About A Stone

Many years ago in college at UNLV, I was first introduced to printmaking processes and fell in love with the stones. I loved printmaking, the feel of the paper, the sound of the ink rolling out on the glass. Stone Lithography was my favorite printmaking process. I loved the feel of the stones, the process of grinding them to a new smooth finish, the ease of drawing and painting the image onto the stone and the history! The history in the stones for me was something magical. How many works of art had been created, printed and ground away and where did these huge stones come from? It was something that the artist experiences in creating the work but not something that is transmitted to the view in the final work. It was like our own little secret.

Art image shown here is a stone lithograph titled "Billiards Player at Good Dog" by Charles Coates.

At a recent art opening that I was participating in at the Tubac Center of the Arts for the exhibit, "Working With Paper", I was impressed by the printmaking of Tucson artist, Charles Coates. I met Charles at the opening reception and had a great conversation about working on Stone Lithography and the history involved in the stones. He shared a story of picking up a crate of stones with a UA professor and finding work from the 1800's still on a stone. They printed the image before cleaning the stone for new works of art. There is something very powerful about the history and letting go of the old and bringing in the new with stone lithography.

To see more of Charles' work, click here to visit his website.

Who's Your Mentor?

As artists we are often isolated, working alone in our studios, creating the next great masterpiece, at least, that's what we think. Its important to get feedback and critique in order to know you are not just living in your head and also to be able to grow as an artist. In the past I had joined groups and taken classes and workshops to keep me connected and learning. But there was always still something more that I needed that I wasn't getting that I knew would help me expand and move into the next level with my work.

After taking two wonderful abstract painting classes at The Drawing Studio in Tucson which really helped me get out of a rut, moving from 6+ years of almost exclusively painting with encaustic, to painting large abstract paintings on cavas with acrylic, I discovered an artist's website whose work I very much admired. I was very excited to read on her website that she offered mentoring. Ding! This is just what I needed. I happened to be heading back to WA, where she lived to visit my sons and we arranged to meet. For the next 3 months we had weekly skype meetings where she encouraged and critiqued my work. I felt motivated to meet her weekly challenges and produced more work over the last few months with what I feel to be HUGE breakthroughs with my work than in the many years past.

Jeane Myers is a contemporary abstract mixed media artist and a fabulous mentor/art coach. If you need a kick in the pants and some encouraging words along the way, Jeane can take you there.

Creative Beings

I work the weekends at the Tubac Center of the Arts. I'm grateful that I get to bring my puppy, Maggie to work with me. Last weekend I was working on the computer with Maggie by my side and a man and his 11 year old daughter came in from Phoenix. The man claimed to know nothing about art but came to Tubac for his daughter as she was very interested in art. He was also a dog lover and sat on the floor next to the desk playing with Maggie while we chatted about art and our current exhibit, Summer Gallery, my work and creative expression. He designs computer systems, and shared that there were times that the joy of creating these systems, the simple magnificence of them, almost brought him to tears. We are all creative beings and whether the expression of our creativity is a painting on canvas or a complexly simple computer system, it is the process of creation that can bring us joy. This man left with a hug and a told me that he learned about art that day. A conversation I will never forget.

Inspiration or Obsession?

I recently read a book called "Molecules of Emotion" by Candace Pert, who in the 70's discovered the brain's opiate receptors. Pert tells her story of life as a woman in the science world where she eventually was tagged a feminist troublemaker. The situation made for good reading but the science somehow stuck with me and I started working on a new series of acrylic paintings titled, "Molecules of Emotion" where I imagined an inner landscape of molecules charging through my body and what they might look like, color, shape, size, depending on my emotional state of being; joyful, sad, depressed, agitated, lustful, resentful, etc. I've been painting these shapes and exploring the emotion of color ever since. At one point I was so obsessed that I panicked when I ran out of every red paint in the studio and immediately went online and overstocked on reds. At what point can inspiration become obsession?

Studio Move!

I recently moved my studio from the Amado Territory Ranch to a beautiful, well lit casita on the same property where I'm now living in a funky round (yes, ROUND) house. I've been busy moving in, getting settled and organized. Like everything else, its a work in progress.

The Studio entrance.

Front of Studio, windows facing west, front door faces north.

Easel and printing press.

A place to paint

The Encaustic Zone

Even a full kitchen.
There is also a bed & bath for visiting artists & guests.

Outside the studio.

Back door & deck of studio.

Path from studio to house.

Getting here:

My new space is located in Tumacacori, AZ, a few miles south of Tubac and about an hour's drive south of Tucson. Tubac is said to be the oldest town in Arizona. Click here for a little history. Tumacacori is known for the Tumacacori Mission, a national park that protects 3 Spanish mission ruins. The area is a beautiful combination of art towns, organic farming, cattle ranching, horse breeders, mesquite trees, golden rolling hills and mountains. The Santa Cruz River is lined with cottonwoods and its a birdwatcher's paradise.

