tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79799458556344706152024-03-13T13:29:44.820-07:00Lambert PressFollow along to see Lana Lambert's work in progress, show announcements, new concepts, and learn more about Lana's process.Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-13882135302896381702020-12-19T11:15:00.000-08:002020-12-19T11:15:53.216-08:00Book of Life: Page One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VGLGsQaQsGY/SQXGVkWy9CI/AAAAAAAAAJY/3cakIEwu3Zw/s1600-h/Book+of+Life+Page+One+Low.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VGLGsQaQsGY/SQXGVkWy9CI/AAAAAAAAAJY/3cakIEwu3Zw/s400/Book+of+Life+Page+One+Low.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261829813491135522" /></a>
I am very excited to post about the first page of the Book of Life! This is just a proof and there are things that happened during proofing that I need to go back and fix but as a printer, these are the moments I live for. I hope no one thinks I am boasting but when I pulled the first impression off the block it felt like I was instantly whisked back in time to old Europe in a print shop where I could see through Albrecht Dürer's eyes. You spend all this time breathing life into a woodblock and then during printing, in an instant, it breaths life into you! Very rewarding.
The few fixes I will make that catch my eye are the shallow scuffing that prints up in the sun's rays, the errant scuffing in the border, and rework the shadow of the storm on the water so that the transition is not so blunt and heavy. Other than that, I am in love! And it only gets better as I figure out which color blocks I would like to make!
And now for a lesson in give and take. There will be two editions from this series. I love black and white prints but I also love color prints. One of the effects I wish to imbue to the reader of this book is the feeling of time and the ancient feeling associated with woodblocks while at the same time having the subject matter being relative to today's present knowledge and maybe even relevant to the future. I am making two editions: 1. an Alchemist's Edition and 2. a regular (color) edition. The Alchemist's edition will have the black and white imagery and maybe the edition of dark red symbols. This being said, when I went to carve the boarder of the first page I had real trouble. Either I was physically too tired (I wear magnifying specs when I carve and the proximity of it was starting to catch up to me after a few weeks) or the wood was not going to cooperate (there were some areas of grain in the poplar that were too gapped for my delicate cuts). At any rate, I was tired of fighting but more importantly I had a deadline to reach. I had been thinking about the border anyway and my previous design of water molecules felt uncreative even though I labored over the task. I finally decided that I would do a design with an 8 pointed star with two split diamond shapes snugged into its sides to represent water molecules. I carved out a stamp and set the design into the border (I had done this too for the other design with failed results). After initial niddling, it just wasn't happening and I decided to simply carve out the border and approach the stars again from a color block aspect. I am hoping to carve the red color block for the Alchemist's edition in such a way that I have the option of printing the border in black if I wish. I'm telling myself that I will like it better this way anyway. I hope I am right!Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-3446464763423365962020-04-05T11:06:00.003-07:002020-04-05T11:09:57.023-07:00Homemade Bandana Mask<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know this is off topic but it's not every day you live during a pandemic.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwDq9NdtVMYu8veP89NINsKsTR-sGqXmDMaWph0PC5w2iNfeIn4wllaYUdPbEw9wbWnvHFb5NTfl2O6651rPw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I found this technique on the internet but there was no way to fasten it behind your head. The hair ties were not connected and I just so happen to remember how to bind them so I made this video of them linked together. It can be a little tight so try and stretch the bands before hand so they don't break. I had to film this one handed because I don't have a camera stand but the basic information gets across.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTXydVFxWHA/Xoodpek04bI/AAAAAAAAB-g/XjaJzyD9JBw9eE8p92GpJSbUQcGd_KL1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/two%2Bhanded%2Bmask.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTXydVFxWHA/Xoodpek04bI/AAAAAAAAB-g/XjaJzyD9JBw9eE8p92GpJSbUQcGd_KL1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/two%2Bhanded%2Bmask.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here's what the end result should look like. Tuck the ends of the bandana flat. These will rest against your face.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQdTySxHiOk/Xood0_HbwiI/AAAAAAAAB-k/DXhJ6mXG0cEZvQLWuxC3vHBd-WsQqTOPACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/lana%2Bbandana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQdTySxHiOk/Xood0_HbwiI/AAAAAAAAB-k/DXhJ6mXG0cEZvQLWuxC3vHBd-WsQqTOPACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/lana%2Bbandana.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is what it will look like on. Stay safe everyone!</div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-87935159513230043722019-01-26T06:55:00.000-08:002019-02-01T13:12:42.379-08:0088 Works<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">When I attended the Corcoran waaaaaaaay back in the day, we had an assignment called 88 Works. It was an exercise designed to help students develop artistically through discovering what their stylistic tendencies were. It's a great exercise to do but it's pretty intense if you have trouble turning things around quick like I do. But, part of the learning process is to let go of perfection and just do so that what falls out are the root tendencies of your own personal style and aesthetic. A while ago I felt like I needed to revisit an exercise like this but couldn't find it anywhere. When I was in school the rumor was that this project was a distillation of a previous iteration called 100 or 120 works. Wow! Years after I graduated I heard that it was whittled down to 50 works. To my delight, I was tidying up (thanks, <a href="https://konmari.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Kondo</a>!) and I found my original copy of 88 Works. I know I had done a search with no success in the past and I was thinking that maybe there are others out there who would like a copy of this exercise to give them an inspirational jolt so here it is:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(in 100 days)</span></h4>
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<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Be Open</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Be Quick</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Be Intuitive</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Be Experimental</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Be Imaginative</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Use as wide a variety of materials and processes as possible</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Don’t be judgmental</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Remember: You are gathering information, gaining experience, not producing “works of art”</li>
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After the 88 works, the faculty will work with you to pull information out of this experience. Have fun, work hard.</div>
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<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing of the inside of your mouth</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sculpture of the inside of your mouth</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting of top view of your head</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing from an object</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A drawing without space</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D landscape</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D modeled</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A painted object</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing as a fantasy map</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A nonobjective drawing</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A black and white drawing (dry)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A black and white drawing (wet)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A black and white photo (you shoot)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A photocopy</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D carved</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D thick and thin wire</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D with movement (kinetic)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A collage from image-sorting trio(s)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A book</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A monochrome painting</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A transparent painting</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A monoprint</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A drawing from life</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D from life</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D an African headdress</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as a weapon</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting like a photo</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing by abstracting another work (of yours)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Oil painting of bottom of your shoe (sole)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Acrylic painting as puzzle</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A micro-drawing</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D paper</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D like a drawing</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Spin art painting</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting using a stencil</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Acrylic over wet oil painting</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting with a front and back</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D like a painting</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing as a symbol</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as a symbol</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting as romantic landscape</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing as an illness</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as a shelter</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D assemblage</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing like a sculpture</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D, a found object</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D from photographs</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A painting made up of units</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D made up of units</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as narrative</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting as narrative</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting, non-rectangular format</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as doll furniture</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting with a stick</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Painting without paint</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D within a cube</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing from a dream</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D from the same dream</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">a color photo (you shoot)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drawing with text (words)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as toy</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A drawing from memory</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D with text (words)</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A drawing from a poem</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">__________________________</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as a package</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D as a tool</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A drawing of the hand you write with</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D with an arc and a curve</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A poem of a drawing</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A thin painting</li>
