I realize that I never gave an update on the products of the printmaking workshop I took a couple of weeks ago. In truth, I actually left the class feeling a little overwhelmed/frustrated/wanting for more. I didn’t end the weekend with anything that I felt qualified as a ‘finished piece’, which was disappointing – the beauty of printmaking is that patterns/images/fields of color can be applied relatively quickly, and so I figured I’d be cranking display-worthy art out of the presses after just a couple hours of instruction. What I failed to take into account was the importance of walking into the studio with a prepared plan. Sometimes experimentation and studio play-time can lead to really stunning works, but I have found that I need to come to the presses with a concept and supporting materials in order to walk away with something I’m happy with. All of that said, once I quit beating myself up for not truly finishing anything, I was excited by the fact that I learned a couple of new techniques and made a couple of new discoveries that can definitely be incorporated into the work I’ve been doing recently. And I can’t wait to get back into the studio – I’m full of all kinds of new ideas that are just waiting to be run through the presses. I’m playing a lot with thread as a mask, and stitching onto the paper as a way to create really ‘taut’ linework. I’m also really, really stoked by the discovery of Pronto Plates – images can be copied onto these sheets of thin polyester, then inked and run through the presses. Waaaay faster and less finicky than paper lithography, and a very cool way to incorporate some of my photos into my prints.  I see some good art-ing on the horizon…
