Cut and Print!

"Cutting Class" is the title of an upcoming exhibit of linocut prints done by students of Laura DeLind at East Lansing's Grove Gallery (coming this fall). My friend Kate had taken two of Laura's classes and while we were at art camp she taught me how to carve. We had yet to print, though, so after a wonderful dinner, Kate, our friend John and I went down to Kate's studio to whip out the ink and go to town!

Now, this is my first carving and as you'll see as we get to the printing process, I have a long way to go. There is much in this carving of my window cat that I would change in a heartbeat (and probably will try to or else recarve it later). So this is a first attempt -- and it's instructive to show it as a reminder that we don't all start as well as Kate does -- or the remarkable Heather and Gary of Little Ram Studio in England. (Their blog is one of my favorites; I adore their beautiful prints!)

There is something you should know about me -- when I was in graphics in ninth grade I got an A. My teacher told my parents I was the messiest kid in the class. And the smartest. He was sort of forced into it because my projects were B-ish but the written tests were
all As!

 So, down we went to the studio ready to print.

Kate demonstrated the inking process. You use an oil based ink that cleans up in water. (Keep those baby wipes handy!) Using a rubber brayer you smooth the paint till, as Kate says, "it sounds right." I'm not sure I could quite tell what "right" was -- a little squeaky, perhaps?




Then you ink your linocut, moving your brayer in one direction at a time (any direction works but not back-and-forth) until your piece is covered in ink. Then flip it over onto your paper.




You flip it onto your printing surface and use a burnisher, rubbing it over your inked linocut with fairly heavy pressure.

 Then flip your paper over (holding the edge of your cut so it doesn't slip) and using the back of a spoon, continue rubbing, hard, and you'll see the ink reveal your pattern.

When it looks as though your pattern is visible enough (that's something you just learn -- what "enough" is), hold your work at one corner and gently remove the paper from the lino.

Voila!

Kate says the first prints from the lino are never the best and that the more you print, the better they become. I found that true as well. I chose black as my color (because we know a black-and-white cat that is always an inspiration). But when I printed on a gelli-printed substrate, my black cat became calico!

Let your prints dry and clean your block. Make any adjustments and count the moments till next time!

My observations on this process. One, it It requires a lot of pressure and elbow grease. I was literally sweating onto the work area. Not attractive. Dress appropriately and keep paper toweling handy to mop your dewey brow.


Two, you can get really messy. So keep those baby wipes handy!

Now, I know a lot of people make their prints with presses (which makes a lot of sense). If you are doing it this low-tech way, you need to count on a lot of elbow grease and pressure.But what I really loved about this was that it could be done low-tech. You need the right tools to carve, ink, paper, and very little else. The carving requires a linoleum piece (if it's on a block it's a bit easier to work with but mine was not).

You also need a good apron (like this one made by Joanne!) and yes -- don't forget the baby wipes! Did I mention that before?


Every new technique requires a lot of work and a lot of practice and I have my work cut out for me if I decide to pursue this one in depth. But I have to admit, it's pretty tempting because it was an awful lot of fun and I can't wait to see where I go next!

When I'm Sixty-Four

When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four?

-- Paul McCartney, John Lennon

I don't remember my first birthday, do you? Somewhere I have a photo of me on that day, a toddler with dark, curly ringlets staring at her first birthday cake, its candle alight. I suspect those first birthdays are probably more for mom and dad than they are for the birthday baby, as they celebrate one year of a new child -- especially a first one. But by the time I was four, birthdays had become a big deal, time to celebrate with my cousins. This photo makes no sense because no one in this picture deserved eight candles at that time!

And I would always celebrate with my very best childhood friend, Nancy. I remember this one, vaguely. Nancy and I were in our party dresses and she was so excited about her present, she helped me open it!



And of course, we had a party!

There was a party when I was five, too. The cousins were there and the neighbor kids. It was so many moons ago. But there were the party hats, the blowers, the ice cream. It was tradition!

I remember those times, the parties, the cake. When I turned nine -- or maybe 10 -- we took my friends to see Judy Holliday and Dean Martin to the movie "Bells are Ringing." This was largely because I wanted to be Judy Holliday. She was funny and pretty and could sing. Then we came back to the yard for cake my mom made and had a grand time. (I'm not sure anyone liked the movie as well as I did, but I didn't know Suzanne then. She would have appreciated it!)

Celebrating in 2011, with the Cleveland cousins!

The thing about birthdays is that as we age, we change not only our bodies, interests, intelligence and possibly friends, but we also change what I call our "birthday needs." It used to be all about the cake. When I was 18, my mom made me a styrofoam birthday cake because I was on some kind of weird diet (as usual) and she wanted me to have a cake with candles to make a wish on. I need to scan that photo, too! I made the wish but apparently it didn't stick because when I look at that photo, I think I looked great then. This year? Too much cake in my history!

Now, so many moons later, the focus has changed again. Not that the cake isn't wonderful and loved because face it, who doesn't love cake? But there's hygiene to consider! Four years ago, when Rick and my friends surprised me at 60, I suspect no one was thrilled to have me blow out the candles! My lung disease may not be contagious but it sure scares people and I tried to blow carefully with no spit. No spit is always a good goal for birthday blowing but when you are a coughing girl it is almost mandatory!

Tall candles (back maybe six, seven years ago when celebrating with Mark and Jan) are always helpful!

Then we went to the individual dessert phase!