<li style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3-D an object with no history</li>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-71712250676750907392017-07-15T11:48:00.000-07:002017-07-15T11:49:39.403-07:00NSFW Watercolor Test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0V5W54MgM4U/WWke9MwEpbI/AAAAAAAABqY/DIt4PrUN9noS1tIRS1g99j3sj0htoevOgCLcBGAs/s1600/WC%2BTest%2Bon%2Bdesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0V5W54MgM4U/WWke9MwEpbI/AAAAAAAABqY/DIt4PrUN9noS1tIRS1g99j3sj0htoevOgCLcBGAs/s640/WC%2BTest%2Bon%2Bdesk.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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So, our Schmincke rep was showing us the new product line for the season and gave me a sample card of 35 new colors Schmincke is releasing. Now, anybody who talks to me about watercolor for any length of time will know that typically I'm a Sennelier whore. BUT, I am going to have to concede to Schmincke Horadam. I REALLY love their product. It is more expensive but damn it rarely lets you down and just like Sennelier, the expense is taken up in the quality of the product so it is you will hardly regret the investment in the long run.<br />
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I believe making art should be a passionate experience that moves you. So, me being me, art supplies are like any other experience in life that involves pleasure. My visceral initial reaction is cursing. So, if my initial response is blatant cursing, then you know it's awesome. The longer the string of expletives, odds are, the more tremendous the fabulousness. Thus, I tested these in the privacy of my own home, you've been warned, and I hope I didn't offend/scare the neighbors too much.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BaxNOhd0jqM/WWkfUPKes5I/AAAAAAAABrE/iDiSiFB_-VQ4-6Wt5-Ii6PHhWEgViL3JwCLcBGAs/s1600/Schmincke%2BWC%2BTest%2Blow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="1600" height="395" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BaxNOhd0jqM/WWkfUPKes5I/AAAAAAAABrE/iDiSiFB_-VQ4-6Wt5-Ii6PHhWEgViL3JwCLcBGAs/s400/Schmincke%2BWC%2BTest%2Blow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Schmincke is a longstanding stellar company anyway so I didn't figure I'd be in for too many surprises other than enjoying the beauty of what their products do naturally. I view it as a wine tasting or a flight of beer.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEf4-rVqe1k/WWkfTy5iMBI/AAAAAAAABq8/GZ4LVNxAdXIvrwpxGUwG-mWHyrCrcU_QQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Rutile%2BYellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEf4-rVqe1k/WWkfTy5iMBI/AAAAAAAABq8/GZ4LVNxAdXIvrwpxGUwG-mWHyrCrcU_QQCEwYBhgL/s640/Rutile%2BYellow.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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First to try was the Rutile Yellow. Okay, take in a pregnant pause because I had to laugh at myself. I worked for a while at Lynne Goldman Studio and therefore came away with more knowledge about gemstones and minerals than I had previous. I LOVE rutilated quartz and the name immediately turned me on. It would be good to mention now that I've seen other companies as of recent come out with new colors called "rutile (fill in the blank)" and I'm going <i>oooooh, this must be something new and interesting; a new naples yellow maybe?</i> As I'm reconstituting it, the color is rich as always but my mind is going, <i>Huh, the smoothness of this and the opacity feels like titanium</i>. A little research tells me that Rutile is the term in mineralogy circles to refer to Titanium Dioxide. So, calling this paint Rutile Yellow is like saying Rice Krispies are gluten free. . .duh. This kind of feels like a cheap trick and a slap in the face from Schmincke but seeing as their paints are the hot shit, I'll let them slap me around. <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MiSp1DgyS6g/WWkfUF7oFMI/AAAAAAAABrA/YbxUsvdnaGsMVU3nh4xKE4Y1AleiIdMhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Quinacridones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MiSp1DgyS6g/WWkfUF7oFMI/AAAAAAAABrA/YbxUsvdnaGsMVU3nh4xKE4Y1AleiIdMhwCEwYBhgL/s320/Quinacridones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You'll never really be disappointed by their line of Quinacridones. That yellow is just fucking hot! It goes from brown to vibrant golden yellow stain in no time flat, like a good race car. In fact, Quinacridones were originally developed to be car paint.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNisea2938U/WWkfUzYY4aI/AAAAAAAABrQ/FqcnAMnaWDUxv_lYpN-IbHP9K_aqzXSagCEwYBhgL/s1600/Warm%2BFavorites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNisea2938U/WWkfUzYY4aI/AAAAAAAABrQ/FqcnAMnaWDUxv_lYpN-IbHP9K_aqzXSagCEwYBhgL/s400/Warm%2BFavorites.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm keen to get my hands on their Geranium Red, Yellow Orange, and Saturn Red. They are intense and their saturation remains when they dry. My only complaint is the proprietary naming . . .<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aw45V77JvmA/WWkfS50WE1I/AAAAAAAABqs/NsBRwcmdxzM3dSHc-QpGGrUj2_qP00_NgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Perylenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1600" height="287" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aw45V77JvmA/WWkfS50WE1I/AAAAAAAABqs/NsBRwcmdxzM3dSHc-QpGGrUj2_qP00_NgCEwYBhgL/s400/Perylenes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Perylenes are some hot fucking shit! Goddamn!! The solid easily mixes into a creamy rich opaque paint that disperses in water similar to an occluded IV. I know, attractive image, right? Well, that's the only thing that came to mind as I was mixing up these beauties. The heavy pigment load crept through the clear water in strong tendrils like poison . . . and that's hot. Upon drying, they are still strong and uniform and moody and I'd love to grab these for staining. If I could only have one I'd choose Perylene Green because sonnuvubitch that shit is tight. I haven't experimented with lifting them yet. I fell down the rabbit hole trying to get a good definition for Perylene. All I got was that they are a dye based on rylene framework of naphthalene. I wondered if naphthalene referred to some paint and yes, they were also developed as an automotive paint dye. I tried to track down something more definitive for us laymen but as I lack a chemistry degree, I didn't get very far.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVO8QSg5sD4/WWkfSSm9IqI/AAAAAAAABqo/-JL3HoEsNwQsByRjKUvuIfG0iimB7R6OQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Notorious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVO8QSg5sD4/WWkfSSm9IqI/AAAAAAAABqo/-JL3HoEsNwQsByRjKUvuIfG0iimB7R6OQCEwYBhgL/s400/Notorious.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some colors I noticed on the chart of new releases included Viridian, Phthalo Sapphire Blue, and French Ultramarine. I would like to know what the fuck that is about because I know damn well Schmincke has had Viridian and Ultramarine. There's no way these could be "new colors." I find it hard to believe they would just now be getting around to creating a French Ultramarine grind but whatever. So, I don't understand why Viridian would make it to their new color release. Is it a new formula or something? I did a test vs. Daniel Smith and Sennelier. Sennelier came out on top. (Yes, yes. That's my baby. No, no. I don't mean maybe.) I find it rare for Schmincke to fall flat but there you go. The Phthalo Sapphire Blue is crazy fantastic though and I would endeavor to add it to my collection.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNE6YE83HNI/WWkfR2XasCI/AAAAAAAABqc/-6wFzRD4HAwxG5tPLXeaQwKwA_OWye0jQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Green%2BGold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="722" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNE6YE83HNI/WWkfR2XasCI/AAAAAAAABqc/-6wFzRD4HAwxG5tPLXeaQwKwA_OWye0jQCEwYBhgL/s640/Green%2BGold.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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I have Sennelier's Green Gold but Schmincke's Green Gold is slightly brighter in the yellow department so I'd grab that too if given the chance. You sexy minx, you.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1PWdXUPobA/WWkfTBZBuDI/AAAAAAAABq0/y5UIGseUbhkagZWWUbVVw3K-GnIn--YCwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Potter%2527s%2BPink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="740" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1PWdXUPobA/WWkfTBZBuDI/AAAAAAAABq0/y5UIGseUbhkagZWWUbVVw3K-GnIn--YCwCEwYBhgL/s640/Potter%2527s%2BPink.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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Now, normally gimmick colors piss me off. Proprietary naming irritates the shit out of me because it teaches people to be lazy and not learn how to mix color. (Geranium Red, gimme a break. I'm looking at you Saturn Red, otherwise known as Vermillion.) I'll usually flip a tube over and look for the pigment numbers to see if I'm right in guessing what's in there. That said, when I tried Potter's Pink, I said "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!" That subtle color is hard to beat but the almost immediate granulation is reason alone to use it.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Io6oXZOLxI/WWkfS7da8BI/AAAAAAAABqw/MA55NMsFii0LU6w6aNbz0-Q_wVkI8oqMACEwYBhgL/s1600/Opera%2BRose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Io6oXZOLxI/WWkfS7da8BI/AAAAAAAABqw/MA55NMsFii0LU6w6aNbz0-Q_wVkI8oqMACEwYBhgL/s640/Opera%2BRose.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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Lastly, the Brilliant Opera Rose is pretty unique. I have Holbein Opera and I'm not a huge Holbein fan (They use proprietary names like it's going out of style . . . which I hope it will.) but Opera and Quinacridone Gold are BANG'N. (And yes, it is a fluke but I would choose Holbein's Quinacridone Gold over Schmincke's.) Schmincke's Opera Rose is rich and pigment saturated but I notice that it separates into a fluorescent dye and a lesser magenta. I find that trait haunting and unexpectedly magical. This habit would really create some luminous depth so I will be adding this color to my collection as well.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2X7uxoMd98g/WWkfTi76e6I/AAAAAAAABq4/-DsqzzsDmgweFo7SNdnFmJ-qnHI5p4N0ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Primatek%2BWC%2BTest%2Blow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2X7uxoMd98g/WWkfTi76e6I/AAAAAAAABq4/-DsqzzsDmgweFo7SNdnFmJ-qnHI5p4N0ACEwYBhgL/s640/Primatek%2BWC%2BTest%2Blow.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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While I was at it, I broke out my Daniel Smith Primatek test sheet out too.<br />
