A Terrific Open Studio

We enjoyed a huge crowd at the studio on Saturday and a small group of neighbors who slogged through the ice and snow to drink wine with us around the wood stove on Sunday.  The studio is so beautiful and clean, with walls full of artwork that I have decided to do my best to keep it that way until the Christmas holidays are over.  If you missed the "Open Studio" and would like to swing by and perhaps find a gift, please give the studio a call to arrange a visit. 301-840-1897

A Wonderful Finish

Got the final colors printed successfully and am well pleased with my result!  I especially like the young lady texting.  Who knows what we'll be doing years from now?  At least, this will place this image in the time slot of today as a contemporary record of our society.
Now I must get ready for the Open Studio, my annual show and sale and celebration of a terrific year of creative progress.
It's December 7 & 8 and I hope you'll be able to attend.

Making Good Progress

The printing is progressing beautifully!  Only five more colors and I'll soon be posting a finished image for you.  The black stencil, as in most of my nightscapes, is very substantial.  Stay tuned for the end.

Disaster Averted

Been burning the wood stove all week in the studio and noticed a lot of smoke in the room.  Opened the window and thought there was perhaps an obstruction in the chimney pipe.  Got on the ladder to examine the stove pipe and it literally fell apart  in my hands. Needless to say, I spent the morning replacing the old rotten chimney with brand new stainless steel.  Built a big fire in the wood stove and yes, no smoke.
If you are burning wood, check that old steel chimney pipe.

Sixteen Colors Printed

A good day of printing and cutting stencils brings me closer to finish on this image.
I can't wait to cut the dark red stencil because it contains all the signage on the building.  This will really add to the personality.  All the colors to come are dark which will give the night time aura I am seeking. Stay tuned.

Eleven Colors Printed

An excellent day of printing is moving this print quickly along.  Fired up the woodstove in the studio and opened the windows and the heat exchange kept the space well ventilated as well as relatively comfortable.  Today I'll be getting into the more delicate and complicated stencils that will really enhance this image.  Hope you'll stay tuned for more progress.

Dinner At Ben's Chili Bowl

Went down to U. Street, Northwest the other night for dinner at Ben's Chili Bowl.  It was a nice evening and I took lots of pictures.  Here we have the first five colors printed and I'll be printing and posting all week for what should be a very nice, after dark image.  Stay tuned.

All Finished!!

After a good day of printing, I'm proud to say my newest print, (as yet to be titled), is all finished.
This was, in retrospect, a heck of a lot of work, but well worth the effort.  I'm already designing my next image and will begin printing ASAP.  In the meantime, I'm inspecting each of these prints and will plan on signing them, as soon as I come up with a title.  Hope you enjoyed seeing this piece from start to finish. Don't forget to plan a visit to my studio December 7 or 8 and see this in person.

Hitting a Home Run

Spent all day cutting the black stencil, then got it adhered to the screen and printed it just before dinner.  Got so excited that I came back after dinner and printed 'til 10 PM.  Though today is a lousy day for printing, (clammy and humid), I still think I'll be able to finish the last four colors.
Stay tuned, I'll post the finished image tomorrow.

The End Is In Sight

Printed four colors, including a large dark blue and dark red stencil.  I am beginning to get very excited.  Though there are still lots of colors to print I can clearly see the end.  Next is another black stencil.  This stencil is so complex that it will probably take me nine or ten hours to cut.
I'm really looking forward to this one because it adds so much definition to the image that it will look finished when I'm done.  Alas, it won't be,
but there isn't another stencil this complicated
to worry about.  I'll post as soon as the black stencil is finished and printed.

Adding More Colors

I'm printing more colors and now you can clearly see what I'm about.  I've accomplished a lot, but still have a lot of stencils to cut and many more to print.  This is a challenging design, but I think it will be fantastic when I am done.  Stay tuned.

Four More Colors Today

Four more colors today begin to reveal more of this image.  I have two large and complicated stencils that I will be cutting today and hopefully printing tomorrow.  They will add a lot to the content of this piece, but I am still nowhere near the finish line.  It will continue to get more challenging as I continue. Hope you'll stay tuned.

Making Good Progress

Now you can begin to see the structure at Nats' Park.  An additional 4 colors adds some more information.  It's hard to miss the large black shape in the middle of the composition.  This is where I'm departing from my usual "light to dark" strategy.
I'm going to slowly begin populating that area with hundreds of little tiny people until we have a crowd.
The black is the base upon which I'll be printing brighter, lighter colors.  This will diffuse the intensity of the lighter colors to create the effect for which I'm hoping.  Still, a very long way to go and lots of little stencils to come.  Should be a very interesting progression.  I can't wait.

