was the large red stencil that was next on my drawing board.  It took me six hours of cutting to prepare it for the screen, and I was so totally psyched for printing it that I totally forgot about photographing the grey stencil and posting it.  The grey stencil went on perfectly, no fuss, no muss.  The red stencil also adhered and printed with no problems whatsoever.

So, here we have the first four colors,
blue, pink, grey and red printed and looking good.
The red is a mix of scarlet with a touch of carmine to deepen the tone. 
I decided to double print the red which also doubled my time but quadrupled my satisfaction when the results were terrific.  Now I have some relatively easy stencils to print to finish the  house before the printing turns labor intensive again.  I'll start cutting the next stencils first thing Saturday morning and will post as I print.  Stay tuned.

New Serigraph Underway!

This is my preliminary sketch which I am using as a cutting pattern for my lacquer stencils.
It photographs poorly because I have used a 4H pencil which makes an extremely fine line.
I'm going to be approaching this piece differently than I usually do by completely printing
the house before any branches and leaves are printed.  I've always loved this house, but
because of the trees surrounding it, it is very difficult to photograph.  In the summer it is hidden
and in the winter it is barren.  I caught it on one of the three days when there were enough
colorful leaves remaining on the branches to enhance my composition, but not too many that
would obscure my view.  I think the printing of this piece will be magical as it comes into
being.  Several of the stencils are mammoth in scope and will take me days to cut.  Still,
I am excited because the color and final print will be very powerful.  I'll try to post every day
that I print and hope you'll enjoy the process.

The first color is the hardest because it represents a commitment to print and the decision to make this project priority #1.  Now I'm ready to roll!

The roof on this house is made of metal tiles.  They are a rich red that is pink (this color) when the sun hits them.  This is the highlight color as well as the undercoat for the red which I'll cut and print soon.

New Installation "Ready to Install"

I

I have created some spectacular classic Cadillac images for the corporate offices of Lindsay Cadillac in Alexandria. This is a small preview of the images I will be installing right after my Open Studio.  I've portrayed some of the most beautiful Cadillacs ever made in a way I think will be really enjoyed.
I'll post more images after the installation.

A Grey View From My Window

This is my view from my back studio window.  Grey, rainy and overcast today, (just had to do a little photoshop manipulation), but still beautiful in its own way.  Been so busy getting the studio cleaned up and ready for my annual Open Studio this weekend (December 3 & 4), that all my creative thoughts have gotten pushed to the back of my mind.  This, though, is the kind of day that really inspires colorful thought.  I look out and rather than lament the absence of color, I plan something colorful.  The inspiration that allows me to be creative works best when my external stimuli seem to be at its weakest.  So here I am, chafing at the bit, and psyching myself up to create something wonderful.  Come by the studio this weekend if you can and say hello, we're going to have fun.
And come back soon to see my next project take form.

Safeway Finished

The black stencil makes all the difference in the finished product.  Usually it's a lot of cutting, and this time was no difference.

And now, Safeway is finished.

A new project will be on the screen next week. Stay tuned.

Join me this Saturday, the 8th at Sykesville, Maryland for the Fall Festival.
Then on Sunday the 9th I'll be participating in the Oktoberfest in the Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Print-O-Rama

Often I will post views of ongoing prints after several printings.  If you're logging onto the blog,  you don't get the complete picture.  This time I'm going to post every printing so you can see the complete process.

Wow, it's really beginning to look like something now.  No time to rest and admire, still have a lot of stencils to cut and much more printing to do.
Stay tuned.

Finished!

Printed the last two colors and now the edition is finished.
It took me hours to cut out the ten commandments in Hebrew. 

I'm beginning a project today which will be
the new Safeway at the corner of Bradley Boulevard and
Arlington Road in Bethesda.  When we moved to Chevy
Chase in 1970 we lived two blocks from the Safeway.
Look for the new posts soon.

