SNAP Studio

Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists

In early July I made the move to my new studio space at the Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists.  The set-up went very well as I am a keen mover and always eager to create a comfortable space.  Not long after the move I had a two-week vacation.  Two glorious weeks in row spent orienting myself not only to the workshop but to my new neighbourhood. 

SNAP Workshop

This is the printshop itself.  I didn't make any use of it as I was more than a little intimidated by the press and using it alone.  Instead I spent my time preparing for the big run slated for August 1st.







Another bonus of the month of July was my adoption of a bicycle.   A keen biker for most of my life when my dear old bike was stolen from my backyard a few years ago I was too sad to think I could love another but the time was right and pedalling to the studio is simply too wonderful to miss.  My route takes me up through the university campus, across the High Level bridge and then along the Victoria Promenade to SNAP.

Studio No. 6

From Above

Workbench

My space is very cozy, private, and completely self-contained.  It feels great to have somewhere dedicated to a medium I have spent so much time preparing to work with and I am very pleased to announce that during my studio retreat I finished the final five wooden plates on display on the work bench pictured to the right.  I did not think that was possible so it was a great gift.

Tracing and Carving

Layers of Lines

More Layers

Image No. 2 - White

Image No. 2 - Whites on Plate

Image No. 1 -

Image No. 2 - Whites (Close up)

A great deal of time was spent tracing out the twenty-one for ease of transfer over the next year as I take advantage of the printmaking facilities.  I also got six pieces of baltic birch cut to size and two are now prepared as far as the print surface being isolated and the first layer traced out.  The isolating of the plate was strenuous to say the least taking four hours per board.  When I had started I thought I would get all six ready to go but soon realized what folly that was.

On Monday, August 1st I walked over the the press and for 9 hours straight printed over 150 pages of prints that will be bound into an artist book.

21 on Rice Paper

21 on Craft Paper

Detail - Image No. 2

The final accomplishment I need to document here is my lunchtime activity.  Every noon hour you can find me in my mobile studio (car) somewhere in the westend listening to audio books and carving 3" x 4" linoleum plates like this:

Image No. 1 - Two-Colour

The reason this post is a little longer than usual is that today is my 50th Birthday.  I used to feel in my heart that I was forever 18 or 19 years old.  Recently, while pedaling home after a satisfying day in the studio, it occurred to me that's not true at all.  Rather, all of my life I have been at least 50-years-old in my head and in my heart.  As of today my body has finally caught up.

The painting below was created for me in exchange for one of my roofing paintings. 
My favourite local artist, Campbell Wallace, created this beautiful piece of me with my maternal grandfather.

1964

Printmaking, Elements, Photography, and Bookbinding

Konstruktion No. 3 (Pt.1)

Konstruktion No. 3 (Pt. 2)

The above images are part of my series called 21 Konstruktions.  I am currently taking a reduction woodcut tutorial with Tadeusz Warszynski with an eye to an intensive period of time in SNAP's printmaking studio in the coming months.  Printmaking was not possible when I took my fine arts simply because of its time constraints and the fact I had to be home by suppertime every night to feed two growing boys.  I have been scratching this itch for about three years by carving wood and linoleum plates but have yet to do any actual printing. 

A frantic but fun morning was spent on the University of Alberta campus during the last week in April.  The company I work for needed photos of roofs we've done for an article in a magazine.  Of the three I could see from other buildings this is my favourite. It's the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. 

Konstruction No. 10 (Element)

Other activities in April have included the completion of tiny sketches I think of as 'Elements', again based on the Konstruktions.  The freedom I am finding working with a limited number of images is astounding.  It feels limitless at this point from wood carvings to paintings to drawings to silversmithing to porcelain to tapestry to sculpture to printmaking to artist's books. 

For the Merry Month of May I am looking forward to premiering my first handmade clothbound books, the printmaking results, and I will continue to wonder what to do with these:

Roofing Abstract No. 4

Roofing Abstract No. 2

Roofing Abstarct No. 3

Roofing Abstract No. 1

Come in to My House

Christmas Gifts

January 2011 can best be remembered for shovelling snow. Lots and lots and lots of snow. After a pretty white Christmas and some chilly weather in December we could not have predicted the two weekends of unbelievable white stuff. Weekend One many of us were very chipper and cheery.

Outside My Kitchen Window




By Weekend Two we were all wondering why were we leaving the house? In that spirit I would like to share where my heart desired to be curled up in the Frigid Month of January.

This Room was Made for Winters

Work Space

Surrounded by Art

Another Winter Oasis

Artistically, when I wasn't shovelling snow (or watching DVDs or napping) I was finishing my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project:

 and beginning a Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG) bookbinding home study course.  Images to follow when I gain some skill.