Better Results

 I wasn't satisfied with the drawings I did last time I went to the figure group.  I had no appointments today, so I figured it was worth going.  Getting everything together that I needed was a bit of a problem, but I left on the second try, and only forgot two things as it turned out.  Fewer people than last time, but still enough to pay for the model, who despite many tattoos, was still better than the one we had last time, and it turned out she was a substitute for whoever was scheduled for today.  Joe was there when I arrived, but couldn't stay (had the kids and a plan to visit the aquarium down in Camden), so we skipped the 30 second gestures and went right to the 1 minute poses.  Some of those, then some 5 minute poses, and a 10 then some 20's.  I did all these in pencil, using pages from my big pad.  (sketchbook was one of the things I forgot) 

For the last one (about 25 minutes) I switched over to charcoal.  I thought both the pencil and charcoal drawings were better than the ones I did the last time, so I guess it was a good thing that I came.  Figure practice is helpful, as I may do some redrawing of all the figures in the current blocks before I cut those parts out.  Below is the charcoal from today:

The model came around to see and photograph what everyone had done.  Of mine she seemed to like all of it, but from what she said, I get the feeling she preferred my pencil drawings.  As is my custom, I did not include her tattoos in my drawings.  Would have been too dark in charcoal, and for the pencil drawings there wouldn't have been time.  Plus, I am not that interested in drawing someone else's artwork.  In any case, I feel better about the next time I work on those blocks.

Boardwalk Days part 30

 Today looked to be a decent weather day, while tomorrow does not, so I decided I would go to the Studio today.  Brought my good tools and my jazz/blues disc book. The other day I saw a reaction video that included an Ella Fitzgerald performance, and I knew I had a Fitzgerald home burned disc in my collection, so I decided to start with that today.  It was my favorites from what I think was a two disc set of her doing Gershwin songs, the 15 or so songs I could fit on one disc.  (written about back in August of 2021 if you want to know more)  Problem was that my ID was not letting me in the front door, despite me putting in what I believed was my correct code.  But the office was open, and I have to go the basement anyway, so I let myself in that way.  Jeanne confirmed that I was putting in the correct code, and later she tried my ID and the code and claimed it worked, but I was already in the basement, so I was happy.  I went to my space.

My plan for today was to continue work on the latest boardwalk print.  Cleared the table and did so.  I decided not to work on the left panel, since I still haven't done anything with that beach yet.  I could have done something with the patio blocks at my seated figures feet, or with the boardwalk itself, but I'd like to look at my photos again.  Meanwhile, the right panel has a lot of open sky, and that's not going to change, so I cut that area today.  Started at the top, and did the space above Convention Hall, and above the banner being towed by the plane.  Below is the result of today's cutting, my first view of the whole block posted since about a month ago:

It only took a few minutes, but I also finished the plane towing the banner, and the flying gulls I put on the left side to fill space, and give the brayer a place to rest in that area.  

I had remember to bring some large garbage bags with me, so went ahead and changed the bag in our Studio lidded metal can, as it has gotten quite full, and I expect to put more garbage in there in the coming weeks.  The elevator was working today, so I took it to the first floor and exited out the building through the main entrance, near my car, which does not require any ID or code. 

Boardwalk Days part 29

 Another beautiful day, almost fall-like, and a day I planned for Studio work.   Stopped at the supermarket on the way up (easier that way if you don't have to buy any perishables) and still got there before 11:00.  However, I quickly found a small problem- the elevator wasn't working.  An advantage of being a tenant of the building all these years, and in the basement at that, is that you do learn every possible way to get down there, and I knew that the central stairway has a banister on one side, which is all I need to safely get down a flight of stairs.  I went downstairs and was close to the office anyway, so I reported the issue, shocking Robin a little in the process.  (surprised her walking into the open door office) "Again!" she said.  It seems this was also a problem last week.  With that done, time to get to work. 

