mystory

line work

2013-10-08T11:52:00.000+11:00

Tinted gesso light moss green then painted it onto paper in random wide brush strokes for a bit of texture...

Once dry...started mucking about with charcoal and chalk pastel...occasionally rubbing back into the work to create smudge marks.

Just to then draw over the smudges with more charcoal & pastel.

line work

COLLAGRAPH PRINTMAKING

2013-09-22T17:17:00.001+10:00

If your interested in collagraph printmaking, I just posted a brief "how to" on my Facebook page...so go have a look!

I've just finished running a collagraph workshop at a local community house, and it went well...considering I had to change the dates and times...not once but twice!!!! due to my hectic schedule...but I was happy the students were flexible enough to be able to finally attend.

And it looks like it is back on for term 4...with not only collagraph, but gel plate printmaking, drypoint etching and some deconstructed screen printing too. All this in 6 weeks... Do you think I'm being a bit enthusiastic here???

Til next Time

cooking up a storm...

2013-08-29T07:32:00.000+10:00

It's been more than a month since I wrote a post!!!
Time just flies when your cooking up a storm!
Hmmm, where to begin!
How about in my studio, where I've been making screens for screen printing!
Have you ever made a screen? Not easy!!! I'm using some old wooden frames that I've had lying around for years and I bought some screening fabric through Ebay.
I found the old staple gun and watched the "how to" videos on Youtube...well my 1st screen turned out a bit wonky...but I'm happy to say it works!
I'm still experimenting with the technique of breakdown screen printing...I love the spontaneity of it all. No need need to think too much. It's quite the relaxing process, great way to wind down after cooking up storms, like having a good slow G&T? well maybe not :)

Cooking? Yes, I'm cooking. For those who know me, this is no surprise!
I like food and cooking, well maybe 'love' food and cooking...So I'm following a dream here and have enrolled at a college and I'm studying cookery...full time!
And I'm loving it!!!! Chefs uniform and all....well maybe not so much the uniform :)
So now I'm whisking, chopping, stirring and chiffonading in between printmaking! (Did I mention I think I'm the most mature of the mature age students in my class).
Am I learning? Yes, loads! For someone who thought they had a pretty good knowledge about cooking!!!!

On one of my free days, I'm teaching collagraph printmaking at a local community house...the sessions started yesterday. I just love collagraph printmaking!!! I really do.
I'll put together a 'how to' collagraph soon with photo's, for anyone out there thats is interested in this lovely technique!
Just stay tuned.

For now, I'll leave you with some Instagram pics...

I have an art wall in my kitchen (yes I do) and my father gave me this lovely oil painting to add to the collection...all food only inspired art in my kitchen :)

My brother and sister in law went on a trip to Japan and brought home this happy skull cookie cutter as a gift...they know us too well!!!

I joined a rally/march against one of the dreaded junk food giants moving into the hills area, where I live with thousands of others, who love our home and don't feel that The Hills and these guys 'fit'.
Personally... I don't feel they fit anywhere on planet earth...but they are here... making a huge dint on the health of humanity and our environment.
If your interested to know more, please check out http://www.burgeroff.org

And ending on a nice note...look at our boy Seb!!! 8 months old and still growing :)

Til next time
Jo

breakdown screen printing

2013-07-22T18:59:00.002+10:00

If your interested in the process I used to make these prints...you can read about it on my Facebook page. The link is on my sidebar.

support

2013-07-04T10:28:00.003+10:00

I followed Louise and her daughter Coco around the world on this fantastic photographic project.
Would love to see her succeed with publishing the book.

In Louise's words;

"I’m Louise Hawson and in 2012, I’m going to explore and photograph the ‘unfamous’ side of some of the world’s most famous cities – their suburbs/neighbourhoods – and share what I discover in weekly posts on this blog. My eight year old daughter, Coco, will be coming along for the ride, as will you I hope, in a virtual, vicarious kind of way."

Louise needs financial help to publish the book...look HERE

And HERE is her website where you can see loads of fantastic images...

Til next time
Jo

meeting past posts....

2013-07-04T07:43:00.000+10:00

I took this photo in 2011 whilst travelling in Greece.
It's an image of where ancient Sparti meets modern day Sparti. Old meeting new! New meeting old.

So why have I decided to post this pic?

Well, I was looking back through some of my old posts here. I started this blog in 2008 and have over 350 posts in draft!!! Why? Well, I'm not sure why! There was a time when they were all accessible!
I've been going back through them all and have decided to 'un-draft' a few of my old posts. Ones I like or could possibly be useful to others in some way!
Anyway, I'm going to 'un-draft' a few over the next few days...so if you want to meet the past posts :) you'll have to scroll back through 'older posts'.