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Right away, the Sodalite Genuine is some hot fucking shit. I'm really digging it as a blue black. It is earthy and moody and the way the sediments rest on the paper is magic.<br />
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Green Apatite Genuine and Serpentine Genuine are really tempting, rich, subtle green tones. Vibrant greens are hard to mix and taking a look at my pallet is funny. I am a true human in that I have a big collection of green paints. I usually prefer to mix my own paints vs. buy a tint or shade but mixing greens is tricky and the results on your own aren't that stellar so when I see a new green I snap it up. These two are lovely and unique and would add something quite different apart from your average olives and sap greens. This advice comes from a self professed paint hoarder. You've been warned.<br />
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I'm not ready to trust Amethyst Genuine. Calling back to my Lynne Goldman Studio days again, I know that Amethyst naturally is one of those minerals that actually fades into clear quartz under UV rays. Daniel Smith rates it with superior lightfast capabilities. So . . . what did you add in there to make it lightfast, Daniel? Also, the little sparkly bits piss me off. Did you add mica too, Daniel? Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining, Daniel!!!! I'm watching you . . .<br />
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And then there's Sugilite Genuine. Lie to me Daniel. Just, go ahead and lie to me . . . and I will believe you. Simply for the fact that this paint looks like labradorite in a tube, I will buy it and use it with blissful ignorance. I will love every last one of those fucking sparkly bits. Sugilite is supposed to be extremely rare as a mineral so I have a feeling Daniel be lying to me. But you know, for now, I'm okay with that.<br />
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Goddamn.<br />
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Now, I need a glass of wine . . .<br />
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-53603090409320437722016-06-12T13:18:00.000-07:002016-06-12T13:18:32.772-07:00Corvus sanzuwu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tIs-rpLZ3bI/V1226rt4MzI/AAAAAAAABmk/z7kCJdGhiHIx9lCE5cBDnb31SWnhyNGcACLcB/s1600/Corvus%2BSazuwu%2Bbook%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tIs-rpLZ3bI/V1226rt4MzI/AAAAAAAABmk/z7kCJdGhiHIx9lCE5cBDnb31SWnhyNGcACLcB/s1600/Corvus%2BSazuwu%2Bbook%2Bsmall.jpg" /></a></div>
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I can't believe I did it! I finished it in two weeks! My friend <a href="https://lyallharris.com/" target="_blank">Lyall Harris</a> asked if I would be interested in participating in Strathmore's <a href="https://www.strathmoreartist.com/pass-the-journal/#/journals" target="_blank">Pass the Journal</a> event. It is an international round robin of sorts and each artist has exactly two weeks to decorate a two page spread however they like. It was exciting to receive the journal but also a little intimidating. I wasn't sure what I was going to draw on my pages. At first I thought I might sit on the downtown mall and sketch some of the buildings or draw some of the letterpress machines at VABC.</div>
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It just so happens that near to the day I got the journal I had a meeting scheduled with my other friend, <a href="https://studioten15.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">Debbie Ku</a>. We were talking about our upcoming participation in the Tree of Life print exchange. We were both thinking of addressing the Chinese concept of the Tree of Life. She told me about Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West) and the Fusang mulberry tree in the valley in the west. One note caught my eye and I researched a little more into Sanzuwu, the three legged bird. The most popular account is of Yangwu or the "golden crow". An account read, "Even though it is described as a crow or raven, it is usually colored red instead of black." It was stated that there were originally 10 separate sun crows and each would take turns accompanying Xi Wangmu across the world in a carriage. Legend tells that in 2170 BC, all the crows decided to escape and land on earth to feast on two kinds of mythical grass. This caused the world to burn and in order to save the day Houyi, the celestial archer, shot all but one of the sun crows with arrows. Can you guess which one remained?</div>
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I was so inspired by this fantastic tale that I sat down with my pencil and began to map out Fusang with its branches full of Sanzuwu. I was really excited at the beginning of this process! I had to search for a lot of references and kept a closer eye on the crows that like to visit the house.</div>
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Finally, I had the finished sketch but now a week had gone by and I was getting nervous about finishing the work.</div>
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Here's a close up of things in progress. I was starting to feel like a failure because I was finding the tree really hard to paint. I didn't have many references on how to light and shade a glowing hot pink mulberry tree with translucent white leaves! I decided to start rendering the birds instead and this really helped relax my hand and get into finishing the whole thing.</div>
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This was the first time I used my quinacridone red and gold paints. The quinacridone red came out a nice hot pink. The quinacridone gold I'm hook on. It went on as this thick rich golden ochre color and then would thin out to this luscious mango yellow tone. Sexy. The finishing touches are translucent gold halos. I was really excited to try out Golden's Interference Gold paint. For the finished shot of the painting, I propped one side of the book up so that all the halos would be illuminated. As you can see from the image above, in certain angles the halos virtually disappear. I took a scan of the journal before sending it off and the halos don't really show up in the scan.</div>
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This was a really great project to do and made me commit to painting a drawing again. That was refreshing. Now, on to that Tree of Life block print that I need to do . . . </div>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-85830317758742648712016-03-29T21:08:00.001-07:002016-03-29T21:08:53.693-07:00The Tree of Life VABC print exchange<h2>
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VABC shop studio Saturday, April 16th at 5:00pm</h3>
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<b><i>What it is: </i></b>A collection of prints created by participants and inspired by the concept of the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is a global archetype focusing on the concept of a sacred tree. It is a symbol that is usually associated with hope, healing, stability, sustainability, and protection. Through history, it has occurred in many different cultures. </div>
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<b><i>Edition Goal: </i></b>Enough prints to accommodate a final portfolio collection in a hardbound case for each participating member and a determined number of cases for donation to the VABC. </div>
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<b><i>Print Size: </i></b>11” x 14” </div>
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<b><i>Paper Type: </i></b>Paper is the choice of the artist. </div>
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<b><i>Participation Fee: </i></b>Members: $40.00</div>
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Non-members: $70.00 </div>
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<b><i>Medium: </i></b><i>“</i>Traditional” printing methods are</div>
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encouraged but the project is not exclusive of digital methods. Contemporary media can be used and is encouraged but be considerate. Methods and materials that compromise the collection as a whole will be excluded.</div>
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Please contact project manager, <b><i>Lana Lambert </i></b>for more information at <b><i>lanalambertpress@gmail.com</i></b></div>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-19649995279348675742016-03-27T18:49:00.001-07:002016-03-27T18:49:22.892-07:00Crozet Artisan Depot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">I got into a new local venue! Literally! The Crozet Artisan Depot took me on as one of their new artisans and I am delighted to join them. They are located in a fantastically quaint old train station in downtown Crozet, Virginia. It is jam-packed with wonderful art of all kinds! There are pieces to delight the senses and pamper the soul. Naturally, some of them followed me home . . .</span></div>
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Below is a photo of my cards nestled amongst all the goodies.</div>
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I've got so many more to get printed but fresh off the presses are the stacks of boxed Thank You cards. I have some singles for sale too. Sometimes just one will do!</div>
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I was fortunate enough to score a set of Tuscan Ombre type from Wingnut Foundry. It paired nicely with vintage dingbats from the VABC collection and the "money green" doesn't hurt either. More on these guys later, but should you find yourself in need of some Thank You notes, now you know where to go!<br />
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I cannot impress enough how delightful the Crozet Artisan Depot selection is! You can find paintings, prints, ceramics, baskets, wooden bowls, jewelry, stationery, books, candles, soap, knives, instruments, candy, preserves, . . . I mean the list goes on and on!</div>
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The staff is really great as well. I met a luthier who makes some amazing instruments! Marvin Rankin creates these beautiful masterpieces, but it doesn't end there. Not only beautiful to look upon, in the right hands they create aural magic as well.</div>