My plan for today was to continue cutting on the left panel, where I had left off.  Once again I had brought  my good tools with me, and even a few discs.  What I ended up playing was Dig, Lazarus, Dig by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, which I have written about previously on this blog, back in August of 2019.  I started with the foliage I had worked on previously, then cut out the left figure and her bench, then the empty bench, then the figure on the right and her bench.  At that point the disc was ended, and it was only around noon, so I decided to put on one of Molly's discs (Doolittle by the Pixies, written about back in October of 2019, if you want to know more) and cut out the remaining sky, except for the interiors of the birds.  At that point I decided I had been there long enough, documented what was done, packed up, and headed home.  Below you can see what I did today:

I purposely left the area on the beach (between the fence rails) alone, as I may add something there.  Haven't decided yet.  I'll cut the shapes inside the birds and airplane next time.  Besides those, what remains on the left panel is everything on the boardwalk and the plaza, but again I may make some changes there, too.  Still, it looks like I am almost half done now, and I like how it's turning out so far.

Boardwalk Days part 28

 We were forwarded an email early last week saying that the tv producer was coming back on Monday.  However, I learned that Jeanne was on vacation for this week, and would not be around to make sure the guy knew to come to the basement, since last time I never saw him, and Jeanne thought that he may not have been down there at all.  So I took things into my own hands and sent him an email.  He replied that he had been downstairs at some point, and he was planning to start there today, so I figured I better get there on time.  And I did.  Actually got up there close to 1 pm, which gave me time to clean up a little, and get the blocks out from all the boardwalk prints, since that had piqued his interest.

I had also mentioned in my email that I would be working in my Studio today anyway, because I don't like wasting a visit, and I had plenty to work on.  So once I got everything organized, I took out my latest boardwalk block and started cutting.  Had my good tools today, as well.  Don't know when he arrived at the building, but he showed up in my Studio maybe around quarter after 2.  I was busy working, so I didn't really pay attention.  He asked permission to film, and of course I gave it.  In his email he had said he would try to resist his tendency to get into conversions with the artists, but was clearly interested in art in general, and he had many questions about the process.  He asked if having someone talk to me as a worked was a problem and I said it wasn't, as it isn't- we printmakers are used to shared spaces.   He was curious about working backwards, but I'm too used to it to have it bother me.  As I have said many times, cutting out a backward shape takes the same amount of time and effort as a forward shape, so once you get use to drawing things backwards, the rest is easy.  Besides, I check everything in a mirror before I start cutting.  And he is fascinated by boardwalks, so we had some conversations about those, including my point that arcades just aren't as fun as they used to be.  He agreed.  He also noted my tendency to rely on past memories for lots of my ideas.  That's probably true, as I haven't even been to a boardwalk in at least a decade, though I did point out that I did a lot of visits and research around the time I began the series.  He did mention that he would be curious about progress with this current piece and would like to see it again on a future visit.  I don't see a problem with that.  As he was leaving he asked for directions to Bobby's space, and I showed him how to get there.  He also said he may contact me to get images, since I have all that stuff right now.

So with the filming and interview done, I got back to work on my new block.  Before and after his time there, I had been working on the left panel, finishing that controversial street lamp, then the restaurant (which he recognized from its days as a Howard Johnson's), including a lot of the mesh gates around the ramps, and then some of the foliage around the base of the restaurant.  For now I skipped the benches and figures on them, but I'll get to them soon.  Below is an image of today's progress:

I had on some music of course, from what I keep there, and when that ended, I decided to clean up and start for home.  Since he is planning a few more visits, I'll wait until I know something about when it will air before I say anything more about the show, but when I know something, I'll post it here.

A Woodcut Show

 Tonight I went to what is a rarity these days, a show of all woodcut prints.  This was the show I prepared for the past few weeks, printing for a former student, and framing a few of my own to be hung.  According to the gallery website, this was originally intended to open at the beginning of the month, but that didn't happen for reasons I never learned.  Instead the opening was shifted until today, and the end to mid-September.  What this allowed was the printing of the third piece Mary had, as well as the drying of that piece and the framing of the piece.  I never did hear from Mary about the opening, but I gave her back all her prints and even had given her two prints of my own to put in there.  I got the information by calling the gallery this afternoon. 