Til next time
Jo

I love Winter...

2013-06-25T14:31:00.002+10:00

I visited Hobart a few weeks back.

Our visit coincided with the Dark Mofo cultural festival.

One highlight was seeing Kurt Hentschlager's Zee

And another was a visit to MONA Museum of Old And New Art.

Our 3 days...flew!!!

From the little that I saw of Tasmania, all I can say is the I can't wait to get back there with camera in hand!

We had a birthday in the family...no not mine, but Beavs. I gave him a Joshua Harker 3D printed skull to add to his skull collection...he loves it and so do I.

Crania Anatomica Filigre by Joshua Harker

I'm still walking, and now with Winter here, Im walking through winter trees...which leads to my new drypoint plate.....

Yet to be printed.

Til next time

Facebook

2013-06-09T10:27:00.003+10:00

I've created a Facebook page and if you want to have a look, the link is on my side bar.
The 'Like" button if pressed, will give you the convenience of following my Facebook page, but that's only if you have a Facebook account too.
I'll be posting about all sorts of stuff, including "how to" tips & tricks.

Cheers
Jo

Winter

2013-06-04T16:52:00.000+10:00

Talk about feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place...pretty much sums up where I've been hanging out lately (artistically speaking)! I mean how long can a girl be gluing old prints onto wooden blocks for!

So I figured I'd just go back to basics and started by doing some sketching!

Then my regular class started at a local community house...I have a great bunch of students this term...and I think some of their enthusiasm has rubbed off on to me!

I've pulled out my old oils...yes oil's and yes old!!!

I melted bees wax and added some turps to create a creamy lush medium to add to my oils, it's called cold wax and the internet is buzzing with some great abstract work using this stuff...and I've been painting some old gessoed boards that I had lying around...nothing earth shattering to show you right now, lots of troweling on and scraping off, actually LOTS of scraping off :)...but painting like this has loosened me up a bit, I'm sure the oils have healing powers!...still up against the rock, but not feeling as stuck as I was!

Still walking here lots...Rhododendron Gardens, Olinda.

I'm making lots of small collagraph plates too, using all sorts of materials as well as mark making tools like scalpels, drypoint needles and anything else in my tool box that can make an interesting mark.

I'm running a 4 week Intro to Collagraph printmaking up at the Olinda Community house, near where I live, in late August...so if your close by and interested... contact Olinda Community House.

...and lastly, we had Seb's sister Lexi visit for a few days while her owner was away on holidays.

Lexi is on the left and thats our Seb on the right :)

Til next time...
Jo

woodcuts

2013-05-22T14:25:00.000+10:00

Gluing prints to blocks...

Here a 4 woodcut prints.

In different configurations...

Getting cold out now...it's gloves & hats season!

Love Autumn

2013-05-06T10:51:00.003+10:00

Enjoying my lowered studio table...after gluing my etchings to the off cut table legs that I mentioned in my previous post...I started looking at other stuff I could cover with my prints.

I found these wooden blocks whilst op shopping last week and now in the process of covering all 12.

These prints are mixtures of aluminium etching, collagraph and etched lino.
Yes, etched lino, it's a process where you etch lino with caustic soda (yuk), I don't play with caustic soda anymore!!!

PS, Love Autumn...

Til Next Time
Jo

Seb's growing...

2013-04-22T18:22:00.002+10:00

Our little puppy is now a big puppy! 20kg+ and growing!!!

Seb has fitted in so well and we are seriously in loooove with this fella!

Love is in the air...we had a wedding in the family (my son's) recently. Months of preparation resulted in one mighty fine shin dig!!! We had a fantastic day!

Now I'm back in the studio...just sticking bits of print onto stuff! I had my studio table legs cut down 100ml and I really liked the cypress pine blocks left over. Not only did they smell nice, they have a lovely texture to them. I wanted to use them somehow. So I've glued etchings to them.
I've only got 4 blocks and now want more!

Here's more pic of Sebastian...

Til next time
Jo

Seb

2013-02-26T12:57:00.002+11:00

This is our beautiful baby boy Sebastian...I know...gorgeous!

I was pretty excited when the Jess's (son and girlfriend) told us they were bringing home a new family member. Seb is a Bernese Mountain dog and will be a big dog...very big!
We are a big dog family...our last girl Sascha, a pure breed Rottweiler lived to 14 years old and weighed 50+ kg, we buried her in the garden more than 16 years ago!!!