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These two really stood out to me. I've never seen an <i>electric </i>cigar box guitar. He even has an amp under the display for a demonstration of the sound. Stellar! See more of his work here: <a href="http://www.crozetartisandepot.com/#!marvinr/ckku" target="_blank">crozetartisandepot.com/#!marvinr/ckku</a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhF3rbU-UFc/VvfxfaiYNgI/AAAAAAAABlE/XIMeJPl4gOkYt_x5F2Z4ZadUCeyOcICLA/s1600/Emily%2BHancock%2Bmarbled%2Bnotebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhF3rbU-UFc/VvfxfaiYNgI/AAAAAAAABlE/XIMeJPl4gOkYt_x5F2Z4ZadUCeyOcICLA/s320/Emily%2BHancock%2Bmarbled%2Bnotebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had to come away with some goodies! I picked up this gem by Emily Hancock. The binding is delicately crafted and it was hard to pick from her selection because they all looked so tempting. At last I chose this little beauty because the bright marble paper reminded me of an Easter egg shell. I added the title at the top right on the front to personalize it just for me. Check out Emily at <a href="http://www.stbrigidpress.net/" target="_blank">www.stbrigidpress.net/</a></div>
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While perusing, I recognized this collection right away! It's hard to miss the unmistakable precision and soul of Abbey Noelle's carefully rendered graphite animal portraits. I recognized her work as she has framed with us at Creative Framing. I've seen adorable little "Coffie the Fruit Bat" in person and the detail is crazy. I bought one of her cards to remember him. I know he hangs upside down but I like looking at his little face right side up! You can find out more at:</div>
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<a href="http://abbey-noelle.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">abbey-noelle.artistwebsites.com</a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZAm08Es9GE/Vvf01xNCPEI/AAAAAAAABlg/xlIQLmWFriczGBeUOtfeozMTya-gw0A8A/s1600/LA%2Bsoap%2Band%2Bcandle%2BCAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZAm08Es9GE/Vvf01xNCPEI/AAAAAAAABlg/xlIQLmWFriczGBeUOtfeozMTya-gw0A8A/s320/LA%2Bsoap%2Band%2Bcandle%2BCAD.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I actually met the lovely Kerensa of Lux Aromatica when she had an opening this past 2nd Saturday. I simply had to try some of her wares and boy, was I not disappointed! I'm going back for more. For now, I'm enjoying one of her Ice Mint soaps (mint soap is a weakness of mine!) and wonderfully fresh French Perfume candle. I want to try Rare Earth and Kama Sutra next. You can see more at: </div>
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<a href="http://www.luxaromatica.com/" target="_blank">luxaromatica.com</a></div>
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Well, I better get back to cranking the press handle but stop on by the Crozet Artisan Depot to check out the fantastic collection of locally crafted treats! Be warned, it's hard not to come away with something that you won't absolutely fall in love with!</div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-68395515833395918302016-03-06T11:08:00.000-08:002016-03-06T11:08:35.226-08:00Turkey Quill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was debating on wether or not to post this in my art blog or my hippy blog (ne'er the two shall mix?) but so much of this was about process that I decided the art blog would be more appropriate.<br />
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I have a feather collection. People collect things for many different reasons and even in the realm of feather collecting, people do it for different reasons. My reasons tend to lean on the religious side and since you guys are reading my art blog and not my hippy blog, I guess you'll just have to wait for an explanation! At any rate, I made the recent discovery that my collection was not safe from little insects that destroy the feather follicles if given the opportunity. Being a framer by trade I did not despair, I just simply got to work.<br />
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If I associate my collection with experiences, then I wanted the framing of it to be personal to me and not just a specimen case.<br />
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I started with my small turkey quill. I had fallen in love with a Japanese arrow fletching pattern I have seen and wanted to use that geometrical influence.<br />
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The tedious part begins with penciling out your lines on an acid free board.</div>
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A grid is first drawn and then the oblique lines are installed.</div>
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I knew I did not want a solid wall of pattern. I was going to mount the quill in the middle so I picked out some of the blocks not to fill with pigment. A handy tool at the top right is a rough thumbnail sketch. It's kind of like a road map for where you generally want to end up with your design. I also had my double mat ready nearby. You can see at the top left that I chose an off white top mat and a soft gray under mat. Since my frame and background were going to be bold, I wanted a lighter matting so the final presentation wouldn't be heavy.</div>
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Next came lining the pattern. The pencil drawn lines are invaluable at this point.</div>
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I've grown to love my ruling pen for tasks like these and today it was earning its keep.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7MeIpWYvI0/Vtx50w2woHI/AAAAAAAABjg/fM1KwTcE-LI/s1600/Turkey%2Bred%2Bquill%2Bpattern%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7MeIpWYvI0/Vtx50w2woHI/AAAAAAAABjg/fM1KwTcE-LI/s400/Turkey%2Bred%2Bquill%2Bpattern%2B6.jpg" width="370" /></a></div>
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When I began to fill in the pattern, I liked the bold red color but realized halfway through that this pattern was going to end up dominating the presentation. It would be hard to see the feather against all this.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4WbmTdW6-0/Vtx5zsaxUgI/AAAAAAAABjc/JvyIbJGsnsg/s1600/Turkey%2Bred%2Bquill%2Bpattern%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4WbmTdW6-0/Vtx5zsaxUgI/AAAAAAAABjc/JvyIbJGsnsg/s400/Turkey%2Bred%2Bquill%2Bpattern%2B7.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Luckily, I had a scrap of beautiful japanese paper with bark and fiber inclusions. It was an improvement that actually enhanced the look because the inclusions look like they were being swept up by the wind and my feather would feel right at home.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2Yj5yrE1A8/Vtx5zqh_RCI/AAAAAAAABjY/fHm0WD2wM_4/s1600/Turkey%2Bred%2Bquill%2Bpattern%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2Yj5yrE1A8/Vtx5zqh_RCI/AAAAAAAABjY/fHm0WD2wM_4/s400/Turkey%2Bred%2Bquill%2Bpattern%2B8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I mounted the quill and installed the mat on which I had written the turkey's scientific name. I framed it in a bright red burl-wood frame by Bella called Tiny Cinnamon. Now my little quill has a home that is beautiful, magical, and is safe from bugs, moisture, and UV light. On top of that, it is hung near our bedroom so instead of laying on a shelf I get to wake up to it every morning and have a reminder of the magic alive in the world.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeyspUjDEeE/Vtx5-0fW6wI/AAAAAAAABjo/VUDcp5uiz3M/s1600/Framed%2BTurkey%2BFeather%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeyspUjDEeE/Vtx5-0fW6wI/AAAAAAAABjo/VUDcp5uiz3M/s400/Framed%2BTurkey%2BFeather%2Bfinal.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-1496878836553785302016-02-27T20:37:00.000-08:002016-02-27T20:37:59.077-08:00Free Adult Coloring Book Page!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">Okay boys and girls, I've got your Sunday activity right here! Be prepared to chill out and have fun. Who could have anticipated the popularity of the adult coloring book craze? I'm glad people are into it because "coloring" (a.k.a. art making!) is very therapeutic. I happened upon a proof of one of my blocks while cleaning up my tiny studio. Looking it over, I thought <i>Well, this would be a good candidate for a coloring book page.</i> So go ahead and print off a copy, break out those colored pencils, gel pens, and markers. Pour yourself a glass of wine or brew a spot of tea! Relax and let your imagination wander!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvKKpn2IUe8/VtJ0rrRKJHI/AAAAAAAABiE/0e7K1cp_aL4/s1600/Dragons%2Badult%2Bcoloring%2Bpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvKKpn2IUe8/VtJ0rrRKJHI/AAAAAAAABiE/0e7K1cp_aL4/s400/Dragons%2Badult%2Bcoloring%2Bpage.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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On a side note: I printed a copy off myself and started coloring it in just to use as an example of the potential there is in your coloring. As usual, I got immersed in it and had to remind myself several times to stop so that the example would look like a work in progress. Once you get into staining with those rich colors and stippling, it's hard to quit!! Damn this coloring crack! Anyway, I took a photo below of the supplies I used to start coloring my dragons. I got it all from your friendly local neighborhood <a href="http://www.artboxvirginia.com/" target="_blank">Art Box</a>.</div>
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I flipped it over to check out the backside of the paper. Markers are notorious for their bleed through and companies have even engineered paper and sketchbooks to tackle this specific problem. (The <a href="http://www.artboxvirginia.com/" target="_blank">Art Box</a> carries Paris Paper pads by Borden & Riley) I actually kind of like seeing the bleed. Someday when I have time out the whazoo, I'd consider doing a piece that works particularly with this quality. I can see how it would be a bother if you wanted to color both sides of a page though.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q57RAJ2C4PM/VtJ1Te00orI/AAAAAAAABiU/UgV1kfXfvgM/s1600/colored%2Bdragons%2Bbleed%2Bthrough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q57RAJ2C4PM/VtJ1Te00orI/AAAAAAAABiU/UgV1kfXfvgM/s400/colored%2Bdragons%2Bbleed%2Bthrough.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have fun coloring and if you're proud enough of your finished work, send me an email of it and I'll post it up here for all to see! I think it would be neat to see how people approach the same material. You're almost always guaranteed to get a diversity of results. That's the spice of life!</div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-32197801855643266912016-02-20T21:00:00.000-08:002016-02-20T21:00:23.383-08:00Semicolon in the Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdgKZfIhwmA/VobNZedvruI/AAAAAAAABeE/QGcGRA5i0M8/s1600/graphite%2Bmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdgKZfIhwmA/VobNZedvruI/AAAAAAAABeE/QGcGRA5i0M8/s400/graphite%2Bmoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the 18th of July in the year 2015, something beautiful happened. Venus and the Moon danced together and I was there to capture it.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTRO1uFO2UU/VobIkAOQRzI/AAAAAAAABdg/FbOUC2oMl6o/s1600/fingernail%2Bmoon%2Bcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTRO1uFO2UU/VobIkAOQRzI/AAAAAAAABdg/FbOUC2oMl6o/s320/fingernail%2Bmoon%2Bcloseup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had recently gotten an iphone and had heard about how wonderful smart phones were for taking snapshots on the go. Color me underwhelmed. This close up looks like a bad UFO shot.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n6wHbiSA0Go/VobIwb0CZEI/AAAAAAAABds/rbk5wa7_GxM/s1600/fingernail%2Bmoon%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n6wHbiSA0Go/VobIwb0CZEI/AAAAAAAABds/rbk5wa7_GxM/s320/fingernail%2Bmoon%2Bshot.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I tried to capture the expanse of deep evening sky that I was seeing and it just wasn't working. Disappointed and realizing that I was now one of <i>those</i> people who wasted the moment trying to fiddle around with some gadget while missing the opportunity to witness the wonders of the natural world, I stopped. Mesmerized, I stood in the front yard and soaked in the beautiful atmosphere as the moon slipped behind the mountain and I tried to atone from my previous error in judgement.</div>