I know from driving the road that the blocks where the gallery is and those around it are part of Asbury's restaurant and bar district.  The good news is that I did not feel that there would be any danger in walking to the gallery, but the bad news is that I didn't expect there to be any parking on the street.  I did see one space while I was there, but going in I didn't count on that.  So I parked at the Studio building, and walked over.  I knew the place was only a block or so past a bar I have been to before, and I knew I had walked there a few times.  And while it had rained briefly during the day, it was not raining at the time I left, nor during any of the time I was there, or driving home.  I carried an umbrella with me, but stayed dry.

The gallery is called Locals Art Space, and I suppose I qualify as one, with a studio in a building just a few blocks away.  Plus, the gallery is run by another tenant of our studio building, and the place's definition of "local" is kind of loose.  I calculated time to get the building, plus time to gas up my car, and some time to walk the few blocks.  I made it there just past the start time, well before dark would come.  Lots of people eating and drinking on the sidewalks, and many going in and out of businesses on the street.   The gallery was small compared to some spaces I have been in, but it was a good size to hold her work, and mine.  Here are a few photos of the reception:

I know from experience that the solo artist has very little time to talk to individual visitors, and I expected there were people she had invited to be there, so I didn't try to hog time with her. I did talk to her for a little while, and she said she was pleased with how it turned out and the whole experience.  I did spend time talking to the organizer/gallery director, to Little Bobby Duncan (who was there and knows everyone, and to someone from the Arts Guild (Dennis something I think) who I met before, at a small solo show I had in Belmar several years ago.  He didn't remember me, but I remember his face.  He asked me where I learned woodcut and why he sees so few printmakers these days.  I blamed it on the lack of print facilities in colleges.   The gallery director asked about learning woodcut.  I told her that Jeanne knows how to find me, and we can talk.

My other reason for being there was that I had two pieces in the show.  This was decided long ago, with the plan to put in the two pieces that Mary owns and had framed, but upon retrieving them from storage,  decided that they were a little too beat up for the show.  She asked if I could provide something else, and what I decided was to loan two of the pieces I had in my Studio, left over from last year's Tenants show.  (saved me from digging through boxes in my basement, and from moving those framed pieces from place to place in my Studio for a month or so) I put on better backing and gave the pieces to Mary when she came last week to pick up the most recent printed work, some of which appeared in this show.  Meanwhile, this is the fourth show I can remember that has had some of my work, in Asbury Park proper.  My pieces are placed nearest the window and door.  I was pleased to see my name spelled correctly, which sometimes doesn't happen.  Near one of them was a short statement regarding my importance in her interest and development as a woodcut artist.  Here are my two works:

As you can see, the gallery address is 406 Main in Asbury.  I still don't know the exact dates, but I believe it will remain up though mid September.  For hours, contact the gallery, which has a web page.

After about half an hour I decided to walk back to my car and head home.  No problems, and I got home to have something to eat.

It Never Ends

Here we had a nice Thursday, and I had no prints to pull, no doctor to meet with, and no model coming.  So I decided to sit in on the figure group up in Ocean Grove.  I haven't been there since July, and while I have no upcoming projects that call for a figure, I could use the practice.  Plus I had two other reasons involving former students.  One was from a few years ago, but I see her around and trade emails with her occasionally (Nellie) and she had expressed an interest in the figure class, as it is listed.  I had written back that I had been in attendance a few times, and it was not really a class, but told her what it was in case she was interested.  She is, and planned to start going.  For various reasons I couldn't go last week, but I am free today.  Also, after my last posting, I got an email from the student who I had been working for in advance of her upcoming Asbury show.  She felt that she may have left her cell phone and wallet in my space when she was there a few days ago picking up her prints.  I didn't know for sure what she had done, but called her the next day as requested, and she decided that she could wait until today to check it out, and agreed to meet me there around noon.  

