art studio

In the studio : reorganization part two

A few of my walnut ink drawings.

I'm trying to get the work in the flat files organised again. It was ok then not. I'm moving storage for smaller drawings ans long term storage to archival boxes. I have lots of smaller drawings like these that swim around in the flat files. I need to have them be more managable to store and show.

This is the beginning.

I'm actually looking to frame the small ones for a show/sale in November.

Old doors, new work surfaces

You can't trash old doors. No you can't do it even if they are crappy hollow core doors. Just paint them and make them portable work surfaces. One side has a matte clear coat the other awhite painted surface. Now I can expand my horizontal work surfaces and I've added hardware so that I can hang them from pulleys and drop them down for more drawing or display surfaces too.

It's like having a reversable jacket.

Flexibilty rocks. 

 

I love my ficus marginata.

This week many new changes have taken place in my studio. The big one is rearranging storage. That task includes many descreet efforts. But more enjoyable is the pruning of my ficus marginata. I have had this tree over a decade. I have treated it when it had bugs. I have trimmed away branches when it has gotten a little crazy in it's spring spurts. This time Margaret is doing a careful effort to help it sit in a spot where we won't run into it and injure it's leaves on a regular basis. 

The looks super spiffy now.

indigo experiments

Last week I began testing an indigo ink.

I have made a series of drawings since March that are the result of repetive marks and the visual rhythmns derived from the depletion of ink in my dip pen. When I make these drawings my mind is empty and the result of the process is a complete surprise.

found this now what?

Discovered this image yesterday. Question is, where is this drawing?

I have no idea where it might have wandered off to. I'm going to look in the flatfiles and see what rediscoveries I can make.

Often a drawing stops itself. I 'll put it in a drawer and pull it out again later. This hasn't come back out from where ever it may be. It reminded me about some patterns I had been experimenting with as the first layer of the drawing. Time to make another visit to that place. Just not quite yet. There are some winter things calling to me.

In the Studio : late June

A long day in my studio.

It was a very long day in my studio but it felt all too quick.

I spent a good part of the morning cutting and punching papers. Then I began arranging. Then attached several pieces using tape or staples. Some very delicate pieces were attached with a double-stick material.

Now I am investigating some of the other materials I have saved over the years to add to the collages. I have some tapes and fasteners that may come into play. I have several papers I will punch with little round holes. Much more to do to extend the vocabulary a bit more.

new hardware : studio doors

Sat around with a cuppa joe working on ideas for organizing in the studio. My barn door needs some hardware and I've been working on some ideas to piece together plates and handles for a new better handle. These are some sketches for how to use flanges and plates. I'm measuring the door and doing more drawings. This is the start. I've also been doing some overhead storage. I'm expecting to be able to create a storage space for some framed work too. Right now just measuring and planing.

In the studio : altered books

I finally began my altered book project. It's been in my thoughts and sketchbook for over two years. My post  process : 9 x 9 new works [ part one] back in 2010 gives a little background. I finally felt I had a way forward. I opened each book to a spread that asked me to ink it. I know this sounds strange but I can't really define all of the reasons why I chose the particular spreads, so I'll leave the reasons out of the process so far.

In the studio : warm ink

Mixed and rolled out ink in my studio.

The temperature had gone up to 88 degrees and the ink was almost not tacky enough to stick to the roller. After getting the graphite ink ready I worked on three new drawings, Happy with the results. But I'm interested in a bit more transparency.I'm glad that I've looked at several new ways to work with materials that can stand up to presentation without being behind glass.

I'm looking at ordering a couple of rubber rollers that cover more area. I want to draw some very big lines.

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