Here is a first look at my current project: finishing up my prints for the 4th Annual 50-50 show at the Sanchez Art Center. This show promises to be a lot of fun: 70 artists commit to making 50 works of art in 50 days. The art is then sold – right off the walls! – as a fundraiser for the art center.

The official description for my set of prints is “ambiguous figures in ambiguous landscapes.” I followed the general scheme I’ve been using lately: monoprint backgrounds (sometimes with chine colle or inkjet transfer) with linoleum-block figures superimposed.

For the show, the artists were all given 6″ x 6″ blocks to use. A lot of artists were able to work directly onto the blocks. Since I work on paper, I had to mount my prints onto the blocks using acrylic gel medium. I then used the gel medium as a glaze, to protect the paper surface.

Here are the first few photos. The images are all done; what I’m working on now is the titles and the labeling.

Please come to the show if you can! Or, better yet, come to the reception on Saturday, August 24.

There are two parts to the reception. The Gala Preview reception is from 6 – 7:30pm; you can purchase the $10 admission at Brown Paper Tickets. The Gala Preview is the only time you’re guaranteed to see the entire show. After that, as people purchase work, gaps will appear in each artist’s section.

The free general-admission reception is then from 7:30 – 9:30pm. The Sanchez Art Center is located at 1220-B Linda Mar Blvd. in Pacifica.

The show runs through September 30, when there will also be a closing reception.

And now, the first few pieces. I’m still naming them, so right now they’re all “Untitled.”

We went down to San Luis Obispo this weekend for the opening of Traces, Marks, and Fragments, the printmaking show at the art museum there.

The show was sponsored by the Central Coast Printmakers, and the juror was the artist Sandow Birk. I am very fortunate to have two pieces in the show. The first is Hopscotch:

The second is called Freedom, and I am doubly fortunate in that this work was chosen to appear on the show’s postcard. How exciting is that???

Mr. Birk spoke before the reception, talking about his jurying process.

Then the crowd dispersed into the galleries to see the show.

Traces, Marks and Fragments will be on display at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art through February 26.

This just in:
The Scott’s Valley Holiday Boutique & Fundraiser –featuring 30 local artists and craftspeople, including me– has been extended for five more days! So not only will it be open today, Sunday December 19, but also all week though December 23. Hours during the week will be 10-6pm Monday – Thursday, December 20th-December 23rd. Come on by for some last-minute Christmas shopping! The address is 222-I Mount Herman Road, in the King’s Valley Shopping Center, between Nob Hill Foods & Erik’s Deli.

Besides finding some good gifts, you’ll be doing a good deed: a portion of all sales will be donated to either the Second Harvest Food Bank, or Scott’s Valley schools. Your choice.

In the meantime
I’m putting the finishing touches on the block for my Christmas/holiday/solstice/what-have-you cards. A bit behind schedule, but I believe I may actually get them in the mail before Christmas. Here’s a mysterious sneak preview:

And now back to baking and wrapping. Fa la la la la!