Prints in Progress

I'm still printing!

I've printed the disjointed female again. The paper is very thin and dyed with tea. Unfortunately, in the picture, dark marks from the wall that are not on the paper show, so it's not an entirely accurate representation of the print at this stage.

I'm also reworking the parachute and plane imagery, seeing how different color combinations affect the mood and reading of the print. I plan to put a figure in this one as well, but a less defined one, perhaps emphasizing a couple of body parts and merely suggesting the rest of the body... not entirely sure how it will work yet. It may be collaged on rather than printed directly on this matrix. We'll see...

And, I've also created this pattern with a woodcut. I'm experimenting with printing. I plan on "stretching" this thin fabric over a round or elliptical shape to evoke stained glass, and then subtly painting over it to play with the light.

That's all for now. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday Morning...

I'm still hard at work, anticipating my 15 credit review at the end of the semester, although I've begun several new projects this week, so much of it is prepatory work (cutting, gluing, and dying paper, doing the first layer of a print, etc).

I've finished the butterfly swimmer collage, and I'd like to make more work like this-- breaking from the rectangle, kind of sculptural, tactile, etc.

I'm also still working on the disjointed piece, although I've decided to put it away for a week or so before I do anything else to it. I've included pix of both the front side and the reverse, because I may like the reverse better. I might start printing on that side now. But for now, it just needs to sit.

Thanksgiving is this week-- we have off on Thursday because we're an American school. The grads are celebrating together at Michael's apartment. I'm in charge of a veggie entree and veggie stuffing-- and I'm thinking of making a butternut squash coconut curry that I saw a recipe for as well. I hope everyone enjoys the holiday!

Villa Lante and Viterbo

Yesterday I took a day trip the Villa Lante in Bagnania and to the town of Viterbo.

The Villa Lante is home to Renaissance gardens, and it was so nice to get out of the city for a day to enjoy "the most lovely place of physical beauty of nature in all Italy..." It's filled with fountains, small waterfalls, trees, and flowers. It really is beautiful.

Viterbo is a medieval town that rivaled Rome during the 13th century. Indeed, it used to be the geographical center of the Catholic Church, and served as the pope's residence for several generations. It now feels a bit like a ghost town, but you can still see its palaces, fountains and medieval churches and it's all within an intact set of medieval walls.

still collaging...

I'm still collaging, but now with the intention that they will result in finished works. Right now, this butterfly swimmer with butterflies is still in progress. Bonus points if you know why the butterflies are yellow.

A week of contemplation and collaging

I spent the last week at a standstill in my work. Instead of finishing the big prints, or starting new ones, I've been thinking, collaging in my journal, and reading. Sometimes it's difficult to convince myself that not producing is not the same as not doing anything... The thinking has been good though, and now I feel ready to make some more prints.

Halloween in Rome

Halloween's not a very big deal here; I saw about five children dressed up, three as witches and two with those Scream masks-- really the only costumes to be found in Italy. Apparently, as more Americans relocate here, it's becoming a bigger holiday, but right now, there are no haunted houses, trick-or-treating, or crazy parades to be found.

But, I did go to a party, although I didn't dress up. It was a potluck, and who was bringing what wasn't super coordinated, so there were about six salads and no entrees... Thank goodness I brought homemade apple crumble with panna cotta gelato to balance all of the healthy greens!

This pic from the party is of me, and two other grads-- Dennis and Marco. (Dennis is dressed as a hipster.)