With the size of Sebastian's paws, I think he will be bigger than Sascha :)

I'm still working my way through a photography course that I'm doing and still enjoying the journey.

More trees...This exercise was about learning to understand a digital camera histogram ( a very useful tool when you know how it works)...I needed to take a series of shots at what I thought was the correct exposure, then I needed to under expose and over expose the same scene and write about what happens to the Histogram reading.

A few posts back I mentioned how I would like a wood router for Xmas...well I got a pearl pendant instead...I'm not complaining...I just love my pearl.

Well anyway, my father called me last week and said, "Jo, I was reading your blog post and you mentioned a router...did you get one?" I said no and he said he had 2 and was happy to give me one :) Now all I have to get are some blades and I'll be on my way carving more wooden panels.

I've already carved my way through 6 large panels of wood...using a dremel and carving tools.

Above is a detail of an embossing of one of those panels.
An embossing, for those of you that don't know, is a an impression taken by placing damp printmaking paper onto a clean dry plate (in this case my carved wooden plate) and then run through an etching press. I love the elegance of embossing...simple and beautiful.

I also wanted to show you some collagraph plates I made late last year...

The above and below are of skeletal leaves I collected on my walks.
They are larger than my hand and were pretty dry, crumbly and curled up when I got them home.
I sprayed them with a little warm water and they instantly softened to the point where I could very gently unfurl and glue them down to my plate with soft gel medium. Once dry, I shellaced the plates. They are now ready to print

Heres another close up, I've sealed this plate with a gloss medium.
I have a whole series of these leaf plates...but not much enthusiasm to print them!!!

Til next time...

Jo

January 2013

2013-01-31T19:34:00.001+11:00

We are having a great Summer...and I've been out and about with my camera allot!

I've started a photography course (because my life just isn't full already... haha)

I'm learning so much...and loving using my camera in full manual mode.

Above is a photo of the beautiful East Beach at Port Fairy. We go there every year with my family.

The above morning sky looks so dramatic...but it actually cleared to a blue sky within an hour or so!

So now I'm using my camera in full manual mode...I'm on a constant lookout for light...beautiful light!

I think the above images are clickable...not sure (I've got a new computer that I'm still learning how to drive)

Not much going on in my studio...it's been a bit of a slow start for me this new year!

I have booked into a 2 day workshop at the Baldessin Press in March, to hopefully kick start something!

I do have a photographic project I have been kicking around in my head though!

Hopefully I'll have some pics and a story to tell next time I post.

Til then

2012-12-22T07:59:00.000+11:00

This used to be a daily blog way back when I first started blogging...true!!!
Here's a quick little catch up...

Our group show in November was wonderful, thanks to all that visited.
The opening was colourful, vibrant & fun! Gotta love a good opening...no speeches, lots of people, cheese and wine!

The gang!

November has also been busy with trips away, socializing, work and carving my way into a few wood blocks...big ones! Will show and tell at another time when they are up to scratch! I'm secretly hoping that Santa brings me a wood router this year...would make my life a little easier.

December has started well with a quick trip up to far North Queensland to visit loved ones. Here's a montage of pics. It's so lush up in the tropics...hot too! We swam everyday.

These pics were taken at Wonga Beach and Mossman.

The trip was a bit of a battery charger for me because now I have some serious planning to do...16 on the 23rd, 11 on the 25th and a NYE gathering here too!!!

And lastly HAPPY FESTIVE SEASON to you all...

Journey safely into 2013...see you then!

Cheers from me!

Jo

hi

2012-10-30T09:48:00.000+11:00

Hope all's been well :)

NEWS....

My friend Elizabeth Banfield is having a solo show in November, details here. I'm looking forward to seeing her beautiful work.

A few years back my hubby Beav was working in Sydney and was approached by a photographer who wanted to take his photo. (Brock was working on a Beard book, and Beav has a nice beard) So Beav did the shoot....well, Brock now has a fantastic blog Mr Elbank, so if you like photography as much as I do,check it out!!! It's one of my favorites blogs! Probably my favorite :)

My group show is almost here too....pop in :)

Til next time...Jo

spring and prints

2012-09-12T17:54:00.000+10:00

etching, encaustic & collage

Hard to walk in the forest through Winter...
So I started walking around the Rhododendron Gardens, 5 minutes up the road from where I live. (lucky)
Much easier walking on good tracks and pathways!

Spring is beautiful...so I'm still walking here and sometimes with my camera!