So this morning I headed up that way.  Got up there in plenty of time, and the door was even open, saving me from using my photo ID (brought with me today) to get in.  Down to my space first, where I spotted Mary's phone and wallet right away, so I'd know where they were when I saw her.  Picked up other things I needed for drawing.  Last time I had been to the figure group we were meeting in the old 40's room on the second floor (I've taught drawing there in the past), but we had been told the class would be moving to room 5 on the first floor, and last time I saw Joe (maybe 2 weeks ago), that's where the class was.   Now I was told the class would be in room 3, also on the 1st floor, and also a place I've taught before.  In fact, I still have a key to that room, given to me a few years ago, and since they weren't in a hurry to take it back, I decided to keep it.   As long as the ac and lights worked, I was fine with the switch.  And my former student Nellie did show up to draw, what she says is her favorite thing to do.  As someone who has taught figure drawing several times and believes in its value for students, I'm not arguing that with her.  The new room is a little smaller than the one we had upstairs, and if we had any more participants, it might have been a problem, but for today there was just enough room.  I wasn't crazy about today's model, and even less enthusiastic about the charcoal drawings I did, so I'm posting a few pages of pencil gesture drawings, 30 second and 1 minute sketches:

Nellie seemed to like it, and will probably return in the future.  She asked me about woodcuts I have done, and so I invited her down to my Studio to check out the latest.  And waiting for me was Mary, there to search for her stuff.  She was very happy to see her missing items, grabbed them up, and was gone before I could ask her things about the upcoming show.  I believed Nellie has seen the first few Robert Johnson prints already (last saw her at the Punk Rock Flea Market there in the building, where those prints were still on display from the Tenants show) and she said she had, but now I showed her some other black and white prints from the past few years, including the two newest complete prints from that series.  She was suitably impressed.  I didn't bother to tell her about Saturday's show, as I don't know much about it myself.   Maybe next time I see her I'll know more. 

As for the recently printed prints from the Johnson series, I had a bunch wrapped up for shipping to Virginia in my car, and on the way home I stopped at the post office and sent them on their way.  My plan is to contact my friend there later and let her know they are on their way, when to expect them, and what it cost to pack and send them.  If she wants the tracking information, I can send that as well. 

A Very Busy Day

My calendar showed one thing for today, an appointment with my oncologist, which means cancer doctor if you aren't familiar with the word.  Numbers have been good on tests for the past year, but this was the annual follow-up.  However, as a bonus, I knew (at least in the past) I had an opportunity to pick up some art supplies on the way back.  As has been noted here before, most of the big discount art supply stores in the region have gone out of business.  Even the college bookstores (which I used to get paper and things at) have gone out of the art business, more a problem for the students I had in those days, who had to go to the internet to find what my class required, and couldn't use bookstore credits (how much scholarship money is distributed) to get art supplies. I still have a few sources I can use for what I need, but a lot less than I used to have, and that's all mail order or internet.  Last year there was a Michael's on the state highway back from the doctor, and I had to go that way today, so I was hoping.  

Of course there was a delay at the doctor, which is common for doctors, where they tend to be an hour or more late for appointments.  Luckily I had nothing else on my agenda for today.  Since I am suffering no symptoms, and my numbers are good, and I'm seeing other doctors regarding my various organs, she said I don't have to come back unless I want to/need to.  Fine by me.  Parking is not too bad there, and it's not too far a ride, but seeing fewer doctors is a good thing.  So this may be my last time having an excuse to go by this store.  I was happy to see that it was still there.  On the way back I did stop and pick up some mat board and foam core.  I use these for framing, and have at least one forthcoming show, so time to stock up, and I bought some of each.  Left it out in the car when I got home.

In the early afternoon I called my former student, who has been having me print blocks for her in advance of an upcoming gallery show, and has even offered to put some of my works in the show.  That is one reason I wanted to get more framing supplies.  Last time I saw her she suggested I supply the works for the show, instead of using the ones she owned, and the idea I had was to use some of the framed Robert Johnson prints I used in last year's Tenants show.  I'm tired of moving them every time I go into the Studio, and the mats are already cut, the frames already wired, and the prints mounted and labeled.  Needed new backing (more secure for pieces that have to be transported by someone not me), which is why I bought stuff today.  Picked up a tasty burger in the same plaza.

