Area Holiday Shows

                                        Holiday Greetings!

Recent prints and drawings will be shown at the following holiday markets:

13Forest Gallery

167A Mass Ave

Arlington, MA

"PLENTY"

November 19-January 13, 2023

Western Ave Studios @ Studio 223

122 Western Avenue

Lowell, MA

December 3 & 10th, 12noon -5p and by appointment

Concord Art, Concord Center for the Visual Arts

37 Lexington Road

Concord, MA

December 1 - 18, 2022

Francesca Anderson Fine Art

56 Adams Street

Lexington, MA

"38th Annual Almost Miniatures Show"

December 2 - January 21, 2023

4x6, reduction linoleum prints made from charcoal sketches drawn on Monhegan Island, Maine

printmaking Pumpkin Halloween project

 

Now was a good time to try my hand at printmaking to reclaim some strength in my dominate hand since three rupture hand tendons were surgically repaired in April. I have replaced my old wooden spoon with a new wooden spatula. On the handle, I  slipped on a foam tube and wrapped it with self grip athletic bandage to increase the diameter of handle since I am unable to squeeze and make a tight fist. 

Cutting out the sugar skull design into the soft rubber block plate was easy: like cutting butter. I zipped along using a v-gouge and in no time it was ready for printing. 

To prepare the pumpkin surface, I painted an oval with black acrylic paint and let it dry. This step will provide a high contrast to the white printing ink.

Since the block was bendable, my thought was it could wrap around the curved pumpkin to print the design on the painted surface. Yes and no. Pumpkins have ridges and the printed design was missing in its deep recesses. So I printed the inked design onto tracing paper.  Then I pressed the tracing paper onto the pumpkin surface, being sure to gently rub all areas. Remove the tracing paper. Voila!

This next step is optional. Sprinkle embossing powder over the wet inked areas. With a gentle tap to the pumpkin, the excess powder will fall away. A heat source especially made for melting the embossing powders was used. Hair dryers are not hot enough and a commercial heat gun might be too hot for melting. Use caution.

Trick or Treat.

PRINT Show in Lowell

 

Spending time at Camp SKYLAND

 

In early September, I camped along the shore of Lake Champlain at Camp Skyland in South Hero, Vermont.  Each day offered a portion of silence as well as the pleasure of listening to a variety of sounds: lake water lapping on shale talus lined beach, the mournful cries of loons, piercing calls of Bald Eagles, the drumming of a pileated woodpecker on old growth poplar trees, crackling camp fires and the click of the light switch extinguishing my daytime activities.

This old timey compound was divided into distinct living spaces: 10 forest green painted rustic cabins, RV rigs,  smaller camping trailers like my T@G as well as a separate area for backpacking tents.  Each section of accommodations offered generous views of the Green Mountains esp. of Mt Mansfield and Camels Hump Mountains. On a few dusky evenings, most in attendance checked their watches for the  timing of gorgeous Full Moon risings with its melon colored ripples reflected on Lake Champlain.

There was one day spent cycling on a old railroad causeway converted into a much loved bike path.  It runs north/south connecting South Hero Island to the Vermont's mainland in Colchester. For the passage of watercrafts though, there was a breach in the path but a non profit organization operates a seasonal ferry to connect the bike path for cyclists and walkers. With unrestricted views of Lake Champlain on both sides of a ten foot wide stone dust path, my bike ride was freshened by gentle breezes and sunshine with many smiling, happy people. 

 

I spent most of my days drawing with charcoal while the evenings were spent preparing meals together with dear friends who rented one of the cabins. Conversations were always lively.

Here are my drawings.

New show, "Altered Landscapes"

 

Camping in the Islands of Lake Champlain

My long time friends, Mary and Jan, and I were once again held captive to oppressively hot and humid weather during our annual camping trip to the Islands of Lake Champlain in Vermont. Last year there was no trip because of COVID.

I forgot to add, it rained everyday as well. UGH.  My friends were beaten down by the heat and left a day early and then preceded to drive back to Burlington the following day to sell their camping equipment to a used camping supply store. No more camping for them. Next year, they will be staying in a rustic cabin on the shores of Lake Champlain. Me? I haven't decided about next year's lodging. 

The T@G trailer was comfortable enough for me.  My new canopy placed over my open galley in back of trailer kept the area dry. With no power, I needed bags of ice daily to keep my refrigerated food cool. Unfortunately the state park couldn't keep up with the camper's demand for ice nor their refrigerated ice bins where half melted bags weeped in your hands. Many people had to go in search of ice outside the park. That week's heat and high humidity was so oppressive and taxing on our bodies and equipment. 