Just gorgeous, isn't it!

Surrounded in beauty...

every way you turn...great place to switch off from the rest of the world for an hour or so.

I'm also working...

etching

Getting these prints ready for a November show...

etching, digital image & pastel

Til next time
Jo

trees...

2012-08-16T13:21:00.002+10:00

Layering lino print, digital print and monoprint...

Starting to consolidate my collages for a November group show.

Got together with the 3 others of the group yesterday...talked, ate and drank! Felt better for it too.

I've got to come up with an artist statement, for this work...we all had something to say about writing artist statements....mostly how difficult it is to do!

Til next time

Vietnam

2012-07-31T17:44:00.001+10:00

Back from what seemed like a fleeting glimpse of Vietnam.
We walked, push-biked, sailed, flew, motor-cycled and scooter-ed our way around this amazing country.
So many highlights for me...like sitting on tiny stools on the side of the road, drinking beer and people watching, its a great way to absorb environment as opposed to scurrying around trying to see it all.
Eating really great street food and dodging anything that could upset our sensitive western stomachs! The street food is the best food...you watch it being prepared right in front of you, by a maker who has probably dedicated a major part of her/his life to perfecting that one dish!
Doing a photography tour with this lovely photographer who lent me a camera because mine died!!! He encouraged me to not be shy with my camera and get out and interact with the people...I ended up with some portraits I would have never dream't I could take!
Riding motorcycles through villages and being greeted by happy happy kids and adults...I fell in love with Vietnam on this day!
Riding through Da Nang and surviving to tell the tale...pretty funny me hanging on for dear life updating Beav every second on who was coming up behind us, watch this guy...watch that girl...look out a truck...etc....:)
Had a few hiccups...like of course my camera dying on me!!! And in Hoi An of all places...one of the most photogenic places I have ever visited!!!
Lucky I was able to borrow a camera every now and then. The rest of the time relying on phone cameras!!!!
Another small hiccup was me getting stuck in an elevator in Ho Chi Minh City, pretty funny now when I look back on it...maybe a tale to tell future grand kids :)
I've put together a 5 minute video of still shots for you to look. (with music)
It's a mix of street scenes, portraits, art we saw in Saigon, details I liked and I feature in it a few times too :)

Vietnam 2012 from Jo on Vimeo.

I know...it's pretty techno savvy for me!!!

Till next time
Jo

2012-07-07T15:37:00.001+10:00

July already...time is flying.

I ran the collagraph printmaking workshop from my home studio last month. It was a really fantastic day...and am happy to say, everyone who attended left with some great prints.
The above image is a collagraph plate I made up the week before the workshop. I used some beautiful skeletal leaves from my garden.

Busy hands wiping plates...

And some of the final prints!
I love collagraph printmaking, I really do! My next workshop is in August...

Another highlight of the month was running a portraiture workshop for a local Youth Services organisation.
I got to work with a great bunch of kids! Talk about enthusiastic! They all bought along a picture of someone significant to them to paint. Some painted relations, some painted self portraits and some painted band idols that I'd never heard of before! But I'm cool with that :)

I had another great time attending the Not The Archie's award night. It's my second year being involved (in a small way) and the second year running that my son's girlfriend Jessie has made it to the top 41.
I couldn't get to last years awards because I was away...so I was happy to get to this night and so proud to see Jess get recognition. It's such a great community arts project.
Here's a link: Not The Archies If your local to the Yarra Ranges...think about getting involved next year!

This is Jessie's award winning portrait of my son Jess (yes gets confusing)...

I also contacted a group of Print makers recently, who live in my local area.
We have met twice and I'm happy to say we will keep meeting up.
It's been really nice connecting with these artists and who knows were this could lead?
One of the printmakers is Elizabeth Banfield and she has a
beautiful blog here.... Elizabeth
Two of the artists are showing at the Red Gallery later on this year.
I'll put up all their details closer to the exhibition dates.

And last but not least...we are having a short break...so looking forward getting away from this cold Winter we are having to some hot steamy weather...some awesome street food...and some reckless fun touring around on the back of a motorbike!

Bye for now
Jo

2012-05-31T14:34:00.004+10:00

It's been a week of hello's & goodbyes...I find the latter terribly hard to do.

etched tree's...

I'll talk about the hello's...I've recently met some great print makers through an Open Studios weekend that we have up here in the Dandenong's. I won't post a link, because it's over!
But we are getting together next week at a local cafe. Looking forward to that allot.