Only Two Colors Left to Print

Printed two purples, a green and a dark brown yesterday and cut the stencil for the deep blue (radiant ultra blue).
I'm cutting the black stencil which contains a lot of detail and will print both today to finish the edition.
I'll be cutting the ten commandments in Hebrew onto the tablets which somehow seems a little symbolic today.

Stay tuned; I'll post the finished print this evening.

I'll be in Baltimore this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timmonium, participating in the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival.   The first thing I always do after I set up my booth on Thursday, is to go by Glauber's Candies and purchase a pound of dark chocolate nonpareils.
That's usually enough to get me through the weekend at the show. 

I'm Getting Excited, Only 6 Colors Left!

Got a lot of printing accomplished since the last post.  I'm cutting stencils now for two shades of purple, dark green, dark brown, dark blue and black.
I'm hoping to finish the print on Monday or Tuesday, at the latest.

Amazingly, with all this rain and dampness, I've been able to maintain a perfect temperature and humidity in the print room.  The paper continues to be crisp and registration almost perfect.

Stay tuned.

A Good Day of Printing

The printing is moving forward beautifully, with four colors printed today.  I'll spend the rest of today cutting more stencils for tomorrow.  I'm cutting a medium blue stencil now that will require some delicacy and a lot of time.  It will alter the look of the print considerably as it represents a lot of glass on the window and numerous shadows and reflections.
Stay tuned for more.
I'll be attending the "Hyattsville Arts Festival" this Saturday from 11 - 5 PM  on Route 1 and Jefferson Street in Hyattsville.  Come by and say "Hello".

A New Beginning

A very productive day on a brand new commission.  The subject is the beautiful Historic Synagogue at the corner of 6th and I Street, NW in Washington, DC.  This piece will include an outside view as well as an interior view.

The interior will portray the Star of David stained glass window.  As I'm cutting the stencils, I feel like a glass artist cutting and fitting each piece into my composition.

After only six colors, the window is already taking shape.  This will be quite an amazing piece when finished, so stay tuned.

Finished!

Printed the last color to complete this edition.  I'm very pleased at not only how trouble free this printing was, but also how nicely the piece looks.

I'll be debuting the print in Richmond, on Saturday at the 43rd Street Festival.
The image size is 22 X 16 inches and I think the edition will be 70, though I'll have to inspect the edition tonight to determine the exact number.

Issue price will be $325, but I will sell for $275 at Richmond this Saturday to anyone who mentions this blog or calls the studio by Tuesday the 20th.
I'll be starting a new commission piece immediately,
so stay tuned to the blog.

Coming Down to the Wire

Well, after a good day of printing, I'm ready to print the black stencil and finish this edition.
Took several hours last night to cut the black and thought you might enjoy seeing it before it's mounted to the screen and printed.

The stencil itself is a very thin lacquer membrane coated unto clear mylar.  It comes to me in big rolls 48 inches wide and several yards long.  I cut it to the size I need and then place it over my pencil pattern on my drawing board.  I then very carefully cut out all the areas that will print black and peel them off the mylar backing and throw them away. This leaves the mylar with the green lacquer to adher to the screen.  The ink comes through the clear window areas I have cut and prints onto the paper. (Because the mylar is very shiny it's tough to get a decent photograph.  Click on it to enlarge it.)

Five More Colors!!!

Printed five colors and am approaching the home stretch.  Cut four more stencils to print today and tonight l'll cut the "biggie",  the black stencil for printing tomorrow.  This patch of low humidity that we're having here is providing near perfect conditions for printing and I'm happy to be able to take advantage.

 Hope you'll come to Richmond on Saturday for the 43rd Street Festival and see all my new work in person.

Village Cafe in Progress

I apologize for beginning this post in the middle of the printing process.  The combination of attempting to finish this print for my 43rd Street Festival show
in Richmond this Saturday the 17th and preparing for the Alexandria Fine Arts Fest this past weekend has got me a little crazy.  I'm printing around the clock to finish this one and start a new one, with another right behind in the production lineup.