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As I watched the evening sky and the cool air shifted around me, I took some time to reflect. I comforted myself in the notion that at least I had tossed the phone aside when the camera images didn't live up to what I was seeing. A sting of regret was still nagging me. I had just witnessed a moment that was beautiful and breathtaking and I just knew I wouldn't be able to go draw it right then and there. Artists have this thing for wanting to share what we see and feel. Me personally it goes a little like: "Oh, I can't even begin to explain or write how it was! Here! Let me draw you a picture!"</div>
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And then, a feeling came over me. Venus and the Moon took me and showed me the way. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the sensation of "Why not? Why not go upstairs <i>right now</i> and do this <i>right now</i>?" And so, when the Universe offered to come and keep me company for the night, that's what we did. The Universe and I spent some quality time together and here is what that looks like:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--mhjqac6gaE/VobNhEuvwcI/AAAAAAAABeQ/ApBCfDJhd-I/s1600/moon%2Band%2Bvenus%2Btall.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--mhjqac6gaE/VobNhEuvwcI/AAAAAAAABeQ/ApBCfDJhd-I/s1600/moon%2Band%2Bvenus%2Btall.jpg" /></a></div>
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The photographs could not capture the awe encompassing sky that poured deep blue black overhead. The photographs said that the evening horizon was a washed out pale blue but that's not what my eyes saw. I saw the subtle veil of sanded light as it faded away into the evening.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oR9p26XfKU4/VobNk59OpxI/AAAAAAAABec/aJoojOFUTPI/s1600/Venus%2Band%2Bmoon%2Bclose%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oR9p26XfKU4/VobNk59OpxI/AAAAAAAABec/aJoojOFUTPI/s320/Venus%2Band%2Bmoon%2Bclose%2Bup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A closer study allowed me to record it's rusty color and the sheer thin slice of the waning moon. Venus pierced into the dingy firmament.</div>
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I also did a pencil sketch that allowed me to record the gossamer streaks of clouds that were almost unseen. They only barely show up in the photographs but they have been placed in my sketchbook. Now I have a permanent momento of the night the Universe came to visit me for dinner. I am one special lady. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLpE9-LWSd0/VobI0sJ0MOI/AAAAAAAABd4/e2OyEG-SKfg/s1600/Fingernail%2Bmoon%2Band%2Bvenus2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLpE9-LWSd0/VobI0sJ0MOI/AAAAAAAABd4/e2OyEG-SKfg/s400/Fingernail%2Bmoon%2Band%2Bvenus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-8170574523287471402016-02-14T17:55:00.002-08:002016-02-14T17:55:35.463-08:00Bank of Howardsville Currency Notes; preserving a bit of history.<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mo7BHJsv-9g/VsEm8bXbXgI/AAAAAAAABgQ/m0gQjTBzNOo/s1600/Howardsville%2BHeritage%2Bdouble%2Bglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mo7BHJsv-9g/VsEm8bXbXgI/AAAAAAAABgQ/m0gQjTBzNOo/s400/Howardsville%2BHeritage%2Bdouble%2Bglass.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Some very good friends are in possession of some Bank of Howardsville currency notes. Its amazing to think that at one time Howardsville, Virginia had its own currency to support the local economy! I agreed to create something special to preserve them with.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuJ1TP5brm0/VsEnHzip-jI/AAAAAAAABgU/hOlervyaMvI/s1600/Howardsville%2Brough%2Bsketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuJ1TP5brm0/VsEnHzip-jI/AAAAAAAABgU/hOlervyaMvI/s400/Howardsville%2Brough%2Bsketch.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The first step was to measure the bills and design with enough space to accommodate the mat bevel and the overhang from the picture moulding. This is the most fun part in my opinion because you get to dream and be creative as to what you will include in the composition. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cs0wNtoStxY/VobAZWGszJI/AAAAAAAABcM/EbmYUvWevEk/s1600/Howardsville%2Bproject%2Bblank.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cs0wNtoStxY/VobAZWGszJI/AAAAAAAABcM/EbmYUvWevEk/s400/Howardsville%2Bproject%2Bblank.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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We had already picked out a frame moulding and a mat style. The bills were to be framed in a double glass style. This means the mat and bills are going to be sandwiched between two layers of glass. By measuring the mat openings to be a quarter of an inch larger than the bills on all sides, once the piece is hung you can see the wall behind it. You can also take the frame down off the wall and flip it over to inspect the back of the piece as well.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueHaY4OPVT8/VsEnUSxgkGI/AAAAAAAABgY/m0B-JdQsmeI/s1600/drawing%2Ba%2Bchicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueHaY4OPVT8/VsEnUSxgkGI/AAAAAAAABgY/m0B-JdQsmeI/s400/drawing%2Ba%2Bchicken.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mat board is a temperamental material to work with. I discovered I couldn't transfer my drawing with regular graphite paper. I found the impression needed to get a mark from regular graphite paper would stain the mat paper and not come out once erased. Because I was drawing in sepia ink, the stains would show through. If I was illustrating in black ink there would be no problem but black ink would overwhelm the composition. I had to make my own transfer paper with a 2B pencil. This made marks light enough not to stain and they would remove easily with eraser.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5P6jTprM6t8/VsEnb0JU4gI/AAAAAAAABgc/nGcAmuI3yKs/s1600/Howardsville%2Bmat%2Band%2Bsketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5P6jTprM6t8/VsEnb0JU4gI/AAAAAAAABgc/nGcAmuI3yKs/s400/Howardsville%2Bmat%2Band%2Bsketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here it is finished against the original sketch.</div>
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A detailed photograph shows the Howardsville Heritage banner I chose for the top. It wraps around two barrels full of tobacco on either side. The banner cradles a bundle of wheat before unfurling down.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ow-CPmo194M/VsEn3pXXC2I/AAAAAAAABgs/T-VwE2pOKbQ/s1600/Tobacco%2Bstalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ow-CPmo194M/VsEn3pXXC2I/AAAAAAAABgs/T-VwE2pOKbQ/s400/Tobacco%2Bstalk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of Virginia's biggest crops was tobacco. A tall spire of tobacco plant flanks either side of the mat. It's crowning head of flowers bursts open like fireworks. Honeysuckle vine creeps through the tobacco to twine itself through the divider in the middle of the mat.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6TwBopSaHs/VsEnn1i2C3I/AAAAAAAABgo/-ljoc_i8yRQ/s1600/Bateau%2Bon%2Bmat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6TwBopSaHs/VsEnn1i2C3I/AAAAAAAABgo/-ljoc_i8yRQ/s400/Bateau%2Bon%2Bmat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the bottom of the mat, a terrapin peeks out from beneath the tobacco leaves. Sacks of flour and a jug of moonshine wait on the shores of the James River as a Batteau floats tethered, awaiting cargo and a journey down the river. A bag of dried corn cobs has broken open and a fat hen pecks away at the kernels on the cob.</div>
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Doing this project has reminded me of how I miss pen and ink drawing and that I should get back into it. It took 13 hours to complete the work on the mat. Whew! That's at least worth a leisurely float down the river!</div>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-52165704087090101912016-02-07T16:30:00.000-08:002016-02-07T16:30:17.416-08:00Winterfest Cardinal Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzF0y7S03w4/VobDZD0O41I/AAAAAAAABcY/oPHqZk3iiSs/s1600/Warm%2BCardinals%2Bblog%2Bpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzF0y7S03w4/VobDZD0O41I/AAAAAAAABcY/oPHqZk3iiSs/s400/Warm%2BCardinals%2Bblog%2Bpost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy Winterfest! (For all you nerds out there, yes that was a reference to Beauty and the Beast) I was recently commissioned to do a holiday card design featuring cardinals. The design was similar to this one but with an edit. I liked the original image so much I decided to keep it and use it as my own. I would still like to do something like this except as a Japanese woodblock print but that must wait. In the meantime, if you'd like to see how it was made, read on!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwbSxtK2nUQ/VobDfEyT8wI/AAAAAAAABck/1ymKEeSXtMQ/s1600/Cardinal%2Brough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwbSxtK2nUQ/VobDfEyT8wI/AAAAAAAABck/1ymKEeSXtMQ/s320/Cardinal%2Brough.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One day, I'll show you the many sketches I did of cardinals in flight and landing but for now we'll just deal with the pencil sketch of my final. This particular arrangement is not from a photograph. My process involves sketching both from life and from photographic references I find online. Once I've "warmed up" my mind to think of snow, cardinal shapes, and tree branches I start free form sketching what I would like to see. I liked this particular grouping.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8pgoyoDiWI/VobDj3IhcrI/AAAAAAAABcw/1O1C2qvFgj4/s1600/Cardinals%2Bon%2BDenril.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8pgoyoDiWI/VobDj3IhcrI/AAAAAAAABcw/1O1C2qvFgj4/s320/Cardinals%2Bon%2BDenril.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have gotten into the habit of sketching and inking separately. I need to get myself a light table like nobody's business but I just haven't committed yet. I like being able to have the inked version and the sketch separate. I don't like the idea of "losing" the sketch by erasing it once you have finished inking it.</div>
