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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Adjusting and Opining


My current obsession seems to be transfers. I just love rolling the paper off the back of the image and watching the magic happen. Best of all is when parts of the image peel away leaving a thing that is like a memory; broken and incomplete. The eye loves that sort of image.


To tell the truth, I can't stop my thoughts from returning to San Miguel at every turn. Remembering how each day was filled with adventure; friends and new acquaintances. Now I am rather itchy all by myself out here in the suburbs. I miss the faces that I met on the streets everywhere. I miss the warm expressions and the little walks to the neighborhood market where you are allowed to break off one celery stalk and buy it if that is all you need. I became one heck of a margarita maker while we were there. Those tiny key limes are the bomb.  


Where was I then? Oh yes, transfers. The one pictured above and below were from inkjet prints on regular paper. What I do is smear on matte gel medium with the side of my finger all over the image and let that dry. My theory is that the gel traps some of the water soluble ink. Then you proceed as with a regular (lazer) print. I apply the gel to the paper and then brayer the image into the gel. If you are transferring onto cheap or waterleaf paper you need to stabilize that paper first with either gel or acrylic paint. The image will not be as rich as a lazer image but if you live in the sticks like I do it is a back up technique. I used a clear gel pen on the lips, letters and some of the shadow. It didn't need it though, I was just doodling.


These are the pages ready for the next round of fun.


Like all of you I've been watching world events with a disturbed countenance. How do we keep our centers when the ground is shifting, forever shifting under our feet? Prayer, working for change, meditation, the distractions of our own survival are all useful coping devices. As I writer, I write. As a painter and journaler, I paint and journal what I am witnessing and how I try to turn my confusion into something useful. Even writing this today helps me; gives me a small job to do that raises my spirits as well as sending out an attitude of courage in the face of change.

Thanks for visiting with me here today. When I come here I am not alone. I can see and remember so many of your warm faces and it gives me comfort.

19 comments:

Marit said...

I am a big fan of gel medium transfers, and use the technique a lot. Can't get enough of them - especially if they have little 'surprises' (as you stated) Your transfers look great, the whole page is fabulous (as always!) Enjoy your weekend!

Michele R. Unger said...

Judy, you are the embodiment of your name---Wise. Your words about keeping busy and trying to live with hope were just what I needed to read. Thank you.

jill nalette said...

i too love doing transfers and seeing what comes of it because not all turn out "perfectly". life for sure has it shifts personaly and globaly. some are often scary and somehow it's helpful to find beauty so we don't drive ourselves crazy.
love you sweetie pie!
hugs + smiles~ jill

Jennifer White said...

...and visiting your blog, your words, your journals... always brings me comfort and joy. xo

Kim Mailhot said...

You are giving me the urge to give transfers another chance - I have given up on them often dbecause of little success. Except with photocopies but I don't have quick access to a copier in the studio !

You are far from alone as you have made it an important part of you life to open up your heart to others. I feel, see, love ya, Lady !
Happy Creating !

Dawn D. Sokol said...

I really love coming to your blog and seeing what you're up to. Michele is right, you ARE the embodiment of your name. You're such a positive force: something we all need in our lives, especially lately! You always bring a smile to my face.

Love the transfers. I have been playing with them more lately, too. I love the feeling they add to a page. Hope to see you soon! :)

Jess said...

The world is a scary place nowadays, and it's so important to keep empowering each other during these difficult times.

Lynn Cohen said...

I just keep wondering if/when it happens here how I/we will cope.
So sad. Hard to grasp...our TV has been on this news all day long.
I have to come here to escape for a bit. Your art warms my heart and helps heal the empathetic wounds for those in Japan!

Anonymous said...

I love your journal pages. Your transfers came out great. I never could get any ink jet prints to transfer...ever! I guess I kept rubbing too long or something. And yes, the news of late has me very sad and depressed but art does seem to help a great deal. Hugs :)Connie

eb said...

yes
so so wise...
love it all
especially you
so nice to hear from you,

xox - eb.

anna maria said...

Thank you Judy for this message. I am now going to draw/paint/transfer to deal with my own anxiety over current tragic events and how impermanent we are. Sometimes you just become so much more aware of it than at other times.

jsantini2 said...

Judy, This is the second time I am moved to cut and paste your wise words into my own journal to revisit again and again for affirmation and hope. You touch more people than you know and it is appreciated.

femminismo said...

Oh, you are definitely not alone! Transfers? It's been a while since I've done those. Time to try again. And your carved numbers are too wonderful. Yes, let's all pray our world stabilizes and we are able to effect good change in our own small way. Thanks for your profound thoughts - Jeanne

A'n'G Johnson said...

ooo love the transfer! Thanks for sharing how you do it. Your journal pages are always so inspiring!

Anonymous said...

I love transfers! Yours are amazing. YOU are amazing! Always an inspiration. I love those hand carved stamps!!!

Healing Woman said...

Your transfers are so mysterious looking. I enjoyed this blog post a lot and I am especially happy about seeing the way you store your paints upside down so that you can see which color is in them. Why didn't I think of that! Thank you!

Theresa Plas said...

Adore your blog Judy!

Deb's Artful Journey said...

After reading this post Sunday (and I always read your posts), I dreamt that you came to visit me at work. It was a short visit but I was thrilled. I think we looked at my art.

I love thinking about how we can "visit" each other in our dreams. Maybe I was bringing your kind "wise" self to my both my art self and work self. Whatever, thanks for visiting! :D

Parabolic Muse said...

Judy, you would not believe (or maybe you would) how my cynical facade sometimes can crumble when I come to your site and others who also fill me with a sense of community and hope and bring me back to basics about humanity and what counts. I know it sounds like a tall order, but your posts really do help to buoy me when things seems to be going nutty around me. You are the real deal.

I'm printing out all your journal pages and putting them up in my office. and then signing them.

I thought you should know.