Christmas Card 2023 part 3

Today has been called likely the nicest day of the week.  Perhaps so, as it's not as cold as it had been, no wind or rain.  The rain is likely back tomorrow for a few days, so today is the day to drive up to the Studio.  Compared to last time, the building was a lot quieter.  

My plan for today was to work on my Christmas card block, since I want to have an image to post on the holiday.  I spent yesterday researching paper and ink online, but didn't get around to doing an block drawing.  Actually worked out well, as I could photograph today's work without giving anything away.

I brought with me both sets of tools, as each has different things in it and I needed some from both today.  Also brought my smaller disc book, the jazz and blues set.  From this I selected the Glen Miller disc, which is an album put together of radio broadcasts, called Glen Miller and his Orchestra/A Legendary Performer  which you can read about on this blog back on February of 2020.  Today's work was short, so it was all I would need. 

The first step for any block is cutting out the border, and since I had nothing else drawn today, that is what I did.  Kind of boring, but it's a step that has to be done.  Results can be seen below:

And that was all I got done today.  But it was enough.  I'll draw the image over the next few days, and order the supplies I need to print the cards.  Next time I go to the Studio, it will be the cut the design.

Christmas Card 2023 part 2

 The temperature took a nose dive last night, and there was a constant wind today, a combination that gave us a very chilly morning.  Luckily every place I had to be was enclosed, so after walking to and from my car, I'd be fine.  Stopped first at the supermarket, then onto the studio building in Ocean Grove.   As I was coming up Main I noticed a few cars in the back lot (south side), which usually means that there is no room to park in the front.  This concerned me a little, as I have keys and combinations for the front doors, but I have no idea if I can get in through the back door, and this was no day to be walking around the building.  When I reached the front parking lot, I saw it was quite full.  I had no idea why this many cars would be there on a Tuesday morning.  Still, I pulled in and found there was one space available, a handicapped space near the office.  Fortunate for me, I have a handicapped hang tag for my mirror, which allows me to occupy a handicapped parking space.  

Still, I went in through the main front door.  Tonight is the Tree lighting ceremony and a play, and this past weekend was the big holiday sale, so I was curious as to how the art on the walls fared.  There was a very big tree in the center of the first floor hallway, but not much on the walls, so all the art was still there, including my three pieces right where they were last time I was there.  I went down to my space, and realized I had left something in my car- my saber saw.  For that I cut through the office, and saw Jeanne, which gave me an excuse to ask about Saturday's big event.  She said it went well- lots of visitors.   She wasn't aware how the parking lot was filled up this morning.  (what I saw there on the first floor was a lot of people in the two big photo studios, so I guess they were doing something today, and there wasn't much carpooling)  

Put my saw together, got Molly's extension cord from the hallway, and cut off a small hunk from one of my smaller pieces of wood, as can be seen below:

This piece of wood will be used to make this year's Christmas card.  Drawing can happen at home, but this sawing step is best done there, since it creates a lot of saw dust, and the wood was up there anyway. But once that was done, I decided to clean up and get out of there. 

Christmas Card 2023

 Today is the 25th of November, which means Christmas is a month away now.   Perhaps time to start thinking about this year's card.  I've been making and printing cards for decades, and since Carbondale I settled into a routine- start with a famous artwork from art history, turn it into either a Christmas or winter scene, draw, cut, and print it, then color them to match the original.  A few years ago I still didn't have watercolors yet, so I did a black and white card (a Hopper etching was my starting point), but otherwise all have been in color. 

One of the big problems these days is that I am running out of ideas for cards.  It was a lot easier when I had shelves full of art books to look through.   I can find anything I want to work from on the internet, as long as I can remember what it is so I can look for it.  The other main problem is finding supplies.  Most of the stores and places I got art supplies from have closed or gone out of business.  What I need at least I can get mail order, but that means calling and placing an order- no more just going to a local place and picking up what I need. 

I could have prepared a block this morning if I went to the open studio, even done some drawing, but I had decided by yesterday afternoon that I wasn't going.  And I didn't.  But I didn't waste the day, and used some of it to get and idea and start some sketches.  Since I don't have lots of art books to look through in search of ideas these days, I went with pure memory- what artworks have I liked that I can turn into a card?  And of course, haven't been used before for a card.  As of last night I narrowed it down to two paintings I remembered well, and this morning I chose one of them to go with.  I probably have enough watercolors to do what I want, but I will check my supplies anyway, as I need paper and it would be easier to order it all at once.  Next week I can order ink and paper (definitely need both), and go into the Studio next week to prepare a block.  I'll probably do the drawing at home, but the cutting and printing there.  

As for what I am doing, that will have to wait until I post the results here, which I traditionally do on Christmas Day, a month from now.

