Happy New Year! Welcome 2020

These bluebirds, snacking on dried mealworms, are ready for New Year's Eve.

December News

As usual, December is a busy month! I've found myself with artworks in four different exhibits, including our annual sale at one of the artists' home. I've been busy preparing my work for the show--getting works matted, priced, and packaged. It's always a fun event, taking over the house and turning it into a "pop up" gallery!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to finish the linoleum block print of the boats, that I started earlier in the fall. 

 


Hopefully, I'll have the completed print in my next post! I just printed a dark layer for some of the shadows, but will be using a light gray for the next layer as I want to create the illusion of fog. I forgot how hard it is to carve into linoleum, even with sharp blades. The linoleum is sturdy, and holds up well through multiple times through the printing press, but is a bit tiring on the wrist.

Reduction Print progress

I'm working on a new reduction block print. The subject is boats in a harbor in Maine. I'm trying to create the illusion of fog in the background, rather than the actual background of the photo.

It's a linoleum block this time.

This is the first layer of ink.

Hello Fall!

It was wonderful to spend the last full day of summer at the beach! I didn't think I'd be swimming in the ocean so late into September!

Tonight was the opening reception for the Hopkinton Historical Society's annual art show and sale. I am showing a couple of my newest prints, "Cape May" and "Pinkham Notch Stream".

They always have a nice reception, and a good turnout for opening!

I was pleased with way this print came out. I think it captures the essence of the place!

Catching up With Summer!

It has been a busy and eventful summer! I've been enjoying the beautiful weather, visiting friends, working on an assortment of printmaking projects, and recovering from a hectic school year. Well now it is almost time to say goodbye to summer vacation, and get my brain back into teacher mode again.
Lori and I had a good day on August 3rd at the "Uncommon Art on the Common" Art Fest. After a few drops of rain at the beginning, the day turned out to be a pleasant one for an outdoor event. We set up the tent and tables with the assistance of our ever helpful husbands, and were pleased to see a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.

Last week, I attended the award ceremony at City Hall in Manchester for the "National Arts Program" sponsored art show for City and School Department employees. It's always a well-received show for artists of all ages and levels. I was happy to receive a 3rd Place Award for the "Pinkham Notch" reduction block print that I recently finished.

It's hard to say goodbye to the less scheduled days of summer, but the rhythm of the seasons makes them even more sweet!

Uncommon Art on the Common 2019

It's almost Uncommon Art on the Common time again in Goffstown, and Lori and I are going to give it another try this year. Pray for sunshine! Last year the rain kept us from setting up our tent, as our prints do not like to be exposed to damp conditions. I'll be working on getting my new prints matted and packaged to be ready for August 3rd. Now if only the weather will cooperate!

Back in the Studio

I signed up for a summer Open Studio Printmaking class, and am happy to be back in the studio again. It's especially appreciated that the building is air conditioned, and there is plenty of space to spread out one's stuff. I'm finishing up the "Winter Stream" edition that I've been working on for a while. It's been hard to decide if I'm done, or if I should carve more, and add another layer. I want to keep the illusion of a snowy day, in which every detail does not need to be defined.

The paper is much whiter than my photo depicts.

It seems funny to be working on a snowy scene while the weather has been so warm. Last week I enjoyed a day at Lake Winnipesaukee, and a couple of days at the ocean. Summer is short here, so you have to take advantage of the beautiful weather when you can!

Illustration Friday "Fox"

I used to get an IF illustration done every week, but kind of lost steam on posting new ones. Since it is summer, and I have a bit more time to work on my drawings, I finished one for this week's topic,
"fox". I did a very similar sketch a few years ago, so this is the updated version.

Happy 4th of July!

It's Summertime!

As much as I (usually) enjoy my job teaching art to high schoolers, I love summer as a time to refresh and reorganize my life!

I walked out of school on the last day, jumped into my friend's car, and headed off to Cape May, NJ, for a much needed vacation with the "Girls". When we were turning 50 (almost 10 years ago), and our kids were pretty much self sufficient, we started our annual tradition of getting together each summer. Close college friends and sorority sisters, we reconnected on Facebook, and picked up where we left off in the 1980s. We've travelled to California, Washington DC, Connecticut, Maine, Cape Cod, and parts of Virginia, over the years.

This year's trip to Cape May, NJ was a new adventure for all seven of us. We rented a house in walking distance from the beach, shops, and restaurants, but especially enjoyed scooting around on our rented bicycles.

I'm the cautious one wearing the helmet.

The beach was beautiful, and the water was warm enough for swimming. Just the right amount of waves for some breathless riding of the surf.

The best part was that we got great weather for out trip, while back in NH and other parts of the East Coast, they had a lot of rain all week! 

Hope to get back to Page and Jefferson for another adventure!

Lots of Showers...Bring May Flowers

It has been a very wet, cool Spring this year. It seems like every day has had at least one shower in it. Happily, this weekend has been lovely so far, with temperatures in the 70s and plenty of blue sky. I came home Friday after a hectic week of work, and enjoyed a quiet respite on my back porch for the first time this month.

A brilliant Indigo Bunting has been hanging around the yard.

It's a busy time as the end of the school year approaches, and I'm looking forward to summer break to have more time to work on my prints. I finished carving the last layer of a new linoleum reduction blockprint, and inked up and printed a few to see how it looks.

Ellis Stream, Pinkham Notch, NH

I don't know if a winter scene is going to be popular in the summer, but I will have some of these available on June 8th. If you are local, stop by and enjoy some art and antiques.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  Finished these little cards in the nick of time!

White Mountain Adventure

Last weekend I went on another adventure with friends, up to the AMC Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch. I had always wanted to go snowshoeing in that area, so I signed up for the trip. I left work on Friday and made it up to the place in about 2 hours and 40 minutes. I enjoyed the drive, as it was a beautiful, warm day, and the view of the mountains was gorgeous. I drove up on one side of the Presidential Range, and down the other. The AMC lodge and visitor center is at the base of Mt Washington, where many people park there to hike up to Tuckerman's Ravine, and ski down the bowl. That's a little more adventurous than what I wanted to attempt.

 After a hearty breakfast

and a good night's sleep in the bunkhouse (guess who gets the top bunk)

we were ready to go for a snowshoe hike. We had a wonderful guide who pointed out animal tracks, interesting plants and fungi, and knew the trails thoroughly.

It was great to meet new people, to get outside, and enjoy the meals prepared for us!

 I'd like to do several block prints from these images!

I noticed a little heart in the melting snow! I hope I will be able to get back there next year!