More "hello's.....I've finally decided to come out of my shell and run printmaking workshops, here in my home studio.
To begin with, a collagraph workshop and a drypoint etching workshop.
Whole day workshops exploring these great techniques. Art, food and people creating!
I've been wearing my teachers hat allot this year! Looks like I 'll keep wearing it for awhile longer, which is a good thing!

My own work is coming along...I'm still in the trees.
That's all I have...yep lot's of tree's and all inspired from the beautiful forest that surrounds me!

I'm finding something very "grounding" about making my tree's
My studio is starting to look like a forest!

etched and embossed trees....

Oh...paper sales are starting SOON! here & here

And one last thing,
I woke to the sounds of some serious bird talk the other morning...I had a water bowl full of Rainbow Lorikeets in my garden...rare!

...and then they were gone!

Til next time
Jo

2012-05-22T16:10:00.000+10:00

I live close to Sherbrooke Forest and often walk the Sherbrooke Fall's track with my friend Anne.
Anne spotted a lyrebird on the track last week, the day I couldn't make the walk of course! What a treat for her to see a Lyrebird...it's a rare thing these days!
I've been lucky enough to sight 2 in the 27 years I've lived up here!!!

Anyway, with the weather turning cold, it's still worth getting muddy shoe's and walking the track in the mornings...because the forest is just so beautiful....and you just might get to see a Lyrebird!

Something quite magical about this forest...being surrounded by plants with names like... Fairy Lanterns, Mistletoe, Gypsy Ferns, Cinnamon Bells, Love Creeper, Weeping Grass & Maidenhair Fern.

The tall ferns are growing thick green winter coats of miniture ferns and moss...

And yes there is a waterfall and bridge to stop by, before the walk back.

I never forget to "look up".

Must look up! Stunning skyscraper!

Found the below video on Youtube... amazing bird, the Lyrebird!

I hope to see one soon...wish me luck!

Till next time
Jo

2012-05-03T10:08:00.000+10:00

photo polymer etching, paper cutouts,

Pushing along...and incorporating some paper cutting into my work.
It's an intricate and fiddly business!

I seem to be winning lots of prizes lately in the form of tickets to shows and events.
Tonight I'm off to see a preview of the movie Trishna with some winning tickets! Looking forward to it. I love movies about India, the culture and visuals of this amazing country always fascinate me.
The film "Water" being my all time favorite! "Monsoon Wedding" is another gem.

Til next time...Jo

2012-04-19T14:30:00.001+10:00

Trees & Wires, etching & collage

April already!!!
We have been having some beautiful Autumn weather...it's my favorite time of the year!
Have been busy with studio work, family & friends and planning a "little" Asian getaway for mid year!
Destination Vietnam...and I can't wait to get there, planning on lot's of bike riding, both motor and pedal power...also looking at booking a photography tour while I'm in Hoi An, which is located in the Quang Nam Province on the South Central coast.

I'm a bit of a foodie and there are many food cooking tours available. I've done them in Bali and Thailand so will have to book one in Vietnam too.

A lovely friend of mine is having a solo exhibition...here are the details;

Manningham City Council invites you to the exhibition
Metal Madams and Mad Moments
Trish Sidway
This exhibition brings together a selection of Sidway’s whimsical sculptures created through her curiosity for neglected and abandoned objects.
To be officially opened by ARIA award winner Kavisha Mazzella, with performances by Mazzella on the night.
Thursday 26 April, 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
RSVP by Friday 20 April to the Gallery 9840 9367

And lastly, I'm sitting here dreading tomorrow. I have a photographer coming over to take my picture for a write up in the newspaper about Not the Archies a cultural development project I'm involved with again this year.
My studio looks like a bomb has hit it and this humid weather is playing havoc with my already crazy hair!!!
I know life could be worse...but!!!

Til next time
Jo

2012-03-20T15:38:00.001+11:00

Still looking through the tree's...

So with chainsaws and bulldozers clearing a 5m wide firebreak right along my walking track of 20 something years, I'm leaving...
...and going to be doing some city living for the next few weeks. I didn't plan it that way, it was just timing in my favour!

Planning to do lots whilst closer to the Melbourne CBD, including seeing William Kentridge Five Themes at acmi.

I don't drink lots of coffee, but when I do I like it to be not just good, but great!!! so I will be checking out a few of the cafes I've been wanting to visit... and some only walking distance from where I'm staying!

So not much studio work from me over the next few weeks...but if my cat keeps pursuing her printmaking interests, you may get to see something more from her!
Here's a sneak peak on what shes been up too lately...

Titled "Pause" on concrete studio floor!