Holiday Art Fair

 Today is a big event at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, the annual Holiday Art Fair.   Over 30 vendors are expected, on floors 1 through 3, and I think some crafting thing for kids in room 3 on the first floor.  There will be a variety of things for sale, both related to the holiday and general artsy crafts.  Nothing is scheduled for the basement, including me.  I have things going on today, so I am going to stay home where it is warm.   If you do go, it's free, though they will ask you if you want to give a donation.  It lasts from 11 to 5 pm today.  I do have work on the wall on the first floor (at least I did the last time I was there and I was told it would remain up for a while), along with the rest of the Tenants show, so you can check that out if you go- no charge.  You can support local merchants, small businesses, and see fine art.  Sounds like a good deal to me.

Information is available on the main website if you want to know more: www.jerseyshoreartscenter.org

You can also learn about the upcoming tree lighting ceremony and holiday concert, as well as the latest round of classes.

Inflatable

 

Today is Thanksgiving, which means the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, complete with marching bands, floats, and of course, giant balloons.  As a young child, one of my favorites was the Underdog balloon, perhaps because the cartoon was always one of my favorites.  (there was a time where my day began only after I had watched an episode of Underdog on television, but it's not shown anymore- maybe because all his superpowers came from pills)  Unfortunately, that Underdog balloon was officially retired almost 40 years ago, and now you see balloons of other cartoon characters that I never watch. 

I do know a bit about inflatable plastic objects because it is a project I did with my various 3D Foundations classes that I taught for 7 semesters at two schools I worked at for many years.  It was a project I got from one of my grad school classmates, adapted to my situation.  I started them with sketches done from an encyclopedia of wildlife (no cartoon characters permitted for my class- we're not Macy's I would tell my students).  They chose one sketch to expand into a 3D model using bristol board, and that was used to calculate how to make the 8 foot inflatable object.  The sculptures were made out of plastic drop cloths and sealing tape.  I also didn't allow simples shapes like worms or snakes- there had to be articulated parts (legs, fins, etc).  And I allowed them to work in groups, of up to three.  We found a hair dryer did a fine job of inflating them.  Below are a few examples from that class:

These are all student examples, so obviously it could be done.  And everyone who was still in the class at the end of the semester did the project.  It only had to last long enough to be graded and photographed, and I took all the photos of student projects.  I got the above Underdog photo from Pinterest, but I figure it's fair, as many of the projects that students did for the class ended up getting posted there.

When students asked me if there was some kind of practical application for this skill, I told them they could always try to get a job working at the parade.   However, the fabric would be much larger, and they would probably have to use something stronger than plastic tape to hold it together.   On the other hand, they would probably get a large supply of helium to blow it up.

Tenants III Opening Reception part 2

 Today is the 16th, which is the last scheduled day of the current art show for the Tenants at the Jersey Shore Arts Center.  When I had noticed the large number of Christmas wreathes and Christmas trees around the building, I asked if there was a plan to end the current show early to make room for the holiday decorations and was told no, in fact we may be asked to keep the show up longer to have things up on the wall for people coming to see, and we'd be getting an email about it soon.  I was fine with that, but looked forward to getting something official saying this.  However, no mail came, so I decided it would be a good idea to take a ride up there today and see what was going on.

Came in the main door in the front, on the first floor, and saw Andrew up there.  He agreed this was something I should know about, but didn't know anything himself.  I saw my work was still up on the wall, not blocked by trees.  I went down to the basement and to the office.  Jeanne had a meeting going on (she has more meetings than any other director I have ever seen there) so I had to wait a little while.  Kaitlyn came out after a while, but she didn't know anything either, though she did mention something about an open studio, but that was news to me.  Eventually Jeanne was available.  She confirmed that she wanted to keep our works up longer, if we permitted.  Fine by me, as anything not up on a wall I have to figure out how and where to store it.  She promised an email today with all the details.   Meanwhile, the Christmas decorations would all be put up, between our works.  No idea how that will work, but it's not my problem to deal with.  So I left and went home to have lunch.

As I write this, still not email from our program director, so I know nothing more than I wrote about, including when this current show ends.  When I learn something, I'll post it here.

UPDATE- That email finally came in.  What we were all told is that, with permission from all the artists, the work will remain up until the next show goes up, which is probably some time in February or March.  This means that the art will be on the walls for the upcoming Holiday Art Market and the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, both things that will be advertised, and I think will take place in November.  Of course, I figure all this depends on what happens with the Christmas decorating.

Blood Draw part 15

 

One thing I noticed the last time I was up at my Studio was on my way out there were a lot of wreaths around.  Two in the hallway outside Bobby's studio, where he likes to work sometimes, and then a bunch in the main room on the first floor, where the 3rd Tenants show is currently hung.  Does this mean that the Christmas decorations are going up soon, and thus we have to get our work out of there?  Back when Herb was running things it probably would, as he hated art and let nothing interfere with the Christmas concert.  On the other hand, our show is supposed to run another week or so, and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony its not scheduled (according to the website) until after Thanksgiving.  In any case, I was looking carefully in the main hallway as I arrived.  