A dunk and a swim in the lake was refreshing and cooled the over heated body. I had to swim in my clothes because too much effort was needed to pull on my swim suit over an overly sticky body. Easier just to jump in fully clothed.

The next day, I traveled to Nadia's Emporium in search of dry clothes. With the rain and high humidity, the clothes I swam in never dried out. My only clothing option was to purchase men's swimming trunks decorated with huge red lobsters, bunches of yellow bananas or rainbow unicorns. What? Men would wear these?  I bought the conservative grey ones with fluorescent green trim instead. Nadia expressed her disappointment. 

Together we rode bikes on the Burlington Rail Trail to Leddy's Beach. The bathers young and old were enjoying a wind-whipped surf in the warm waters. Later in the week I painted at Albough's Sand Dune State Park where another sight of long rolling surf waters and a silky sand beach greeted me.

There was a visit to the Grand Island's Farmer's Market to buy bread and tomatoes. At the end of the day, would all the vegetables on displayed be well done after cooking in that heat and sun?  I knew I was about cooked through and through.  After leaving with our bags,  a 'must stop at the ice cream stand' for a refreshing bowl of raspberry ice cream tickled my inners and trickled over the fingers. Gosh, it was HOT out.

On an overcast and humid day, I painted the marsh grasses at Sand Bar State Park. Now two and half hours of painting plein air is not a strenuous exercise but one look at my soaked tee shirt you would think I ran in place while painting. Another hot one out there. Numerous Monarchs flitted about in the flowering purple loosestrife. They looked so light and airy.

On another day I rode my bike to the dog swimming and fishing area of the Grand Isle State Park where we were camping. I sat drawing the shoreline activity in the shade of willows. Once again the winds whipped up the waves but gave me no relief from the heat. Despite the hot weather, people and their kids and dogs were still able to enjoy the outdoors; either by swimming, paddling, fishing.

Upon my return home from another hot, stifling Vermont camping trip, I really enjoyed sitting back in a comfy chair with the AC turned on. Ahhhh.

Return to Monhegan Island

 After a decade long hiatus from visiting the island, I returned at the invitation of a painter friend, Jill. We stayed 5 days  at the Cracked Mug B&B sharing a 2 twin bed room.  

After a 2.5 hour drive, I boarded the New Harbor, Maine ferry for a ten mile trip to Monhegan. No cars are allowed on the island but there will be plenty of old jalopy trucks waiting at the wharf to portage our trunks to the rental.

Melanie Tucker, owner of the B&B was a most fun loving, gracious host who was the absolutely best breakfast chef I have ever experienced.  Oh she makes one, powerful Moscow Mule too!  Being an early riser, there was French pressed coffee and homemade coffee cakes each morning when I rose at 5:30AM. One particular morning, I was on the porch watching Melanie in the backyard smoking fresh salmon for our breakfast.😋 Here's smiling Melanie and her 6 month old pup, Sammy.

On a couple of evenings, the guests were encouraged to help in hand churning ice cream; strawberry one night and Girl Scout chocolate mint cookies on the other.  here's 3 year old Juniper leaning her strong arm in for the job. 

Jill and I initiated this adventure as an island painting trip unaware of the culinary adventure we were about to experience as well.  Never left the table hungry. We didnt have to sleep in the bedroom with our gear and wet painting panels. NO.  We set up our gear in Melanie's boathouse. In addition, there was an outside utility sink for cleaning up brushes and hands. All hands on deck...let's paint.

Weather was exceptional on the first day; crystal clear skies, pleasant temperature. Then as the week preceded, the weather deteriorated a bit with rain, then fog and on Sunday 35mph winds. Oh woolen sweaters were needed for the cool mornings and evenings.  All hands on deck... Let's paint.

OK.   When I wasn't painting plein air,  I delighted in drawing in charcoal on Strathmore Mixed Media paper cut in a variety of sizes. My favorite drawing supplies are General's charcoal pencils and compressed sticks, and a dash of charcoal dust. The paper surface can be wetted with brush and water and then drawn directly in with charcoal pencil. Tonal values can be accomplished with a waterr wash and charcoal dust.

and to end the day with beautiful sunsets like these. Photos taken by Jillian. Hoping to return to Monhegan again because it is such a special place esp for artists.