Presents changed, too. First it was dolls and toys. And books. The desire for new books has never changed and never will! Then when we were older, clothes and jewelry. Things for the house. Trinkets and pretties. And of course, who doesn't love trinkets and pretties? But now I find we tend to exchange different, equally wonderful and treasured gifts. Lots of them are "consumables." An interesting condiment. Good wine. Socks, a personal favorite. Art supplies. Gift cards to our favorite spots. Gifts from the heart, made with love (like the handwarmers that I opened last night that were made by childhood friend Nancy, from these photos.) We've all realized that we "of a certain age" are cleaning our closets, taking carloads to Goodwill and are running out of space, even with the clean-outs. Sometimes what means the most is spending time with a friend -- a lunch or dinner out, a road trip, time to share and savor.

Nancy "helping" me open my birthday present at age 4.

Because like it or not, healthy or ill, we all know that each birthday celebrated is one closer to the countdown of no birthdays. It could be tomorrow, next year, five years or ten years or twenty. Those of us in our sixties -- it will be 64 for me this week -- see that end game a bit more clearly than our twenty-and-thirty-something friends. Yet it takes only a maniac driver, a bungee cord failure, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time to end those celebrations forever.

It changes our perspectives and we realize that the greatest gift of all is the opportunity to live the lives we are living as well and as happily as we can, no matter how old or physically challenged we might be. And yes, I know -- that can be a challenge when days are hard because we don't feel well or are concerned as we care for another, when the work days are long. We must try as best we can to keep our emotional houses in order and not sweat the small stuff, or to find at least one or two good things from every day to hold onto, whether it is the purr of a cat, the unexpected encounter with a friend, a walk in the garden. We learn that in being kind we are treated kindly; that in sharing what we have, others will share with us. In savoring our happy days and moments, we find there are more to savor and even if there aren't all that many, they will be better for the savoring.

For some of us, birthdays will be different, perhaps sadder, because we will be missing some who always celebrated with us in earlier times -- our moms and dads, sisters and brothers, friends who live far away. They may be different, simply because of schedules. For the first time in my life I will have a birthday without either family or Rick at hand. He will be on the seat of a bike and several days later we'll have a delayed birthday -- all the more fun for extending the celebration. I, however, will be celebrating with the one person in my history who would have loved that Judy Holliday movie so long ago, my friend Suzanne. I doubt we'll watch "Bells are Ringing." But then, it's Suzanne, with the home movie theatre and tens of thousands of DVDs recorded and dubbed over time. So, anything is possible!

If I have learned anything over these years, and I think I have, the lessons are those not simply those of building career or a bank account. Those things may help us have a good life and ensure a relatively secure future but they don't make one in and of themselves. I prefer to think of my life as having built relationships, all of from which I have learned. I have discovered passions, some of which I have worked to perfect and expand upon and others that were fleeting but helped me grow. I've learned to relax, to remember that stress makes me sick. I think of how well I have been in the past two years of retirement, how I've been able to take care of my health and make my life even better. I will try hard not to let myself go there again. I'm far from perfect but I have tried to stay curious and interested and learn new things, not be judgmental and smile a lot.

It usually works! So, make a wish! I'll tell you mine. I wish I could live happy and healthy and surrounded by people I love for a lot more years! (And maybe I'll toss in a bonus wish to return to Europe because it's my birthday!)

Cheers!

Postcards from the Lake: Art Camp 2015

Every summer my friend Kate and I venture north to the cottage and engage in what we call "Art Camp." This year was no exception -- and a remarkable time it was, filled with friendship, fun, good food, road trips, a power failure and yes, a little bit of art!

We were looking forward to fun in the sun. But our first day was spent in the dark -- or at the Gaylord McDonald's, which was one of the few places in town that didn't lose power during a storm that came so quickly across the lake and at such force that we were close to soaked in the 30 seconds it took us to get up from our seats and run inside!

Our screens held -- but the big tree down at Oak Grove didn't. Sad to see this 50-plus year tree on its side -- and grateful it hit none of the cars parked in its possible path!

 

Of course, the first couple of days were too cold and gloomy to work outside. But not too cold and gloomy to visit the elk farm!

 

It was quite the peaceable kingdom with everyone just laying about or hanging about being cute.

 

Yes, we hit them at feeding time and it was clear that most had far more interest in the hay mound than they did us!

 

Although, there were other dining sources. Some sweet kids offered us peanuts to feed a few who ventured close to the fence, while a sweet baby and friends found mom a handy source of nutrition!

 

We enjoyed some good dining, too -- both out (an early birthday celebration for me!) and when the sun came out, on the beach and the porch!

 

We also took a day to visit with our friend Maura who had moved north.

 

Our day involved a little bit of eating, a little shopping a little bit of play and a lot of fun! We suppose that had Kate bought this, she might be officially accepted into the order of the Gaylord Elk -- or else started a bit of a fight with one of those big fellows!

But yes, there was art accomplished. Not so much as either of us wished but enough to make the term "art camp" somewhat legitimate. Kate was working on her 2016 bird calendar...

...and on linocut printing. She taught me how to carve and we'll print my cat below sometime soon!

 
I taught her about plastering boxes, continued a few works in progress and got some tags started!

               

And I was rather happy with this very simple plastered piece. It's about 5x7 and just reminds me of the north and/or the sea.

So, it was indeed an art weekend, though possibly somewhat appropriate that -- as in many other art camp experiences -- we had so-so weather and other delightful activities slowed the artmaking. But then...

What occasion doesn't benefit from a little irony?

(For those of you following Rick, he's having a hard time posting on the bike blog and will probably catch up to that later. Check the right side of the page here for the most recent update!)