Madonna and the Purple Rhodys

This has been an extraordinary time for self isolation  and reflection.  I took it to the studio and treated the 8-10 weeks of social distancing as an artist retreat.  With no distractions and with my family buying my groceries and other staples, I accomplished a lot. I will share just one of those projects with you.

Since outdoor mobility has been on lock down, looking out from within my home has been a renewed pleasure and mindful self-reflection.

This April, I identified a Black Throated Blue Warbler in my grove of rhododendrons outside my office window.  Here is handsome he:

Because my plein air painting group was no longer meeting due to COVID restrictions, I volunteered to give Thursday morning prompts for everyone.  One of the prompts was to paint a windowscape that is, to combine the elements of the interior and exterior world with a window; the near and far.  Often artists will arrange a still life of personal items on a window sill or on a small table placed in front of an open window. I choose to set up a still life at my computer desk consisting of an Easter lily and a wooden icon and a view of  the rhododendron grove.  My rhodys weren’t in bloom at the time in April but what does that matter.

And so I painted this scene in acrylic :

                                   

Which then lead to two, new lino prints.

The first print and its edition was accomplished in just one day; quite an exhausting feat for a hand pulled, reduction print edition. I limited the number of colors and used Caligo water soluble inks. I enjoyed working with these inks for the first time; fast drying and easy clean-up.  The print was created for the International Print Day on May 1.   All submitted prints had to be created in one day. I slept like an old, tired dog the next day.

Since I really like the theme, Madonna  of the Purple Rhodys, I decided to give it another whirl by creating a second print with more colors and upping the composition complexity, typical of my method of working in reductive process. I continued the use of the Caligo inks: three process colors (red, yellow and blue) and white.

My studies/drawings for the second print:

Previously, I mentioned my rhodys weren’t in bloom when I created these images. Well here is a photo of those blooming beauties this June, doubly blessed with a glass table top reflection of the scene out my window.  Such is  inspiration.

Be well,

Susan

Susan Jaworski-Stranc

www.sjaworskistranc-printmaker.com

http://reduction-print.blogspot.com/