Hamilton Cove, State II

February 26, 2006 Solar Plate Etching with Brown Ink 3.75"x5"

After I pulled the plate I decided to trim it down and use the best part of the under-exposed image. Then I scratched into the plastic surface like a drypoint to bring out some of the under-exposed lines and values. The image is still spotty and I may work into it again. But for my first try at a new technique I am very pleased with the possibilities of the process. This is the third of three proofs pulled from the plate.

Hamilton Cove, State I

February 25, 2006 Solar Plate Etching with Brown Ink 4"x6"

This is my first test plate with the solar plate etching process. Parts of the plate are under exposed and I think the problem is primarily the transparency that I used. The other potential issue is the sun. I exposed the plate at noon and noticed how low the sun was in the sky. I think I exposed the plate for more than enough time but next time I will try to tip the plate at an angle so it is parallel to the sun. This was the second of two proofs, the first printed very light as I removed too much ink. All things considered I am very pleased with my results and encouraged that this low toxic method of making a printing plate can produce such a wonderful print.

Wind and Snow

February 24, 2006 No. 2 Litho Crayon on Paper 5.5"x6.5"

This is one of two quick sketches done while out in the wind and bitter cold. Once again I feel like a thief, stealing away with a snapshot of winter. Back to my warm home and out of the cold.

Postcard Project

February 23, 2006 No. 2 Litho Crayon on Watercolor Paper 3.24"x4"

This little drawing was done on the front side of a postcard for a "mail art" project with my advising group. The person before me left the frontside almost completely blank and I could not resist taking it out on a snowy lunch break to this nice little spot in Plainfield. Now the drawing is wandering around the U.S. Postal system and with a little luck will finds its way back to me towards the end of the semester.

Cold River

February 18, 2006 No. 2 Litho Crayon on Paper 5"x6.75"

Cold, cold, cold, today I am enjoying the cold. Out on what has been an unusually warm February. I found a new spot down by the river. The bright sun offered little warmth as the strong wind froze my face and bare hand. As I make a record of this special spot, on private property, where I probably should not be.

Plastic Factory

February 15, 2006
Aluminum Monotype
5"x7"

There is something about this image that I really like. It is the best effort of the evening working on the big press and I am convinced that working on aluminum for monotypes is the right material for me to use.

Plastic Factory, Ghost

February 15, 2006 Aluminum Monotype 5"x7"

When I pulled the first proof off of this plate I noticed that there was a great deal of ink left over so I decided to pull a pure proof off the plate without any further manipulation. The image is really wonderful and has an impressionistic feel to it that is pleasing to me.

Self Portrait

February 15, 2006 Aluminum Monotype 7"x5"

Well here is another self portrait that I should have taken more time with. I rushed at the end of the evening to pull one more print and this is typical of how my night went. With a lot on my mind I came into the studio distracted and I think it shows in this print.

Moonrise, State I

February 15, 2006 Copper Monotype 8"x10"

I immediately had some problems with this plate as the copper reacted very differently to the ink than when I have worked on aluminum. The copper is fast and the ink feels greasy, while the alumnium has a grain to it and seems to grip the ink a lot more. There is also a sense of atmosphere that I get from pulling monotypes off the aluminum that is absent from the copperplate print.

Moonrise, State II

February 15, 2006
Copper Monotype
8"x10"

I worked into the ghost image left on the plate with mixed results. Parts of the clouds are interesting but I added ink with a roller on the bottom of the plate and should have worked it a bit more before printing. The roller marks are visible and ruin the print.

Full Moon

February 13, 2006

No. 2 Litho Crayon on Paper

6.5"x4.5"

I feel like a hunter. Out at night in the cold, searching for my prey in the woods. Emerging out at the edge of the river I see the bright moon rising high into the sky. Large dark clouds move in from the south quickly hiding the moon. The reflected light fades, making the task of drawing in the dark a crazy endeavor.

Lincoln's Birthday

February 12, 2006

No. 2 Litho Crayon on Paper

5.75"x6.5"

Lincoln's Birthday

I walked out on a cold February night, down to the frozen, crusty river.

In search of a view of the nearly full moon.

The water was swift and the moon high.

Slate blue clouds drifted lazily across the bright sky.

If not for the reflected light off the snow, my hand would have not found its mark so easily.

Frozen Lake

February 11, 2006

Pencil on paper

4.25"x5.25"

The ice seemed fine but the sounds it was making made me nervous and my drawing suffered for it. There is not enough variation in the trees and I was moving faster than usual.

Frozen Lake

Out on a frozen lake,

With bright sun and still wind.

The cracking, popping ice,

Lent a strange hip-hop beat,

To the still cold day.

Streaking clouds on a pale blue sky,

Were a harbinger of the coming storm.

Woodbury Mountain, State II

February 8, 2006

Chiaroscuro print

3.5"x6"

I pulled a small proof edition of thirteen prints after fixing the color block a little bit. The color for the original proof run was a little strong so I added just a tiny bit of black to the color and I think it made a great difference. That and breaking up some of the smooth lines of the color areas in the snow covered hill made a nice difference.

This image is taken from an old drawing of a farm I lived at in Woodbury, Vermont. The old farm is known as Tranquility Farm and is perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever lived. You climb up this little hill and see the only view of Woodbury mountain from one end to the other.

Woodbury Mountain, State I

February 6, 2006

Chiaroscuro Print

3.5"x6"

I pulled two early proofs to see how the key block lined up on the color block. There were a few issues but nothing I could not deal with by some creative registration on my part. I carved into the color block again before pulling a small edition.