1000 woodblock project

This project is moving along nicely and never ceases to amaze me with each block that is submitted.
The skill and creative thinking of other artists is something  I look forward to .
Each block tells it's own story and I am left to wondering how it is going to appear as the finished print.
How will they in the images themselves adjust to each other being such diverse pieces?
Lets ponder on this question together.

One Thousand Woodcuts, my effort.

Earlier on this particular site was brought to my attention and was very interesting and challenging so decided to give it a go and see what I could produce.
The basic idea is that interested printmakers paid a fee to receive a small block of timber from Maria in America, who has been the chief insitgator and driving force of the whole project.Instructions were sent with the woodblock to be carved by me and returned by December for printing. In return every participant receives a beautiful print in the mail. With over one hundred printmakers working towards this goal I can only imagine the size of the finished print.
As I was also involved with another project which needed my full attention being  much more of a challenge in that I had planned to edition at least 15 books but ended up with 12. More on this project at a later date.
Okay enough babbling here are some pictures.

My small block ready for carving.

Original drawing and proof. One main instruction was not to ink the block, or change the shape in any way.

Completed block with newspaper wrapping as requested by Maria, gives her something to read as she unwraps the blocks!

 Note how I have a block in similar shape to our great state.

A picture of the print when it arrives sometime in the New Year, a long time to wait but as I have read her progress reports I will be patient for it's arrival as you must be!!...

Celebration lunch.

Celebration Lunch.

Yes folks I know it's the same photo as in Book Arts Object site. We had a lovely day starting with a chat at home followed by lunch at a smallcafe in the city and a pleasant drive to Gargett Gallery,(up the valley) not only to view the current exhibition but to show Lesley our prized possessions. Very proudly we displayed them to Lesly and she is very impressed.Well done to all our book making friends and we look forward to a repeat performance when the others arrive safely.

Festival of Arts Open Day.

Open Day.

It was another long working day today, from nine am to three p.m and eleven prints as the result. I am very happy with it and I was situated in the old Town Hall as part of Mackay' s Festival of Arts Open Day. This is a week long festival with various events around town and the group of print makers I belong to, Printbank Mackay Inc. have the use of the hall . This presented me with the opportunity to indulge myself in printing for the day and arrived home tired but happy.

The few visitors who came to have a look were positive with their thoughts and pleased to chat about techniques etc.

Finally time to sit and have a cuppa which gave me the chance to appreciate a whole array of prints on the walls and in folios . As a print maker I don't normally view my works as a collected arrangement and it gives me a different appreciation of my own abilities.

This was the first time I have participated in an event where the general public can watch an artist at work.

Local Gallery

This morning Di and I made our usual trek to Gargett Gallery to see an exhibition on display from three Rockhampton women. Both of us were very impressed with the works of assemblage, paintings, prints , photography and mixed media.I know I came away revitalised and reinspired.

As always we received a warm welcome from Lesley, gallery owner and painter  and enjoyed coffee and a chat. As it was getting very close to lunch by the time we viewed the exhibition and the local Coffee Devine "cafe" which had been recommended was a must  to try so off we went. Very nice food, great coffee and atmosphere and all in an old timber church.  A lovely morning stretching into lunch it was a shame to return to town!

The end is getting nearer and nearer.

So here I am another step closer to posting day and not without it's little testing  of my abilities, Paper Wrestling is the correct situation at present. Due to my own errors I have made it a bit difficult for myself but then what is art without a little punishment along the way to make us appreciate it all later and to gives us that glow of satisfaction!! Just as well I have been keeping a journal along the way so I might avoid the same pitfalls next time. Notice the word "succumb"? well that is what I must do so I can forge ahead onto the next project and the one after that.......

Stay tuned , goodnight for now.

So here I am at another phase of Paper Wrestling.I had wanted to keep this in one long piece but proved too much to handle  and especially as it isn't my press and I didn't want the bed landing on the floor where it shouldn't be!! a qiuck smart decision had to be made so out came the stanley knife and hey presto! I now have two plates to print.Twice the work but proved to be quicker and simpler in the end. Here is the result of the one trial print which meant I couldn't run to through to the end of the paper so therefore not printed.

Anyhow  I developed a lovely working pace and it went smoothly and finished late afternoon.

Time now to turn my hand to other projects waiting in the studio wings and it's a long weekend , meaning no grandchild sitting Monday , which I do miss the little chap but will put the day to good use in a productive way.

Back soon.