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Anyhow, I knew this image was going to be turned into a polymer plate for printing so I taped a sheet of Denril over my original sketch and did the inking on that. I think I'll switch to drafting vellum next time because it is absolutely SEXY to draw on. It just sucks the ink right down and has less smearing.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHYVna2J02g/VobDsq5TpnI/AAAAAAAABdI/IwT-265SW_c/s1600/Black%2Band%2BGray%2BCardinals%2Bblog%2Bpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHYVna2J02g/VobDsq5TpnI/AAAAAAAABdI/IwT-265SW_c/s400/Black%2Band%2BGray%2BCardinals%2Bblog%2Bpost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After inking, I scanned the Denril sheet and colored it digitally. The image at the start of this post has a gradation of dark brown to lighter brown in the inked areas and the image above has a gradation of black to grey in the inked areas. The red areas graduate from dark red to a brighter red. In letterpress printing, this would be achieved by a "rainbow roll" or a "split fountain". If I were going to make a Japanese woodblock print of this, I would do away with the background hatching and choose to go with numerous subtle "bokashi" or gradations.</div>
<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-72655546521315731512016-02-02T21:59:00.000-08:002016-02-25T06:52:48.723-08:00The Tree of Life Print Collection: A proposed VABC group project<h2>
<u><b><i>Proposal Meeting at the Virginia Arts of the Book Center</i></b></u></h2>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Thursday, March 3rd at 6:30pm</span></b></h3>
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The Tree of Life Print Collection would be a Virginia Arts of the Book Center Group Project which would focus on member's interpretation of the Tree of Life. Members will produce an edition of 11" x 14" prints that will be encased in a portfolio. The edition size will depend upon participation as each participating member will receive a set of prints, and extra will be created to donate to the VABC.<br />
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The Tree of Life is a global archetype focusing on the concept of a sacred tree. It is a symbol that is usually associated with hope, healing, stability, sustainability, and protection. Through history, it has occurred in many different cultures. A few examples of the broad spectrum of cultures this symbol occurs in are as follows:<br />
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<a href="http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Lady-Lee-is-waiting-for-us-below-the-hawthorn-trees-at-her-courtyard-door-wearing-a-yellow-apron..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Lady-Lee-is-waiting-for-us-below-the-hawthorn-trees-at-her-courtyard-door-wearing-a-yellow-apron..jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>China</u></b></div>
Chinese mythology tells of a peach tree that produces a single fruit every 3,000 years. The individual that consumes the peach will achieve immortality. It is guarded at it's base by a dragon and from it's top by a phoenix. Here is a photo of Lady Lee standing in front of her courtyard garden. I would have wished this was a peach tree but alas it is a <a href="http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/lady-lees-family-in-diaowo-village" target="_blank">Hawthorn Tree.</a><br />
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<a href="https://iamasuperhero.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/ancientpagan11.jpg?w=460" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://iamasuperhero.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/ancientpagan11.jpg?w=460" width="288" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Persia</u></b></div>
Persian and Zoroastrinian lore maintains legend of an ancient tree called Gaokerena. It's fruit was pressed to produce an <a href="https://iamasuperhero.wordpress.com/the-gaokerena-tree-aka-tree-of-life/" target="_blank">elixir of immortality.</a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9o6hxgTcz5s/VrWIB_yFCjI/AAAAAAAABf0/WXAtIOpzuUg/s1600/Lambert%2Bcrann%2Bbethadh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9o6hxgTcz5s/VrWIB_yFCjI/AAAAAAAABf0/WXAtIOpzuUg/s400/Lambert%2Bcrann%2Bbethadh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Celtic</u></b></div>
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"Ancient Celts called the Tree of Life <i>crann bethadh. </i>They believed it had specials powers. To honor the Tree of Life, Celtic people left a single, large tree in the center of fields whenever they cleared the land. They called this tree <i>crann bethadh. </i>Under its branches, they appointed their chieftain and held gatherings. Because the tree provided food, medicine and shelter to people and animals, the Celts believed it had the power to take care of all life. Cutting it down was a great crime, and thus, the greatest triumph one could achieve over one's enemies was to cut down their <i>crann bethadh.</i>"</div>
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-excerpt from <a href="http://www.astrologyoftheancients.com/celtic-tree-of-life/" target="_blank">Astrology of the Ancients</a></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Adansonia_grandidieri04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Adansonia_grandidieri04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo compliments of <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Adansonia_grandidieri04.jpg" target="_blank">Bgag</a>)</span></div>
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<b><u>African</u></b></div>
"Africans know they depend on trees for firewood, without which their wives cannot cook their food. In some areas the goats can climb trees to eat the green leaves. The leopard lurks in a leafy tree to fall upon the Lonely traveller at night, and vipers do the same in Uganda. In some trees the bees make their nest where they store honey. Every big tree has a spirit. Some trees house many spirits. Whether a tree is a spirit or is inhabited by a spirit is not an easy question. The people will say: The tree has a spirit, or: in the tree there is a spirit. The spirit has a voice which the careful listener can hear and even understand if he knows the language of the spirits. This voice has to be preserved carefully by the drum maker. The boat-maker too, wants to keep the spirit of the tree in the wood so that it will protect the boatman against drowning in the treacherous rivers, when the tree has become a boat. The appearance changes, the spirit remains. Together in a forest, the trees have a collective spirit, powerful enough to be revered as a god.<br />
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Trees can be tricky. With their roots they can trip up the unsuspecting traveller, who will often believe that his enemy bewitched the root to do that. Thorny branches have the same function. In Namibia there is a tree that is believed to eat people: it catches them with its branches, opens its bark and swallows them up. Inside the tree, the victim can be heard singing a goodbye song to their relatives and friends. Only the Woodpecker can save them, for it possesses magic powers. For a fee, it will open the tree with its sharp bill. A man in Zaire was married to a tree. It gave birth to his children, a healthy boy and a girl who were human but knew the spirits of the forest and so became famous herbalists, for it is the doctors who need the trees for their medicines."<br />
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-excerpt from <a href="http://www.a-gallery.de/docs/mythology.htm" target="_blank">A-Gallery</a></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Shaft_tomb_tree_tableau_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Shaft_tomb_tree_tableau_2.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Mesoamerican</u></b></div>
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The Mesoamerican World Tree motifs "are a prevalent motif occurring in the mythical cosmologies, creation accounts, and iconographies of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. In the Mesoamerican context, world trees embodied the four cardinal directions, which also serve to represent the fourfold nature of a central world tree, a symbolic axis mundi which connects the planes of the Underworld and the sky with that of the terrestrial realm."</div>
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-excerpt from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_world_tree" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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<b><u>Modern</u></b></div>
Modern departures could include the iconic solitary tree that stood after the tsunamis at <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2291799/The-miracle-pine-Tree-survived-2011-Japanese-tsunami-dying-months-ago-rebuilt-monument-19-000-victims-disaster.html" target="_blank">Fukushima</a> or the steadfast <a href="http://www.livescience.com/29152-oldest-tree-in-world.html" target="_blank">Methusela</a>, who has endured for some 4,845 years. In Australia, a group of protesting sheep shearers founded the Australian Labor Party in 1891 under a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Knowledge_(Australia)" target="_blank">Cabbage Gum Tree</a> that has been dubbed <i>The Tree of Knowledge.</i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666;"><u><b>Project Focus</b></u></span></i></div>
Though type is not discouraged, participants are encouraged to use techniques that showcase VABC as a place that incubates visual imagery as well as typography. Participants are challenged to convey ideas through symbology, composition, color, line, and think of ways to impart a message other than text in order to reach across language barriers. The collection should not only be a rich visual collection of interpretations of the Tree of Life but also a showcase of printmaking technique, relief in particular.Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-46389523447748246462016-01-09T06:16:00.001-08:002016-01-09T06:16:27.232-08:00Welcome Home card for the Haven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-hOTWuYexY/Voa1MTJe_FI/AAAAAAAABbY/8PaPbJhzc0I/s1600/Haven%2BCard%2Bpresentation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-hOTWuYexY/Voa1MTJe_FI/AAAAAAAABbY/8PaPbJhzc0I/s400/Haven%2BCard%2Bpresentation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had the honor of being commissioned for a run of welcome home cards for the Haven of Charlottesville, Virginia. I really wanted to take this opportunity to offer them something besides the standard run of the mill card. If I'm going to be commissioned to do artisanal letterpress cards then they should really be something special! I like to think I succeeded and I hope that the cards bring a bit of delight into the lives of the recipients. What follows is my design process in creating these cards.</div>
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Sometimes, I feel like I'm a dinosaur when I see the generations not 5 years behind me utilizing Wacoms and digital tablets solely for sketching. Then I see professional greats still employing good ol' paper and pencil and I don't feel so bad. Part of becoming a "real" artist is developing a confidence in your skills and materials. Being open to new materials and experiences is very much part of the game but refusing to have shame in the process that you're "good at" and the materials that work for you is also very much a part of establishing yourself. I'm looking at you, <a href="http://eric-powell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eric Powell</a>.</div>
