Year of the Ox Print Exhibit

I just got word that the Year of the Ox print exhibit is officially online here.

Like last year, a group of people answered Proof Studio Gallery's call for traditional prints to celebrate the Year of the Ox.

This was my submission

Stubborn as an Ox etching, aquatint



Here's an excerpt from an article about what the Year of the Ox holds in store for us. Click here to read the full article to see what the Year of the Ox means to you personally.

According to Chinese Astrology, 2009 is a particular type of Ox year, it is an Earth Ox year. As well as the cycle of twelve Chinese Year Animal signs, there is a cycle of five elements (earth, metal, water, wood and fire), so a complete cycle is 60 years. There are five types of Ox year: Earth Ox, Metal Ox, Water Ox, Wood Ox and Fire Ox.

The pre-dominant element of the Ox is earth, so in an Earth Ox year, the earth will be especially intense. The earth element is about stability and any movement will be slow and steady. The Ox is considered to be the most persevering and responsible of the twelve animal signs and its influence will make us more hard-working and inspire us to bring some order to our business and home lives after the turbulence of the Rat year.
Earth holds back water, so communications can easily be hindered and extra care will be needed in negotiations to avoid misunderstandings. Ploughing on one step at a time will bring greater rewards than trying to find short-cuts, quick fixes and fast bucks. Put the pedantic nature of the Ox to good use by checking all the small print to avoid broken promises, for this is a year where we can run into muddy waters. Ensuring that your messages are crystal clear will avoid you getting stuck. During business negotiations avoid sitting such that you are facing North-east. Sitting with your back to the North-east may give you the upper hand, but if you are looking for a win-win scenario, avoid either party facing the north-east across the table.
Ox year is time to be persistent without being pushy. Over-aggressiveness and over-ambition will not force closed doors open. Rather, wait for the sound of the bolt easing back before you give a gentle nudge and make your entrance bit by bit. This is not a time for heat of the moment decisions and uncertainty will hang around a lot of solutions.

In the climate of credit crunch, the Ox influence will bring about consolidation in many industries. A practical down to earth approach will serve better than elaborate strategies for many of us. Caution will still blow in the wind, yet success and prosperity will come to the lucky ones.According to Chinese Astrology, 2009 is a particular type of Ox year, it is an Earth Ox year. As well as the cycle of twelve Chinese Year Animal signs, there is a cycle of five elements (earth, metal, water, wood and fire), so a complete cycle is 60 years. There are five types of Ox year: Earth Ox, Metal Ox, Water Ox, Wood Ox and Fire Ox.

The pre-dominant element of the Ox is earth, so in an Earth Ox year, the earth will be especially intense. The earth element is about stability and any movement will be slow and steady. The Ox is considered to be the most persevering and responsible of the twelve animal signs and its influence will make us more hard-working and inspire us to bring some order to our business and home lives after the turbulence of the Rat year.
Earth holds back water, so communications can easily be hindered and extra care will be needed in negotiations to avoid misunderstandings. Ploughing on one step at a time will bring greater rewards than trying to find short-cuts, quick fixes and fast bucks. Put the pedantic nature of the Ox to good use by checking all the small print to avoid broken promises, for this is a year where we can run into muddy waters. Ensuring that your messages are crystal clear will avoid you getting stuck. During business negotiations avoid sitting such that you are facing North-east. Sitting with your back to the North-east may give you the upper hand, but if you are looking for a win-win scenario, avoid either party facing the north-east across the table.

Ox year is time to be persistent without being pushy. Over-aggressiveness and over-ambition will not force closed doors open. Rather, wait for the sound of the bolt easing back before you give a gentle nudge and make your entrance bit by bit. This is not a time for heat of the moment decisions and uncertainty will hang around a lot of solutions.

In the climate of credit crunch, the Ox influence will bring about consolidation in many industries. A practical down to earth approach will serve better than elaborate strategies for many of us. Caution will still blow in the wind, yet success and prosperity will come to the lucky ones.

Things I made this month and how some things happen to be made

All August I felt like I was just spinning my wheels. After extreme disappointment at having to cancel my vacation this year, and moping about that off and on for a good three weeks, I still managed to get some things started, some completed and some heading off into new directions. Here's what I'm talking about...

Paintings

This month I read a book about the work of James Christensen, looking closely at his big fat bodies. Thanks to Laurie C., and her enthusiasm for this artist, she kept telling me I had to read it, that I would love it. And yeah, she was right. I do love it. I didn't know what to do with it, except enjoy it, and then I gave it back.

I had to start getting ready for an art in the park so I began to get the creative juices flowing by returning to a series of panelled works I've been doing for 5 or 6 years now. I made a Many Moods of Birds painting,

and as I worked on it I started staring at the bottom bird and his big forehead and his large lower body. The feeling of the Christensen bodies took me over and I wanted to make them really big and fat...big fat birds. But then they just started to become characters. Sometimes it just happens. I sketched a few out very quickly




and put it all aside for another day. Within a week I had these two compositions completed.

The Relative

Making Plans

I also painted First Flight over this past weekend
and have 3 more sketched out. I love the big fat birds. They're going to be around a while.

And if that isn't enough, Laurie C. gave me this quilting fat quarter... ROBOTS! I love the robot...
I'm thinking astronauts, robots, aliens, big fat birds and cats.. and insects and secrets... much to ponder.

Other Things In Progress

Ceramic Buttons

I framed and submitted new work to the school boutique including

colour reduction woodblock print My House My Rules

etching and aquatint Today's the Day

etching and aquatint Through

and this painting called Ma Mare has been vexing me for a few months. I have painted, and repainted, it a few times and this weekend I brought it to Carp and all of a sudden, it was ready and I finished it within an hour. I put it on display and had 6 people express interest and then it sold. Fresh work.

Also this month I submitted this work, called One Small Step, to The Bay at Bayshore as part of their Live Artfully promotion. It's on display in their store!