Feb 15 - readying for my exhibition

empty exhibition space waiting for me

My exhibition opens tomorrow night.

The Studios of Key West van, parked on the street as I
made my way to discuss my exhibit tomorrow

Martha Barnes, the director of the studios, keeps reminding me that I am showing works in progress ie. they don't need to be finished works, just works in progress. And for me to remember that downstairs, in the main gallery, they have been working for 6 months to get ready for the opening tomorrow and I, she reminded me, have been working for 16 days.

I have a lot of stuff for 16 days.

I was taking full advantage because I was well aware that I have no work space back home. That I was just starting to organize my dining room, and even with that I'd still have little room and would have to wait until it warms up to go outside and work. That's around April if I am lucky.

And then an amazing thing happened. Last week as I was pondering my lack of studio space at home, I checked online to discover that a brand new artist's studio collective in Toronto North was starting. Long story short, I have a studio to go home too. On top of that, I have a clear focus of what I want to work on. It's incredible how 15 days ago that was all foggy and now, it's like a clear path has unfolded at my feet.

After our talk I saw this bike. I thought it was "just spotted" until I really looked and saw the stenciled numbers

I am in one of those time periods of my life which don't come often but when they do, look out. Things just go click-click-click and it all just makes sense and it all just falls into place and it's all just very clear. I remember thinking last year about the last time I had one of these experiences and despairing I would ever get that again in my life. In spite of all the good changes, many other things sure felt bleak. Thank goodness that's gone and thank goodness for Key West.

But let's get back to the nitty gritty. Today was the completion of my daily blocks bringing me up to the day of the show. I just, yes just, finished printing the large print.

February 1st - 16th, 2012 Key West, Florida, U.S.A.
55" x 27" 16 blocks
double xuan rice paper printed by hand all at once

Boy, I love making these cumulative prints. I really do. Of course there were challenges, the paper I used I only have 2 sheets. So one for these first 2 weeks and one for the last 2. What this also means is I have no experience printing on it so some of my blocks could have used more ink but, actually, whether I knew that or not, I am having a really tough time judging what is inky enough on any print I am making. I don't know what it is. The ink is also new to me, of course, so it could be that, it could be the humidity, it could be the paper being very absorbent or not absorbent enough, or not using enough pressure when I am using the barren, so many factors involved in pulling a good print. Perhaps by the 29th of February I will have a handle on it, only to be faced with brand new conditions Up North.

All part of the fun.

So my exhibit is all planned out but it has yet to be hung. And I, dear reader, have a very early morning as I have to finish my double rooster print. The double sided rooster block is part of my exhibit so I need to get up super early and tackle that before I am thinking. A 5 part colour reduction woodblock print to be done by 10am.

I am a crazy nut.

Decked Out on Day 8.

The first ever "On the Deck" event at TSKW happened tonight. Michael Haykin, the other artist here for February, and the distinguished AIR, as well as the other inaugural guest at the 609 Ashe Street cottage (mine is 607--we're neighbours), said we were making American Art History this evening.

TSKW Director of Programs and Exhibitions Martha Barnes (seated) with her adorable dog,
and volunteer Tyler Clay and her two charming daughters

And this is the kind of thing that sticks with me.

I like history and it feels good to be making history of any kind. It feels great to be out in the world doing the things I love. It's always good to remember where you came from, appreciate where you are, and look ahead to where you might want to go.

But never mind this dear reader, let me just how you what I did today.


Since I have this exhibition coming up I am really getting focused on my work. I decided to see if I could work on the front porch so I took my woodblock (I was doing the first one) outside with my tools. I was carving away and so engrossed that when I looked up 10 cameras were focused on me.


I just laughed and grabbed my camera to take their picture, but a few of them had scampered off so fast, chasing the next good shot but I did catch a few of the crazy shutterbugs in their tracks! I was the subject of a digital camera class and I had my first taste of what being in the eye of paparazzi would be like. Strange.

ready to proof this woodblock-- can already see this it'll need adusting

I got two proofs off of the woodblock I carved on the porch. It's not a good candidate for reduction. Too many "things" in it. Too busy. Looks like I will try a closeup/face for the reduction print. I think that this block is a good start, and I re-worked it twice, but now I have to let it sit for a bit before I get back to it again.

I did complete my painting. So glad it's done and I can move on to a chicken or something. I rarely paint plants/flowers. But this little guy was so interesting. Mr. Haykin called it an alien looking thing and I can't disagree with that.

I discovered an interesting thing today. I am inserting my own ingrained ideas about "the colour things are" into my work. And actually the shape things are too. Like, in my painting, I had to mix, mix, and re-mix the colours as I kept doing "northern" greens-pine tree greens/bushes.

grey, and greyer still, not so green--painting detail.

Everything here has a dusting of grey. Lots of greys around. More than you notice at first. You see it after the dazzle of the sea and sky normalize for you and after the wild vegetation becomes natural-ish.

And my parallel line that I took to be too obvious a horizon line was read as a "northern horizon" by a Key Wester. It was too solid to be the horizon around here as you never see a line of uninterrupted land since you look out and either just see sea/sky or sea-little island-sea/sky --broken and variable horizon lines. I've changed it to reflect these thoughts, but without a discussion I would not have clued into that--I would have happily applied my northern viewpoint to this southern vista. And this is why it's good to get out of your town once in a while. There really is more than one way to see the world.

Starting to roll... day #7

I went to bed last night all in knots. I have been avoiding and over-thinking using my colour ink.
"Perfect is the enemy of done," is what's rolling around in my head right now as I write this to you dear reader.
So the only way for me to get over this kind of issue is to just make the thing. I got out my inks and started mixing. I was looking to reproduce some Key West colours.
The inks behaved very well. I was pleased. My paper, which I did expect to be temperamental, was exactly that today. I am experimenting with a few kinds of Japanese paper and wile they are all very easy to print on, it is tough to get a very solid print due to the fibrous nature of the paper and if I press too hard with either my barren or the wooden spoon I got right through the paper before I even know it. I have to be really on the ball to get it right. It's a good challenge for me.

I started working with the windows open and the ceiling fan off. The fan moves my paper too much. But when a bead of sweat dripped from my forehead onto my print and caused a darkish area to within it I knew I had to close the windows, get the air conditioning on and it'll have to stay like this until I have my exhibition a week from this Thursday.


I managed to make 4 good large colour prints with two not so good ones. I think they are done but I may yet add to them. My gut is telling em not to add anything; my head is curious and wants to try a little more so I am sleeping on it. See what I feel like when I see them anew in the morning.




Around 2pm I went grocery shopping. while waiting for my ride I decided to sit out on the step. It was so hot! The sun was so strong. The shadows fascinated me as the sun poured through the slats.


















At the grocery store I saw a rooster in the shady spot of the parking lot



In the entry way was a stand offering me a plastic bag to put my wet umbrella in and some wipes for my cart. Safety first! Look at these needs I never knew I had being met.

And after I checked out I noticed my receipt had coupons on the back; this one for a free flu vaccine--good until Feb. 14th.