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Tuesday, February 03, 2009

What's Cookin'

Look what came in the mail yesterday!! A couple of weeks ago I entered into a give away on Alisa Burke's blog and I won this beautiful clutch from her. She let me choose my favorite colors and my word for 2009 (moderation - I know, laugh now). Oh, it's so much prettier in person than I could have imagined!

This is what it looks like when it is snapped shut.

And then it opens up into this deep pouch that I can imagine even puttin long papers into.

I love Alisa's work so much because she has that free loosey-goosey style going on that speaks to confidence and joy. She is teaching this August in Arizona at Art Unraveled where yours truly anticipates meeting her for the first time. You just might want to sign up for a class with her and learn her secrets. (yes, I'll be teaching there too and registration is open now.)

So what else has been going on in the studio is a giant gelatin printing fit. My list of things to do in the off season included a go at this. Printing without a press. Making stuff for my collage paper stash. Because I'm low on stuff. (more maniacal laughter)

I pulled off dozens of prints in a few hours, filling the studio floor with wet prints.

Tried out paints, inks, dyes, alcohol, and everything I could think of to try.

Masks, stencils, stamps, vegetation, direct painting on the gelatin.

I'll be offering a class this fall with my compadre on printing without a press. She is a whiz at this and I love hanging with her so this will be pure delight.

In an earlier lifetime I was a maker of etchings and that was incredibly challenging and fun.

We want this class to be fun without being that challenging.

The hardest thing about making these kinds of monoprints is stopping once you've started.

Because your imagination is saying, "what happens if I try that (piece of texture)? " and soon you're running all over the studio upending everything in your haste to throw stranger and stranger objects on the gelatin.

It's very cool.

I may do some more today if I can find my brayers under all the clutter.

Okay, that's the end of the show and tell. You were a very good audience.

We'll finish up with the latest journal page. Bits and pieces. Memories and dreams from the daily mill. And this parting thought; that our waking life is only half the story. In dreams, actual deep sleep, lives another life more strange and wonderful than what we sense during our "waking" hours. That's what I've been chewing on this week.

Addendum: Squam registration is now open too.

23 comments:

jgr said...

Hi Judy,
I just LOVE these! Love them! Gorgeous layering and shapes overlapping . . . awesome.

--Jane

Jennifer said...

Love the layer look and the randomness of it - at least that's how it looks to me & I long to be random. Thanks for posting so many photos of the results.

Sarah said...

Your prints are great! It looks very addictive.

Barb Smith said...

Judy, you lucky girl...I adore your new clutch! It's gorgeous! I know you'll carry it proudly.

Your awesome papers are inspiring! I could just roll around in them...well, you know what I mean. lol

Peace & Love,
~Barb~

Bridgette Guerzon Mills said...

hey, i recognize that baby face print! That little guys sure has come in handy.

Candace said...

Thank you for taking us on this trip! Boy, did I ever need it too. Is that Miss Katie in that last bit? I KNOW that's me swimming away there, too.
These photos just pop off the page at us, Judy. Great fun!
Your Friend.

Unknown said...

wow I ove your prints Judy, very inspiring.

Amy Stoner said...

Oh Judy, I LOVE these prints! Especially the one with bright red and lime green. YAY! I have gelatin printing on my to do list one of these days as well...glad you're actually doing it!

Gwen said...

ok miss judy, WHERE are you and bee teaching this class because i may have to take it! these are sooo beautiful!!

Meri said...

Oh yes, I can see moderation, as in "Tom Brokaw was the moderator." Judy moderates a blog. Moderation just doesn't suit you, you jump-in-with-both-feet-girl-screaming-woo-hoo! It makes me giggle just thinking of you in the same sentence.

lynne h said...

everything EVERYTHING here is an inspiration, judy. and i'm not talking just this post -- but all these last posts... thank you... xo

moxylyn said...

I love that clutch and your journal pages are absolutely stunning!!

Wildflower Studio (Michelle Dransart) said...

Hi Judi, I just love your work! I saw you in Artful Blogging, and looked up your blog. I love your journal pages, I am an artist who journals myself, but have yet to combine the two. You have merged the two beautifully. Best wishes on more wonderful creations! Come visit me at my blog sometime :)
~Michelle

Amy Stoner said...

Hey Judy...I forgot to ask you the details about this class you're teaching in the fall! please do share!

Jeane Myers said...

well you lucky dog! that clutch is extremely cool! - love your prints!

Danita said...

I love reading your blog. There are always something inspirational here!

Seth said...

Loving the vitality and life in these pages!

femminismo said...

Oh, I have a workbook somewhere on how to make gelatin prints and a whole bunch of Knox gelatin. I know what I should be onto next. Oh, you are a bad influence. I made a Sculpey head last night for a creamer figure girl. She's very grouchy looking though. I don't think she likes her hairdo. - Jeanne

Ro Bruhn said...

Is there anything you haven't tried Judy? These look like a must 'have a go', I need to keep a book of all the things I have to try after visiting your blog.
What a fabulous bag too, I'll have to check out Alisa's blog.

Anonymous said...

I never fail to be uplifted with a solid tweak to my imagination when I visit here... I had no idea gelatine prints could be that freaking gorgeously strong.

Sharon P Pope said...

WOW!

Chris said...

I will meet you in Phoenix! I've decided!
Oh, it will be so great to learn from you!

A.Smith said...

Moderation? Moderation? are you once again "backward speak" speaking? Moderation? You? oh yeah, that is why your journals are explosions of light, color, joy and adventure. All your pages dance and flow from what was that word again? Moderation. Indeed. The day you are moderate about your divine, exuberant nature I will retire to a convent.

I love you and look forward to have fun with you the 14th.