Big New Project Underway

I'm sure you're thinking, " I know exactly what that is."  I 'll give you some big hints and together the reveal will arrive soon enough.  This project has been on the back burner for a long time and now I'll be striving to finish this new image before my "Open Studio", December 7 & 8.  I'm sorry that the first 5 colors don't give you much information.  I will tell you that this is the most challenging print that I have attempted in many years.  It is, not only colorful, but complicated.  I will be experimenting by applying color out of sequence (not light to dark).  I hope you'll stay tuned to see this piece develop.  I can only promise you, that if you are a baseball fan, you'll really enjoy this piece.

The End is Here!

Well, here we are with a very nice finished piece.
The sign on the face of the building provided me with a real cutting challenge as the letters, rendered in vanishing perspective got smaller and harder to cut as they got farther from me.  I ended up with a magnifying lamp straining to cut the last "er" in Center and fortunately, I succeeded.
We'll be involved in a "round the clock frame-a-thon" for the next few days in addition to preparing for the Lake Anne Festival this Saturday and Sunday in Reston, Virginia.  This is shaping up to be a terrific show that I think you'll enjoy.  If you're available, please plan to come by and say "Hello".  For those of you that came out to McLean this past Sunday, many thanks for making my show a terrific one.  This little show just gets better and better each year.  I've got an exciting new project to share with you if I can just get through the next two weeks of art festivals.

The End is Near!

Here I am with a days' worth of stencil cutting; preparing to print the black and final stencil.
I can tell you reliably that this stencil came out beautifully in spite of the awful printing conditions experienced today at my studio in Washington Grove.  In fact, when I opened the window the wind blew rain right into the print room, forcing me to quickly close the window and turn on the air conditioner.  The air conditioner, confused by the fact that the room was already seventy degrees, labored valiantly to remove the humidity from the air and create a perfect printing climate all day long. Please click on this photo to get a detailed look at how much hand work I accomplished on this stencil.  I promise to photograph and post the finished print first thing tomorrow( Wednesday) morning so you can see the fruit of my labors.

Another Great Day of Printing

Another great day of printing has moved this image toward a finish by Monday ( I hope). 
I'm loading the van today for the McLean ARTfest which is all day Sunday.  Hope you can come out and see me.
Stay tuned for the final chapter of this printing marathon.

A Terrific Day of Printing

Spent the morning cutting these large stencils and then got into printing mode in the afternoon.
What a difference a day makes.
As the day got hotter, the ink began to dry in the screen so I turned on the air conditioner.  As the room got cooler the dryness in the room allowed the squeege to create static electricity on the screen, which caused the ink to jump (you had to be there).  So I opened the window to allow in some humidity, which eliminated the static electricity.  Oh, the trials of a printmaker.
Still, all in all, a very productive day as you can see.  Stay tuned.

New Project Underway

I'm off at a full run, printing six colors on my newest project, a commemorative piece for the new Aquilino Cancer Center at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.  This is a gorgeous building and I'm excited about this piece.  With weather perfect for printing, I'm working round the clock to make sure this commission is completed on time.  I have a full printing schedule today and if you come back tomorrow you'll see lots of progress.

All Finished

Another good day of printing has delivered a nice finished product.  Got the last color on just before a big thunder storm came through and temporarily knocked out the power.  I'm hearing more rumblings in the distance so I think I'll say goodbye.

A Terrific Day of Printing

A very productive day of printing today has yielded this image so far.  Will cut more stencils tonight and plan for tomorrow being another great day of printing.  Hope you'll stay tuned and watch further developments

Making Lots of Progress

Got lots of stencils cut and now am enjoying a "print-a-thon".  Cranked up the air conditioner, turned on the ventilation van and will be getting a lot accomplished in the next two days.
Stay tuned.

New Project Underway

Been cutting stencils for a while on this new project which is a lovely cabin on the Chesapeake Bay community of Scientists Cliffs.  Today was the perfect day to begin.  I printed the sky as a blend and it came out perfectly.  This involves putting two different shades of the same color on the screen at the same time and blending them as the squeege is pulled to achieve the fade effect you see.  A little tricky but well worth the extra time investment.
I'll post tomorrow and next week too as this piece will develop very quickly.  Hope you'll plan to check back and see this print take form.

I'll be in Old Town Alexandria this Saturday, participating in the King Street Festival (so named  because it stretches from Washington Street to the Potomac River on both sides of King Street.  Come early and park in one of the public lots.  I'll look for you on Saturday or Sunday.

All Finished!

What fun this print has been from the very beginning.  The colors are so happy that I have enjoyed myself from the first color.

I have a new project on the drawing board right now so I'll begin posting as soon as I began cutting the first stencil.  Hope you enjoyed watching this project develop and will stay tuned for my next one.

