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.