In the early afternoon I called my former student to see when she wanted to pick up her prints.  The show opens this weekend, so she needed to get them and frame the last one.  Left her a message and she called me back.  I explained things and she decided the best thing was to get them this afternoon, especially if she could find a ride.  She was able to, called me back, and I got myself up to Ocean Grove.  So fast I forgot my ID badge (out of my car for repairs yesterday) and let myself in through the office.  First I put Mary's latest prints on top of Molly's press, so she'd be able to find them quickly.  As I expected, the ink was dry.  Then I checked my own contributions to the upcoming show.  I liked the one in the larger frame, but the smaller one needed better backing, so I took care of that with some of my new materials.  It looked like what is seen below:

I just finished all that when Mary called, and I met her at the back door.  Her friend with a car was there as well.  She went to move her car around the back, and I led Mary to my space.  I showed her the prints of hers we pulled the other day,  and then the prints of mine for the new show.  (she gave me what she thinks the gallery cut will be, and I added prices to the labels on them.  We decided to leave the blocks there in the rack for now, as the most recent might still be a bit wet, despite having been blotted.  (and when I checked, it was a bit inky) The website for the gallery isn't much help, as her show is opening a few weeks after it had been scheduled, and ends sometime in mid September, but as far as I know, it will open this Saturday, August 17th, with a reception from 6 to 8 pm.  Weather permitting, I plan to be there for a while.  Mary took off, I locked the back door, and Jeanne was already gone, so I couldn't ask her what I was planning to ask her.  

Back home I got some more news.  The tv producer is now planning his second visit for next week, and claims this time he will spend less time talking to artists, hoping to see more people.  And he is planning at least one more visit in September.  Maybe this time I'll send him an email, not so much demanding he come interview me (that's his decision after all) but just to remind him that there are artists in the basement as well, as he may not be aware.  

Professional Printmaking part 4

 Mary had one more print to be editioned, and she said it was the smallest of the three.  That meant printing it would probably be quicker than either of the first two we did in previous weeks.  The plan was to do it yesterday, but I was having sudden car issues, and we decided the safest thing would be to do it on Friday, when I could either get a ride or borrow a car, since I won't be able to see the mechanic for a few days. This worked out well, as today (at least early) was much nicer than predicted weather-wise.  So this morning I drove up to the Studio in a borrowed car and sunny conditions.  Mary decided to come down in her scooter, and she was a little late at that, but luckily that car wasn't needed right away.  

I had checked the 2nd set of prints from last week when I was in on Monday, and found they were already dry, so I knew our time was fine.  (Mary needs the prints for a show that installs next week, which shouldn't be a problem)  She wants me to be part of this show, and was originally planning to show the two pieces of mine that she already owns and has framed, but having just retrieved them from storage, decided that the frames may be too beat up to show.  As a result, she is hoping that I can provide something myself.  Probably I can.

While waiting for her to arrive, I cleared my table and prepared some ink.  I moved last week's prints out of the rack to make room for new ones.  Eventually I saw her outside the window, let her in, and we got set up.  She had the third block, and had brought some new paper.  She wasn't sure where she got it, or even why, but it was large enough to handle the new block, was similar in weight to the lightweight we had been using, and she like the look of it (had a little texture), so she wanted to pull some of the new prints on it.  I inked the block (no outside margins this time, cut right to the edges) and used painter';s tape where necessary.  But I got it done.  One shifted a little, so we ended up pulling a fourth to get three good ones, but she was happy with the results.  She chose to do the third proof on the larger Rives paper, but she was paying for it, so no problem.  Below is an example of the print:

This was another fortuitous piece for her, the subject being an employee in a nearby Burger King, and she hopes the model still works there so she can give her a copy.  (people tend to move on from fast food jobs, so she may not find her there)  She kept the extra shifted copy to practice some colors, and left everything else in my drying rack.  I think it's a nice print, and the gallery should be happy to have this show.  The work in all printed now, so the plan is to have her pick up things on Wednesday.   Should be dry be then, and I may even have a working car at that point.