More Colors and More Colors

In spite of the oppressive heat and humidity I am soldiering onward with this print and it is looking very nice indeed.  Hope to be putting the finishing touches on this image by close of day Monday.
Please stay tuned.

A Big Day of Printing

Got a real early start on my printing today after already cutting four stencils last night and ended up printing a total of six colors today.  Am real pleased with the progress but there is still much to be done.
Stay tuned.

Back in the Print Room

Back in the print room and printing four more colors.  All the next stencils appear to be small but critical in the overall makeup of the piece.  I'm dying to print the red maple, but will just have to be patient as this piece is very colorful.
Stay tuned.

Five More Colors Printed

Five colors printed and you're now beginning to see the composition defined a little bit.
I'll be cutting several stencils next, but not printing for a few days so I'll thank you in advance for your patience until I can get back to the press.
Stay tuned.

A New Commission Begins

With the Summer show season over; I am back in the studio, chomping at the bit to begin a series of new prints!  First on my agenda is an exciting commission of a beautiful older brick home in historic Frederick, Maryland.  This promises to be a challenging, colorful piece that I am very excited to begin.
With only four colors down you can already see the tall chimney.  The pink dots are highlights on a beautiful red maple.  I'll be cutting more stencils today and if the humidity's not too high, I'll get some printing accomplished.
Stay tuned.

All Finished, "HIgh & Dry"

I apologize for not posting sooner, but I really got involved in the last few stencils.
I was so enthused about finishing that I just worked right through.  I can only tell
you that if you like this image, you'll like it twice as much when you see it in person.
Some images, because of the color combinations, are very difficult to photograph
accurately.  This is one of those.  I look at this photo and then at the finished print
and I'm amazed how good it looks in person.  Well, enough of that.  I'm going to take
a few days off and have some fun with the grandkids.  I've already got a couple of
exciting new commissions to design and a new print in my head, so I'm excited about
a very busy spring.
I'll be in Richmond, Virginia on April 13th for the "Fool for Art" Festival at John Tyler
Community College in Midlothian.  Hope you'll come by and see my new work in person.
Additionally, you're invited to the Chasen Galleries in Richmond on Thursday evening,
April 18th for the opening reception of my one man exhibition at the gallery.  Mark your
calendars please.

Cruising Towards the Finish

I don't know what it is about a spring snow day, but it has inspired me
to accomplish a lot of printing today.  One large, intricate black stencil
remains, one deep blue and and one dark brown and this piece is finished.
What fun this piece has been from the very beginning.  I love cutting the
stencils for reflections in water because the shapes are so fluid, (no pun intended).
Each little shape is so nice in and of itself.  When all the little shapes get
together the harmony is wonderful.

Now We Have A Dock

My neighbor Dane suggested that I might enjoy visiting his
home at Deale, Maryland adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay.
On a beautiful December day we motored around the area,
on his boat, taking lots of pictures in the early morning light.
This grey stencil took me several hours to cut and will serve
as the underprinting for several of the darker colors to come.
I'll be printing more details today and posting tomorrow.
Stay tuned.

More Water; Another Blend

Added the blue blend to completely define the parameters
of my print.  Can't you just see the water already?  Now,
I'll be adding the details  and this image should come together
very quickly.  Please stay tuned.

New Print on the Waterfront

Started a new print today with a blend.
This is a tricky technique that I use only periodically
when I want to show light gradating, usually in water,
clouds or a rounded surface such as car fender.
It involves applying two different colors onto my screen
and then allowing them to "blend" during the printing
process.  In this case I'm dealing with water.  The next
color, blue, will also be a blend but it will probably still
be to early too tell what's happening.  This print, unlike
many of mine, will develop very quickly so please stay
tuned.  On my next post I'll give you some
background about how this image came to be.

Finished, Time for Dim Sum

Pulled the last color this morning and am very pleased with the final result.  As you can see from following these posts, a lot of work went into this original serigraph.  These photos don't do the piece justice.  When you see it in person it has a wonderful glow that I'm going to have to figure out a way to patent.
I already have my next project designed and ready to print.  I hope you'll come back and follow along as I begin printing on Monday.

Black Stencil Cut & Printed

 Was able to cut and print the black stencil and now have only a dark blue and dark green stencil remaining to finish this image.
The dark blue will define all the windows and little balconies and the dark green will print the posts that hold up the blue awning.
Below, I printed the black stencil on a clean white sheet of paper so you could see what was involved in the cutting.  This image, though a lot of work, has really been a joy to print.  The colors have aligned almost to perfection and I am well pleased with the way the image is coming together.
I'll finish this image today and post the final view tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Getting Close to the Finish

Four more colors have set the composition up for the most important stencil, the black.  I'm cutting that now and will print later and post for you to see.  Then I'll print dark blue and dark green which will finish the print.
Stay tuned.