Off of the east frontage road, a small dirt road runs east.
Here a view northwest towards the mission and the mountains.

Weather and vehicle permitting, a quick dip into and across the river.

Over the railroad tracks.

Down the dirt road.

The entrance to the house is on the left.

This keeps the neighborhood cows off the property.

The Round House

A separate entrance allows for access without having to cross the river.

Workshops will be starting at the new studio this summer.

Visit the studio website for more information.

Wax & Paper

For years I studied and worked in printmaking. I fell in love with the subtle sound of ink rolling out on the glass plate, of the feel of paper, the mystery of the two combining under the press blanket. In college the history of stone lithography thrilled me, wondering who and what had printed before me.

And then one day I discovered ENCAUSTIC! This edible sensuous medium seduced me away from ink and paper like a new lover or drug. I have been painting with hot melted wax ever since. Like a drug addict I was addicted to the luminous vibrant color and versatility of this medium, with the sweet edible

smell of beeswax and the power of holding fire in my hands. But every now and then, I missed the gentle subtle sound of ink rolling out on the glass. I would visit my old love and struggle with how to combine these two loves.

Finally I found a way to combine monotype and encaustic without reinventing the wheel when I discovered: Paula Roland of Santa Fe who specializes in encaustic monotypes. My two loves collide! The spontaneity of monotype, the feel of paper, the mystery of the result from paper on plate. I feel relieved and fulfilled. I create, both painting directly with wax and with encaustic monotypes and then . . . . that sweet little sound of ink on glass whispers in my ear again. If you love printmaking like I do, you know that sound, you understand. Or maybe you relate because your medium or process sings to you, calls your name, seduces you and you must go to it - and I do. And I find . . . . Elise Wagner in Portland, OR. Elise is not concerned about

claiming to be "an encaustic artist" because it is popular. She's been working in this medium for years, and offers a master's level workshop for serious artists. Its not about the medium, its about how that medium can allow you to create the art that expresses your vision. So combining wax and ink she has developed "Encaustic Collographs", a workshop that I am proud and excited to bring to exPRESSive Arts Studio. Back to the press, working with wax, and the sweet sound of ink on glass . . . . please join me for this exciting opportunity at the Amado Territory Ranch in January 2011.

Encaustic Collograph image by Elise Wagner

The Season Begins

I can't believe its been months since my last post. I thought the summers in AZ were supposed to be slow and quiet because all the snowbirds leave. Apparently those left behind are busy behind the scenes making all the plans and doing the work to prepare for the upcoming season.

I've been fortunate to have a wonderful position working with a fabulous group of people at the Tubac Center of the Arts and have learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes of putting together ongoing art exhibitions.

I've also been working on bringing visiting artists to the Amado Territory Ranch where my studio is located to teach workshops in all sorts of mediums. Here are just a sampling of the upcoming lineup:

Tubac artist, Kim Edwards Keast (http:www.kekart.com) opens the season with her "Mold Making Resin Lighted Assemblage" workshop scheduled for Tues/Wed Sept 21 & 22.
In October, Kim is back with "Rigid Wrapped Up" - details coming soon. October is also the Southwest Fiber Festival at the Ranch and to celebrate the festival, I'll be hosting an exhibit of Kim's fiber creations. These you have GOT to See!!!

Southwest Fiber Festival is Saturday October 30th from 10am - 4pm. The studio will be open with Kim's creations all day with a reception to follow the festival from 4-6pm.
In November, internationally renown jewelry maker/instructor, Hadar Jacobson will be teaching a 2 day intensive for intermediate and advanced jewelry makers in her workshop entitled "Caning and Mokume-gane in Metal Clay".

All of the workshops are on the beautiful grounds of the Amado Territory Ranch, about 35 miles south of Tucson and 8 miles north of the well known art town of Tubac, AZ. The facilities at the ranch include a lodge style bed & breakfast, 2 restaurants, a salon, artists studios, an art gallery and retreat type grounds that make you feel like you are in an oasis in the desert. You basically never have to leave the property, but you'll want to explore the area for shopping in Tubac and perhaps an outing to the Tumacacori Mission, a national historical park.

In December, a twist on monotype printmaking with Mitch Lyons in his workshop, "Clay Monotype". This one has intrigued me for years and I'm so excited to have Mitch visit the studio and share his unique technique for creating monotype prints with clay and clay slip. How cool is that?!

And this is just the beginning. Its going to be a fabulous season! I'm so excited.