Happy New Year!!

 Looking out the window on a rainy New Year's Day 2025. Thank goodness we had fresh snow for Christmas, which made the day even more traditionally festive! We even had a special visitor to our yard.

A Bobcat

 Attracted by the bird feeder activity

A big yawn and stretch before leaving

                                                                

I hope we will have another sighting of this beautiful animal! 

Now that the holidays are over, I will be looking for inspiration for my next printmaking project. I may try one incorporating the bobcat, as the white snow makes for a nice contrast. We have also had bluebirds at the feeders again this year, and their colors are so striking.

While I get ready to take down the Christmas tree, and put away decorations, I wish good health and happiness to all in the new year! 

"Adirondack Chairs" Block Print

 Just taking a break from my studio work, to post the block print that I finished today. I've been working on the "Adirondack Chair" image this month, and I'm generally pleased with the way it came out. I incorporated a few stencils, as well as a small brayer to ink individual areas. 

Prints hanging up to dry

Akua Inks

                    The finished print (fuchsia edition)

The location of the original photo, that inspired the print, is Little Squam Lake in Holderness NH. 

I'm enjoying the beginning of this summer! The mask wearing is mainly over (had to wear one today at the post office), and the weather has been lovely for the most part! Picked strawberries at one local farm, and have been working a lot in the yard. I planted a variety of herbs--now have to remember to use them. When you live in New England, you have to appreciate every summer day! 

Happy Weekend!

April Showers

Yay it's April! Must be Spring! Too bad there's a chance of snow this week, and nothing above 50 degrees in the near future. Of course I shouldn't be surprised as this happens every year. We get excited about warmer weather, and then disappointed when the cold weather hangs on longer than anyone wants. Tomorrow is Opening Day at Fenway Park in Boston, and our beloved Red Sox will be playing on a windy, sunny day with temperatures in the 40's. Go Sox!!

I have been working on a different mermaid print. For this print, I painted a black background with acrylic paint, inked up the plate with Speedball ink, and printed it over the black base. I added a variety of colors using Prismacolor colored pencils over the ink.

It's considered a monotype as each print will be a little different. I like experimenting with different techniques and color schemes.

A simple little Easter card

My faithful companion who likes to hang out on my desk while I'm working on projects.

Otter Point print

I took a lot of pictures of the rocky coast on Mount Desert Island. when we visited Acadia National Park in August. I thought the colors of the rocks and ocean would make interesting block print images. This is a four-color print of a view at the end of the Otter Point trail. The trail begins at Sand Beach and takes you by Thunder Hole, and along the coast for several miles of easy hiking with spectacular views.

Back from Maine

I just got back from an art teacher fellowship at MECA (Maine College of Art) in Portland. It was an awesome week of collaborating with other artists, working in a personal studio space, participating in workshops, and enjoying the city of Portland with new friends. Living in a dorm and eating in the caf made it a true college experience. I brought lots of materials to work with, but ended up spending most of my studio time doing block printing. I experimented with easy-cut blocks and waterbased Speedball ink using the reduction method of printmaking. I ended up doing 4 new prints of different birds. Here are the 3 stages of my print of a black-backed gull.