Now I'm On A Roll

I'm ready to announce the arrival of Spring, which means I can open the windows with audacity and get some serious printing accomplished.  As you can see the addition of dark colors is beginning to created some depth and perspective.  This image will really begin to get exciting over the next several days, so I hope you'll stay tuned.

And Four More Colors Again Today

I went from freezing my "you know what" to absolutely perfect printing conditions today.
The resulting four colors continue to add "pop" and some depth but the remaining colors, all dark, will really add definition and perspective to this image.
The piece is already beginning to sing, but just wait for the next colors to be printed.
Please stay tuned.

And...Four More Colors Today

Eleven colors printed and not even half way there yet.  This print is so colorful!  I am anxious to get more printing done, but a weekend full of commitments is going to slow me down a bit.
As you can see it's starting to take shape, but every new color will make a significant contribution.  Hope you'll stay tuned.

Four More Colors Today

Cut and printed four more colors today while the snow tried its best to get into my open studio window.  Still a long way to go until you can see what's happening here.  I'll cut some more stencils tonight in preparation for tomorrow's printing.
Come back tomorrow and check my progress.

A New Beginning

Here we are on H. Street, NW in Washington DC's
Chinatown.  This building has a fascinating history as the Marie Surratt Boarding House.  Take a few minutes and Google "Marie Surratt", famed as a spy for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
She was arrested, tried and convicted of plotting the kidnapping and death of Abraham Lincoln.
Aside from all the history, this building is exciting in its color and visual impact.  Facing north, it never sees the direct light of day.  The east side of the building, (the white shape), catches the morning light while the rest stays in the shade.  To capture this feel, I printed my huge grey stencil first and will print every other color on top of it.  You are viewing the first three colors.  Because this print is very large I may move a little slower than usual, but stay tuned and watch this piece develop.

Let's Go in for a Cold One!

It's a beautiful summer day in Richmond, Virginia and we have just the place to stop for lunch.
As you can see, the black stencil was pivotal in making this image come alive.  Now I will inspect each piece and sign the edition.  The edition is only 50 pieces and is sized to be matted in an 18 X 24 format.  No editorial comment here, a straightforward title, "Buddy's Place".  Hope you'll call the studio to reserve yours at only $200.
While you're here, let me share my Richmond, Virginia schedule for the spring.  On Saturday,
April 13, I'll be showing my work at John Tyler Community College's annual "Fool For Art Festival".
As a first time participant, I'll be excited to meet lots of new folks and will have a huge display, heavy on Richmond subjects.  On Thursday evening, April 18
I'll be having a one man show at the Chasen Galleries in Richmond.  Come to the reception that evening and enjoy a great time.  I'll look for you.

Ready for the Black

Everything is ready to go at this point and I'm putting the finishing touches on the black stencil.  All the colors thus far have printed beautifully and I am anticipating a great finish.
Stay tuned.

Five More Colors

Cut stencils all day yesterday and got an early jump on the printing today. Two browns, orange, dark blue and blue purple.  Six more colors to go.  Hope to be finished sometime on Thursday.
Stay tuned.

Four More Colors

The grey stencil defines this piece and creates the underprinting necessary for the black and deep purple.  Now that all four outside borders are printed, it will also make it easier for me to insure that the colors to come will align perfectly.  Now, I turn the corner and move to the dark colors that will give this piece an exciting perspective and depth.
Stay tuned.

Four Colors Today

In addition to the usual Friday business, I was able to print four colors today.  Since I know how the finished product will appear, I'm anxious to get some more stencils cut and make a lot of progress this weekend.  I'm going to go ahead and cut the grey stencil because it's a big one.  Stay tuned.  The next four colors will make a significant contribution to making this piece come alive.

Off to a Fast Start

Six colors printed on my new image, "Buddy's Place".  Yes, it is a bit early to see what's happening, but this print will materialize very quickly.  This is a colorful little bar/restaurant on Robinson Street in the Fan District of Richmond, Viriginia.  This piece has a lot of color but all the stencils are small expect for the grey and black.
I'm beginning my 2013 show season in Richmond on April 13th at John Tyler Community College's
"Fool for Art Festival".  Less than one week later I'll be having a one man show at the Chasen Galleries
in downtown Richmond.  Richmonders will get first crack at my new work, so please mark your calendars now to come out and see me.
Stay tuned.

Time to "Guitar Boogie"

With the addition today of the black and the silver strings, "Guitar Boogie" is finished.
Other than freezing today in the print room, this was a good day for printing and I am well pleased with the results.
This edition of only 50 prints will be available immediately, (as soon as I inspect and sign each piece), for $200.
Haven't decided what my next project will be, but I have several irons in the fire and you'll be the first to know .
Stay tuned.