I'm gonna cheat on this one and show you my preliminary sketch and you can see what you think.    

Stay tuned.  I'll post more.

To all of you who came out to the Alexandria Festival this weekend, it was great seeing and talking to you.  What a fabulous weekend and show.
Amidst all the hard work, I enjoyed myself immensely!!!

All Finished!

A terrific day of printing and I'm delighted with the results!  The artwork always seems to gain momentum once I begin printing the darker colors.
All the stencils fit beautifully, (I'm finally getting pretty good at this after 40 years) and the weather and humidity contributed to a hassle free finish.
I feel very satisfied with the finished product and must immediately begin my next commission which is going to be a little different.  Stay tuned.

A Great Day for Printing

Low humidity and moderate temperatures all added up to a very productive day of printing.  Looks like I'll be putting the finishing touches on this commission on Thursday.  I've got another new commission waiting in the wings that I know you'll enjoy.  Stay tuned.

Another Good Printing Session

After a very good day of printing, my image is beginning to come together nicely.  This blue was the last of what I call my "lighter colors".  From here on in I'll be printing the darker colors which will expand the perspective and contrast and really make the image "pop".  No printing today, but I will be cutting stencils (which are now becoming more intricate), so I can have a productive printing day tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Still Rolling

I printed the next four colors and today will be a day of cutting stencils in preparation for a big printing day tomorrow.  Faces are always a challenge because I must use two colors to represent an almost infinite range of skin tones.  In this print I feel real good about the colors I have mixed and printed for the face.  Working this small,  I always have to be careful to not over think and then over design the face.  Simply put, less is usually more.
Stay tuned for more.

On A Roll Again

I apologize for posting two days worth of printing at one time.  This brand new commission is two subjects I love, portraits and cars.  I'll be printing the next days in the studio and posting as I go, so come back and visit to see my progress.  The little red stencil has got to be one of the smallest I've ever printed, but every color is important.

A Portrait in Oil

What an enjoyable job this was for me.
I've had the pleasure of knowing this neighborhood family since the girls were little, so having the opportunity to paint them was a special  treat.
This oil on canvas measures 36 X 30, which is a small size for a double portrait, but I feel like it worked out very well.  If you weren't aware that I'm a portrait artist, you should know that this is one of the seldom publicized aspect of my capabilities that
is especially fun for me.
New serigraph starting now... I'm cutting stencil today and will soon be posting daily printing results.

All Finished!

Printed the black stencil today (took most of the day yesterday to cut), and it
looks real good. 

Starting a new project immediately which I'll reveal as it gains momentum.

Thanks for your interest in my work.

Three Colors Today; The End is Near!

Printed the big dark brown stencil, the purple and the dark grey.  The black stencil will finish it off but it promises to be a least four hours of cutting before I'll be ready to print.
Stay tuned.

Two Colors and Mucho Stencil Cutting

Printed the two stencils that I cut last night,
(deep maroon and radiant ultra blue).  The deep maroon is incredibly transparent and requires a base coat of soft grey and a double pull to look its best.
Additionally it's the nastiest color to clean out of the screen, requiring lots of scrubbing and almost always staining the fabric pink.  I'm cutting more stencils tonight, the dark brown is especially involved and will be the major stencil on this piece.
Stay tuned.

Another Good Day of Printing

I printed four more colors today.  Started with warm lavender then cool lavender.  Ended up with blue and brown.  From here on, the stencils become more complex, in addition to being larger.  Going to cut stencil tonight and print tomorrow.
Stay tuned.

Back in the Saddle; A Good Day to Print

It is so good to get back to work, in the studio, after three shows in a row!  I printed four colors today on my current project and have cleared the decks to finish this edition by Saturday.  Printed orange, light lavender, orange red and red.  Every color I pull now will make a significant contribution to finishing this print.  Stay tuned; by the end of tomorrow I will have made a lot more progress.