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So with that in mind, in order to get a true pure vision of what I want to accomplish, I sit down with my sketch pad. I had done cards as invitations for my senior thesis at the Corcoran ages ago. They featured two side folds so that the card opened out to the viewer on both sides. I thought that that template would be a good concept. The emphasis for the commission was being welcomed into the community and feeling comfort.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsKDTF3JuYY/VlieOBb7iGI/AAAAAAAABZA/Bi1PzhDmQDc/s1600/Haven%2Bdoor%2Bsketch%2Blow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsKDTF3JuYY/VlieOBb7iGI/AAAAAAAABZA/Bi1PzhDmQDc/s320/Haven%2Bdoor%2Bsketch%2Blow.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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I wanted to pull on images of peace and being at ease. I decided to portray a set of double doors opening up to the inside of the card that would read, "Welcome Home!" Many of the neighborhood houses in the old districts of Charlottesville are bungalows and it is common in the south to see older houses with great southern boxwood hedges. The house I grew up in had such boxwoods and birds would always stuff nests in between the space of the pillars and the porch roof. Birds would flutter in and around the boxwoods and cats and dogs would often seek shelter under them in the evening heat. I wanted the doors and porch to look old and softly worn. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Kw0baUUNWQ/VlieOIn8MYI/AAAAAAAABY8/Vs9xXBvQepk/s1600/Haven%2Bcard%2Bdesign%2Bmock%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Kw0baUUNWQ/VlieOIn8MYI/AAAAAAAABY8/Vs9xXBvQepk/s320/Haven%2Bcard%2Bdesign%2Bmock%2Bup.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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With the sketch done, I placed tracing vellum over it and stained it with some markers to get an idea of what the color blocks would look like. I wanted a subtle color block of evening light filtering in over the porch and through the boxwoods.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OY_00N4THI/Voau4wqXw5I/AAAAAAAABZ0/esyZ2QQHcTc/s1600/Haven%2BKey%2BWIPL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OY_00N4THI/Voau4wqXw5I/AAAAAAAABZ0/esyZ2QQHcTc/s320/Haven%2BKey%2BWIPL.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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The challenge of producing something like this is that when the card is closed the images need to line up to look like a whole. The blocks themselves need to be separate so they can be printed at opposing ends of the card paper. I had to slice a linoleum block down the middle and then tape them together while carving and pay attention the whole time to if the blocks jogged out of place in even the slightest.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DefSPyRZX_A/VoavLHUIE1I/AAAAAAAABaA/DQJoGg87eXo/s1600/Lana%2Band%2Bdenril%2BportraitL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DefSPyRZX_A/VoavLHUIE1I/AAAAAAAABaA/DQJoGg87eXo/s320/Lana%2Band%2Bdenril%2BportraitL.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the key block image was carved, I put it on the Vandercook and proofed up a few sheets of Denril. Denril is wonderful stuff. The ink does not initially soak into Denril once it is printed and you can use the pressure of the press itself to transfer and image onto another block.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Vnx0b1wXzw/VoavTP6bjaI/AAAAAAAABaM/-wkrLkFX9Zk/s1600/denril%2Bproof%2Bcoming%2Bthrough%2Bthe%2BpressL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Vnx0b1wXzw/VoavTP6bjaI/AAAAAAAABaM/-wkrLkFX9Zk/s320/denril%2Bproof%2Bcoming%2Bthrough%2Bthe%2BpressL.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here it is in progress as the cylinder presses the wet proof onto a clean block. It's like watching magic!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6EWpZydH1A/Voava92D1QI/AAAAAAAABaY/SLj58M5AoWM/s1600/fresh%2Bdenril%2BproofL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6EWpZydH1A/Voava92D1QI/AAAAAAAABaY/SLj58M5AoWM/s320/fresh%2Bdenril%2BproofL.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Because Denril is transparent, it's a great tool to have around when doing registration lock ups. Once the ink is dry, the proofs are invaluable this way.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndECBo7Ey-0/VoavfqAOjYI/AAAAAAAABak/Li7fWEudBiA/s1600/color%2Bblocks%2BproofedL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndECBo7Ey-0/VoavfqAOjYI/AAAAAAAABak/Li7fWEudBiA/s320/color%2Bblocks%2BproofedL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are the blocks as they have freshly been printed. My original concept states that there are 5 blocks for this project but if you really get technical about it there are a total of 8 individual blocks.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvjs8adBwrU/Voa1d6GMD-I/AAAAAAAABbk/h48RQB0nY2Y/s1600/Haven%2Bcolor%2Bblock%2Bcarving.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvjs8adBwrU/Voa1d6GMD-I/AAAAAAAABbk/h48RQB0nY2Y/s320/Haven%2Bcolor%2Bblock%2Bcarving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a photo of the color blocks of the boxwoods getting carved. The key block ink gets washed off before final printing begins.</div>
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Well, there comes a time in an artist's/blogger's life when you're working and you have to make a choice. Do I sacrifice art process accuracy or art process documentation? When I began the final process, I realized I would need my absolute full attention the whole time. I had to lay down the camera and put my all into producing the cards accurately. Sorry, I didn't get any shots of the cards as they were being printed but suffice to say it was a complicated and long lock up, inking, and printing.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tr40R98Q2E/Voavoexsn1I/AAAAAAAABaw/OHfA8_kqU0w/s1600/Haven%2Bfinal%2BproductionL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tr40R98Q2E/Voavoexsn1I/AAAAAAAABaw/OHfA8_kqU0w/s320/Haven%2Bfinal%2BproductionL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I did breathe a sigh of relief that all the printing was done, I needed to then start trimming and folding. I left excess paper around the card to have a little jogging room when lining the front image up. For some of the trimming I could utilize the VABC's guillotine but for the final stages I had to sit down with my utility knife for a more precise cut. There was also much scoring and bone foldering to be done. </div>
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By the way, do as I say and not as I do. You'll notice the big cup of tea on the desk. It's not a great idea to have food and beverage around while you're working on paper goods but Mama needed hojicha to get the job done. Hojicha and Genmaicha have kept me afloat more times than I can count.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0dGddg2M9M/Voavsx1ApFI/AAAAAAAABa8/Y6f1tF1dMaM/s1600/First%2BHaven%2BCard%2BcompleteL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0dGddg2M9M/Voavsx1ApFI/AAAAAAAABa8/Y6f1tF1dMaM/s320/First%2BHaven%2BCard%2BcompleteL.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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Here's an image of one of the first ones completed. Yay!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwRrsFKKnv0/Voavye2e8fI/AAAAAAAABbI/STPwYfZcY6w/s1600/100%2BHaven%2BcardsL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwRrsFKKnv0/Voavye2e8fI/AAAAAAAABbI/STPwYfZcY6w/s320/100%2BHaven%2BcardsL.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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Here's my proud display of 100 Haven cards completed and ready to be delivered!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ3-5M3cK9Q/Voa1mXomFDI/AAAAAAAABbw/ZPSxus13NuE/s1600/Haven%2BCard%2Bfront.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ3-5M3cK9Q/Voa1mXomFDI/AAAAAAAABbw/ZPSxus13NuE/s320/Haven%2BCard%2Bfront.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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A final presentation shot of the front.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L55aMUe3FuY/Voa1qIc48YI/AAAAAAAABb8/T7vs1oU0DKM/s1600/Haven%2BCard%2Binside.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L55aMUe3FuY/Voa1qIc48YI/AAAAAAAABb8/T7vs1oU0DKM/s320/Haven%2BCard%2Binside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Open it up for the welcome message inside!</div>
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Below is a wonderful video of the card being opened at the Haven:</div>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-9970468592308280202016-01-01T08:03:00.004-08:002016-01-01T08:03:34.295-08:00Stillman & Birn, be still my heart!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZVNr37rjMo/VdFcaFluUhI/AAAAAAAABWM/5lzpV_y_PXY/s1600/be%2Bstill%2Bmy%2Bheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZVNr37rjMo/VdFcaFluUhI/AAAAAAAABWM/5lzpV_y_PXY/s1600/be%2Bstill%2Bmy%2Bheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZVNr37rjMo/VdFcaFluUhI/AAAAAAAABWM/5lzpV_y_PXY/s400/be%2Bstill%2Bmy%2Bheart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I met with my friend Rhonda Roebuck for coffee a couple weeks ago and was lamenting my inability to find a field sketch book that stood up to the watercolor washes I wanted to do. I was drooling over the journals she had completed and she recommended Stillman & Birn as her favorite company for sketch books. Well, I am ashamed to say that I never knew we had some the Crozet Art Box! I was quick to snag one of the last ones we had which happened to be the Epsilon Natural White Sketch book. They are a little pricier but her results were so promising I took the plunge. Boy howdy, what a knock out!! Firstly, the paper is a nice 150gsm weight. I laid down a few washes and it <i>did </i>buckle a bit but it didn't pucker so horribly like the Strathmore sketch books I've been using. Here is the true beauty: after the initial washes dried, I began to work into the drawing. I added colored pencil and rubbed it around. I added Caran'dache Neocolors and pushed them around with some water. I think I added media about 4 times and then either erased back with a Magic Rub or lifted out with water to create a rich surface. This paper stood up to it without pilling or bleeding. I am tres impressed! I have to say I never expected such outstanding performance from a sketch book. It was worth every penny! I feel like I've been waiting for years to lay down some of the ideas in my head and this little book came along and said, "Hell, yes! I'm down. Let's do this! Bring it!"<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ynou2udX7zo/VdFcacgQ3iI/AAAAAAAABWU/Hi-Is7uOVJY/s1600/Stillman%2Band%2BBirn%2BEpsilon%2Btag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ynou2udX7zo/VdFcacgQ3iI/AAAAAAAABWU/Hi-Is7uOVJY/s320/Stillman%2Band%2BBirn%2BEpsilon%2Btag.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-61897696059640222152015-11-27T17:21:00.002-08:002015-11-27T17:21:38.796-08:00The Scottsville Supply Company logo project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15y7ZyXH458/VliZUP9ltpI/AAAAAAAABXc/PFelI93_3DY/s1600/SSC%2BGoat%2BCart%2Bcustom%2Bcolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15y7ZyXH458/VliZUP9ltpI/AAAAAAAABXc/PFelI93_3DY/s400/SSC%2BGoat%2BCart%2Bcustom%2Bcolor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's a look at a recent commission I completed for the Scottsville Supply Company!