Happy Spring!

I wanted to make some Easter cards for family, so I choose a crocus image as the theme, and carved 3 blocks out of the "soft-cut" plates. I usually do reduction prints with one block, but I wanted to be able to try different colors in the future, and reduction prints leave me without that option. Here are the plates and the original sketch.

Unfortunately I gave away the best ones, but here are some variations.

The one on the left is hand-colored, the center one is the key block, and the last one is printed from all 3 blocks.

I ordered a few new supplies from Blick last week, and was happy to find them on my doorstep yesterday. I ordered some OPEN Golden Acrylic paints (slow drying), printmaking cards and envelopes, Akua print plates, and some  matte stencil film. The acrylic set came with a 5 x 7 Gelli plate. I'm going to explore some monoprinting with my new stuff this week. I saw some cool demos at the NAEA Convention in Chicago two weeks ago, and I wanted to try the materials.

                                                   The Gelli plate demonstration

Stay tuned.

Chicago

It has been a while since I last posted! March has been a busy month with a trip to Chicago right in the middle of it. I was able to attend the National Art Educators' Conference this year, held in the
"Windy City". Just returned and will share a few of my images from the trip.

The Art Institute of Chicago had an exhibit of Vincent Van Gogh's bedroom paintings. The three versions of the painting were exhibited together.

 We also visited the Cultural Center where we saw the StrandBeests on display. and enjoyed the gorgeous architectural elements of the building.

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I got the chance to make the "Beest" move!

 Millenium Park

"The Bean"

I'm in this reflection somewhere!

 The Field Museum of Natural History

 Along with the sightseeing, we attended workshops at the conference, tried a variety of different restaurants, and enjoyed the company of thousands of art teachers who didn't need telling why Art is vital in our schools!

"Childhood" Illustration Friday

                        Easter is coming soon! Thought I'd move on from the snowy previous post, and get us right into Spring!

                                            "Childhood"   Illustration Friday