So I got a bigger surprise- trees had joined the wreaths around the perimeter of the main hall, and the tallest trees were parked right in front of my framed works.  The only works in the whole hallway blocked by Christmas trees.  Hell, no.  So I moved the trees down a few feet, where they were no longer blocking any artwork, and just put short things in front of my work, so anyone who came in could see them.  I just got an email a few days ago from one of the people I wrote about the show, saying she just found it.  I have no idea if she is going to see the show, but I figured my works should be visible to anyone who comes in.  

Dropped stuff off in my space, and made my way to the office.  I asked Jeanne if there was a plan to put up Christmas decorations soon, and would I need to take my pieces down soon.  She not only said no, but that she was planning to send out an email inviting the artists to keep the work up longer,  as she likes having things up on wall and the art looks good.  (as of this afternoon the email hadn't arrived yet, so I have no idea what is offered or planned)  So for now, my framed pieces are still up on the wall, with name labels up as well.  When I know something more I'll post it here.

Meanwhile, I had work to do.  Today I made sure to bring the right tools, and I put them to use.  I first put on a disc, my home burned copy of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, plus as much of the bonus disc as I could fit on the blank, written about on this blog back in June of 2019 if you care to know more.  And then I started cutting.  As I had planned, the last main thing on the block is the arm at the bottom, the one with the IV in it.  For now I decided to put some hair on the arm, since there is a lot of the actual arm it's based on, sketched with a pencil.  Then I started carving.  Having the good tools helped, and before the disc was through, I had finished cutting out the arm, hand, bandages, etc.  Details can be seen in the first photo, and the whole block in the second photo.

I even decided to put a few vertical cuts in the deep background behind the figures, but left it there.  Maybe I'll take a rubbing at this point and see what I have, then decide what else needs to be cut, if anything. 

Blood Draw part 14

 

Today is supposed to be the nice day of the week.  So after stopping off at my official polling place to vote, I headed to the Studio to get some work done.  However, first I stopped at the office to let them know some things I had noticed on my walk in, such as that the sign directing people to the office had fallen off the door and was resting on the ground.  Then on to work.

My plan for today was to finish my blood drawing nurse, and whatever else I got to.  I had brought with me a bag of tools, but realized once I got there, I had the student tools.  Not as good a my own, but they would get the job done.  Again, while I was mostly following my ink wash drawing, to some extent I was drawing with the tools.  Handled white, black, and a few different gray tones.  Did the head of the nurse and her other hand and what body was visible, then went on and did the rest of the upper arm and hand that the blood was being taken from.  That seemed like enough for today.  The specific area I was working on can be seen in the top image, and the whole block can be seen in the lower image.

For music I brought just a disc in its case, my selection of Billy Childish songs, mostly taken from a double disc compilation drawn from his first 50 albums (he's been busy, and that only took him through the early 90's) and some from an album he did with Thee Headcoats.  It was one of the discs I made for Texas, but never needed there.  Worked well for the Studio though, so that's where it is, except all those came home with me so I'd have something to enjoy now. You can read more details about the disc on this blog on December, 2019.  

The last major thing to deal with the the other arm, the one getting the IV at the bottom of the block.  After that is the clock (whatever I decide to do with that) and then all those dark background tones.  Then take a rubbing and see what I got.

Blood Draw part 13

Got up to the Studio in the late morning, with plans to work on the latest block.  Molly had been in (could tell from the things she worked on) but wasn't there at the time, so I could listen to whatever kind of music I wanted.  Brought the jazz/blues set of discs with me, and from this selected Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos (Prosthetic Cubans) self titled album.  I have some things that would go very well with it for either Ribot or the latin nature, but I don't have those today, so when that ran out, I put on the soundtrack for the movie Naked Lunch, featuring Ornette Coleman and the London Philharmonic, which is not the same in any way, but feels like it goes with it as well as anything I had with me today.  I wrote about both in the same posting back in November of 2022.

As for working, did that, too.  Cut more of my most recent block today, concentrating on another area- with one of my arms, and the nurse's hand and shoulder.  There is a lot of line and gray tomes in these items, so a certain amount of drawing with the tools happened.   No problem with that, but I won't really know the results until the first time I ink it up.  Results of today's work can be seen below:

On the way out I dropped by the office.  I found out that recent events have gone well, even though I had nothing to do with the running event or the trunk or treat.  The one thing I do have a connection to, the art show on the walls of the 1st floor, doesn't get many outside visitors (the locked doors are an issue) but some people have come by, and there are always the people who come to the building for other things, and I was told that at least one of those visitors was fascinated by my works and if there is a difference between woodcut and linoleum (in materials, yes, in effect, no).  Before I left, Kaitlyn mentioned that she had been to Colorest (art supply store in Shrewsbury) and acquired some vintage print paper- the labels seems to indicate that it may be more than 50 years old.  Where they found it we don't know.  I'd be hesitant to buy ink that old, but paper should be okay as long as it doesn't get wet.  She bought it and we'll see how it does.