Boardwalk Days part 27

 Had no major work I had to do today, but I did want to go in the check on some things going back to last week.  However, there was one thing I knew I could take care of, which was investigating the photos I took of places on the Asbury boardwalk, places in my new print.  Also the patterns on the gulls, borrowed from another print I did several years ago.  I put all these in my sketchbook, in pencil, and put that sketchbook in my knapsack.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize that I never packed my cutting tools, so when I got up there, it turned out there was little I could do.  At least I could draw, so I made the changes on my boardwalk block, and I can cut them next time I go.  The photo below shows some of the minor changes:

A second thing to deal with was my broken window.  Last week I had noticed a corner of one of my exterior windows was cracked, and reported it to the director.  It's the one window that has a shade, which was pulled down, so I didn't notice it before, and I have no idea when it happened.  Looks to me like it happened as someone was moving things in or out of the building, or doing some kind of work back there,  which has happened a lot in the past few months.  I only noticed it because last week I was outside helping Mary who had secured her scooter out there (nowhere near the window).  I didn't expect it would be repaired by today, but now the section looked bigger than last week, so I reported it again.  And I showed the situation to them as well.  This seems like a job for a window specialist, but at least our people know about it now.  One bit of good news- we have double panes of glass, so this has no effect on anything in the interior.  (because of the shade, you can't even see it from inside) Bad news- to get to it to fix or replace the window will require moving a lot of Molly stuff she has piled up in that part of the room, so she will have to be informed well before any repair is made.  

A third thing I wanted to do was check on the ink status of the prints we pulled last week.  The plan is to pull the remaining edition later this week, and the show opens a week and a half after that.  That means that those prints should be dry in plenty of time to be framed for that show.  I'll let Mary know that when we create them.  And if she wants to pick them up early the following week, they should be fine.

The last thing I wanted to do up at the Studio today was pick up the prints I pulled for shipping to Virginia several weeks ago.  I knew that they were plenty dry, and had even been signed and numbered a while back.  I have the glassine to put between them, and bought a mailing tube last week, so it's time to deal with these and get them on their way.

But it was getting hot in there, so I decided to go home and do things there instead. The weather gets better starting tomorrow.  

Professional Printmaking part 3

 Once again predictions were for a dry day today, the only one of the week.  Also predictions for a very hot day, the hottest of the week, but I couldn't let that keep me away from working.  Got up to the Studio around quarter to 10.  I saw Joe in room 5, which he had said would be the place his figure group would be moved to.  I stopped in long enough to say hello and let him know I'd be missing it again, but with reason- I had some paying work to do at that time.  On to the basement, where I cleared the table in my space, and put the prints we made last week out where she could see them, creating space in my drying rack for today's work.  I saw Mary outside through my window and opened the basement door for her.  She opted to tie up her scooter to a post outside next to the building, rather than try to bring it down and up the ramp to the basement.  No problem if that is what she wanted to do.

Mary brought a roll of glassine with her today, so she set about cutting some pieces to put between her now dry proofs from last week.  Meanwhile I started inking the next block. What we had there in the Studio was the portrait piece we had tried the week before, but the press was having issues and it was too heavy a paper for hand printing.  I had kept the leftover paper from last week's hand printing and that would do fine.  After inking, I put down plenty of blue painter's tape to cover the unwanted ink.  Mary had brought her favorite plastic baren with her, to use on the part of the print she'd be printing.  However, she found that the baren was not really helping her much (lack of strength she said) and went back to using a spare wooden spoon I had.  Today's print was smaller than the one we did last week, so it went faster in all phases.  As a result, we had pulled 3 good proofs (and one early one that slipped) and were done by noon. Cut a scrap of all the leftover mat board I had from the last framing and used some of the ink on my table to dab a few spots here and there of the proofs.  Below is the third proof, once again her favorite of the day:

That's two done and one to go for her upcoming show.  She tells me that she has picked up the third block from storage and now has it at home, so she can bring it with her next week.  She paid me the rest of what she owed me and we made arrangements for one last printing meeting next week, which will be enough time to pull the prints and frame things before her upcoming show.  I used a little of her money to pick up a mailing tube on my way home, which I will use for the prints I am sending to Virginia soon.