Christmas comes and goes...

How quickly the holidays come and go! We celebrated Christmas 2017 in the midst of a snowstorm, and are approaching the New Year in a deep freeze. Fortunately, my sister and her husband were able to navigate my parents' Subaru through the 6" of snow, to get them to my home for Christmas morning brunch. My girls were both here for Christmas Eve, and we had a lovely night together before the big day.

                                                        The night before Christmas

I've been on the Holiday break from work this week, and enjoying some time to catch up on projects, and relax after the busyness of the last few weeks. The area is in the midst of a long stretch of frigid weather. The temperatures haven't risen above 15 degrees, and the wind has made it feel even colder! We've been feeding the birds and squirrels a copious amount of birdseed. I took a picture of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that's been hanging around the yard. It looks all fluffed up against the cold.

                                                                   Gold Finches

Aside from errands and a few workouts at the gym, I've been staying warm and toasty at home.


I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas! Best wishes for the New Year!

Happy 60th Anniversary!

December 7th is a special day for my family, as this year it is the 60th anniversary of my parents' wedding.                                   
                                                   Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Fun Time at the Art show

Last Saturday, I spent the day with fellow teachers selling our wares at a Pop Up Shop. My friend Lori and I set  up our tables with prints, cards, and her felted animals and birds. Others had photographs, batik scarves, ceramics, jewelry, bags, snowmen, and gnomes. It ended up being a fun day with lots of people crowding into Corey's Victorian house to sample yummy snacks, and purchase a few Christmas presents. Here's a couple of pictures of our little corner.

I also finally finished printing the last layer of the sunflower print that I've been working on.

Sunflowers and Pop-Up Holiday Art Sale

I'm still working on the Sunflower print that I've been posting on previous posts. Here is the latest stage of the print.

I think that there will be one more color after this---the background.

One of my art teacher friends is hosting a Holiday Art Sale at her home on December 2, 2017.

I'm joining other artists for the fun event on 779 Beech Street in Manchester, NH. from 12-4:30.

I will be selling prints and Holiday cards. I guess I'll be busy over Thanksgiving break, putting the final touches on my wares!

Sunflower Print Layer # 5

Over the last month, I've been working on a linoleum block print of sunflowers, and I've  just printed the fifth color layer. Here are a few images of the process so far.

Yellow, light green, and ochre layers

layer 3

dark green layer #4

printing plate with brown layer #5

lifting off the print 

     

A drawer full of sunflowers layer #5

Now I will have to carve away the areas that I wish to remain brown, and print layer #6. Another dark green, then the background color should finish it up. 

Illustration Friday "Safety"

Just a little sketch for this week's IF prompt, "safety"

Birch Tree Print

Another semester of Printmaking at NHIA has begun, and I'm busy working on a new sunflower print. Only printed one layer so far, and I'm carving away those areas so I can print layer two.

I did finish the Birch tree block print last week. I printed on black Strathmore paper using Akua inks. The black paper underneath gives the inks a bit different tone. I had done another similar design a few years ago for a print exchange, and I didn't have any left. This one is a little bigger using an 8" x 10" EasyCut block.

Same prints-just a little variation in the colors

I'm not anxious to see this view out my window anytime soon. We're having a very humid and mild weekend here. It doesn't feel like October! When you live in New England, they say, "just wait a minute and it will change."