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIBNRpLVQjM/VliZX5CxmgI/AAAAAAAABXk/RZD7INCEXKc/s1600/SSC%2Bcustom%2Bcolors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIBNRpLVQjM/VliZX5CxmgI/AAAAAAAABXk/RZD7INCEXKc/s400/SSC%2Bcustom%2Bcolors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I really had a blast with this project and I'm excited that there will be a local shop for beekeeping supplies and other goodies in Scottsville now. Beekeeping has really taken off in our area. Nelson is the perfect place for small farming, beer and wine brewing, and beekeeping. We're so blessed to be able to cultivate such a rich diversity here!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0P0N3mBEh68/VliaBgt6ufI/AAAAAAAABXs/clyiKNAwA8s/s1600/SSC%2BGoar%2Bcart%2Btrials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0P0N3mBEh68/VliaBgt6ufI/AAAAAAAABXs/clyiKNAwA8s/s400/SSC%2BGoar%2Bcart%2Btrials.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I would be lost without my sketchbook. Virtually everything in my creative process starts here. I learned the valuable lesson at the Corcoran that if you don't like a particular piece when you finish, you could always do it again. I don't know why that never occurred to me in high school. That concept seemed to go against my grain early on. Now, I'll slice and dice, and redo, and redo again if need be. I probably got used to it after running through proof after proof in printmaking. At any rate, I started drawing the goat for the goat cart logo and realized the perspective was wrong. Rather than get rid of the drawing that I actually kind of liked, I just tore it down the middle and started the revised version underneath.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89iyTdfQiQw/VliaEMqxM6I/AAAAAAAABX0/3q02SUwNzzc/s1600/SSC%2BGoat%2Bcart%2Blogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89iyTdfQiQw/VliaEMqxM6I/AAAAAAAABX0/3q02SUwNzzc/s400/SSC%2BGoat%2Bcart%2Blogo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I worked on the logo font with some tracing vellum on the other blank half. This kept all the work together and I didn't have to sacrifice any of the pages of my sketch book.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLbuzh_x7tw/VliaJR7YNGI/AAAAAAAABX8/10GHfGChxK8/s1600/goat%2Bcart%2Bblock%2Bready%2Bto%2Bcarve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLbuzh_x7tw/VliaJR7YNGI/AAAAAAAABX8/10GHfGChxK8/s400/goat%2Bcart%2Bblock%2Bready%2Bto%2Bcarve.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Above is the image transfer onto the block, awaiting to be cut.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Avw1enTtALU/VlictRvI1LI/AAAAAAAABYY/zr5tDXdRhBU/s1600/bee%2Bskep%2Bphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Avw1enTtALU/VlictRvI1LI/AAAAAAAABYY/zr5tDXdRhBU/s1600/bee%2Bskep%2Bphoto.JPG" /></a></div>
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Here's the finished bee skep block. Black marker helped me see the contrast as I carved. It looks pretty now but once we ink it up and clean it a few times it will get muddled.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqjNE0Ovzo8/VlicqLb5G4I/AAAAAAAABYQ/jeGY4wTUHX4/s1600/SSC%2Bgoat%2Bblock%2Bon%2Bvandercook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqjNE0Ovzo8/VlicqLb5G4I/AAAAAAAABYQ/jeGY4wTUHX4/s400/SSC%2Bgoat%2Bblock%2Bon%2Bvandercook.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Loaded the finished goat cart design onto the VABC's Vandercook letterpress for a few proofs.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yt-cTokwSM/VlicpAtgaLI/AAAAAAAABYI/JR8LfWS6acA/s1600/ssc%2Bgoat%2Bblock%2Bproofing%2Bon%2Bvandercook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yt-cTokwSM/VlicpAtgaLI/AAAAAAAABYI/JR8LfWS6acA/s400/ssc%2Bgoat%2Bblock%2Bproofing%2Bon%2Bvandercook.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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They look nice and crisp coming on the cylinder of the Vandercook.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G3lXeutuV1E/Vlicv4HIMmI/AAAAAAAABYg/JwZIMCTgw-0/s1600/SSC%2Blogo%2Bblocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G3lXeutuV1E/Vlicv4HIMmI/AAAAAAAABYg/JwZIMCTgw-0/s400/SSC%2Blogo%2Bblocks.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>
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Here are the blocks drying after being proofed and cleaned. I'll be pulling a few for a limited print run after I decide on colors. In the meantime, check out <a href="http://www.scottsvillesupplyco.com/" target="_blank">the Scottsville Supply Company website</a> or better yet, visit them in Scottsville, VA for a delightful time! You can pick up some of my letterpress cards and gift tags while you're there!</div>
<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-54653321299707414642015-08-16T21:09:00.002-07:002015-08-16T21:09:45.980-07:00A little plein air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RW3S6LW2Mr4/VdFdZDB0d0I/AAAAAAAABW4/8VveBLAb5L0/s1600/queen%2Bannes%2Blace%2Bsketch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RW3S6LW2Mr4/VdFdZDB0d0I/AAAAAAAABW4/8VveBLAb5L0/s640/queen%2Bannes%2Blace%2Bsketch2.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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I did a little field study at my family's farm property. There were many wild flowers in bloom and it was a beautiful day. I took the back road that follows the Rockfish River to get there because it makes you slow down and enjoy the scenery. The air was thick with the fragrance of passion flower. The sumac were in bloom and the Queen Anne's Lace was nodding in the pasture. I stopped to draw a particular specimen that caught my eye. I did not know that NeoColor water soluable crayons will melt in the sun but now I do!</div>
<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-52338650392117817302015-07-25T10:00:00.000-07:002015-07-25T10:00:01.165-07:00The Nanny Goat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFkh6buO0Ec/VafR5UNgytI/AAAAAAAABT0/o-9z1V3xzf4/s1600/The%2BNanny%2BGoat%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFkh6buO0Ec/VafR5UNgytI/AAAAAAAABT0/o-9z1V3xzf4/s320/The%2BNanny%2BGoat%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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Little miss Nanny Goat has been a long time coming. The original six Farm People were carved towards the end of 2008. I knew I was going to expand on the series but for some reason I ran out of steam. After printing the Billy Goat, I had the sketch finished for the Nanny Goat but she sat tucked away in a drawer for seven years (!) until I finally got the inspiration to revisit the series.</div>
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Maybe it is my bias because I have goats but both the Billy Goat and the Nanny Goat are illustrated with their mouths open because I always hear my guys talking and if you call to them you are guaranteed a response. I think one text book referred to it as the "noble call of the Nubian." Uh-huh. Anyway, I'm sure that dead people two states over can hear Odin carry on sometimes. Much of what is typically kept by hobbyists out here in Nelson county can be what are referred to as "trash goats". This means they are not "pure bred" and don't really go for much money. The most popular breed that most "trash goats" usually come from are Nubians. You can usually spot it in the speckled floppy ears and the a tendency to be on the big and tall side. In my humble opinion, I have the most beautiful "trash goats" around. So, little Nanny is dear to my heart as she is a portrait of my little goat, Vada.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpUUJDoJnI0/VafR3OIFQtI/AAAAAAAABTo/z3GiZHMyjZM/s1600/Model%2BVada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpUUJDoJnI0/VafR3OIFQtI/AAAAAAAABTo/z3GiZHMyjZM/s400/Model%2BVada.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
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Vada is all white, save for a spot on her belly and under her arm and her black striped mask. She's a spunky weasel with a bright eye and an eager gate and I thought she would be the perfect model for the Nanny Goat. Here I've caught her stuffing her face. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEVn5xyTCc0/VafR5gXPtVI/AAAAAAAABT4/_qCWBrI0C6w/s1600/Nanny%2BGoat%2Bin%2Bprogress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEVn5xyTCc0/VafR5gXPtVI/AAAAAAAABT4/_qCWBrI0C6w/s320/Nanny%2BGoat%2Bin%2Bprogress.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After committing to carving, it felt nice to be opening the series again. I had already snuck <a href="http://lambertpress.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-poison-sisters-process.html" target="_blank">a portrait of Odin</a> into the Poison Sisters book. I'm glad to have a picture of Vada now too.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F9jdfuHh2n8/VafR2Qb-SWI/AAAAAAAABTc/q__te2-trQ4/s1600/Nanny%2BGoat%2BBlock2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F9jdfuHh2n8/VafR2Qb-SWI/AAAAAAAABTc/q__te2-trQ4/s320/Nanny%2BGoat%2BBlock2.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-65571444011022423812015-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:002015-07-24T10:00:00.391-07:00The Happy Heifer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jxVDqc21MU/VafSbzs5ZPI/AAAAAAAABUE/xURxSWD2O4g/s1600/The%2BHappy%2BHeifer%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jxVDqc21MU/VafSbzs5ZPI/AAAAAAAABUE/xURxSWD2O4g/s320/The%2BHappy%2BHeifer%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I posted a <a href="http://lambertpress.blogspot.com/2015/05/how-bout-that.html" target="_blank">teaser</a> about this little lady earlier. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">Heifer's just like to have fun! As foretold, she likes to dance so hard her earrings jingle and the wine flies out of her glass. I really enjoyed carving the texture of her fur and her intricately beaded dress. She's a festive reminder that sometimes you just have to cut loose, put on your best flapper dress, and dance like you mean it!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0dN6mNGCFnA/VafSdfzLaHI/AAAAAAAABUU/Dlf66lzzbIg/s1600/Heifer%2Bsketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0dN6mNGCFnA/VafSdfzLaHI/AAAAAAAABUU/Dlf66lzzbIg/s320/Heifer%2Bsketch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really explored a couple of poses with little heifer before deciding on one. She kind of has the skinny cow look going on. Someone actually mistook her for a deer. In my head I went, "Uh,oh." but then I shrugged it off. I kind of went back and forth as to wether or not I should give her udders. First, those things would be flapping all over the place in that dress (yeehaw!) and second if she's a heifer, she's not going to have huge mondo knockers anyway. Take the lovely examples from the Avonteur livestock people:</div>
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Above is an example of a Jersey Heifer.</div>
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Above is an example of a Jersey Cow. </div>
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Good lord, woman! How do you walk around with those things!</div>
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At any rate, I didn't want her udders to be the focus of attention. (Hello, my eyes are up here!) I felt like it would read as typical clumsy cow image and that's not what I was going for. I was interested in how her earrings seemed natural. They probably read the same as those plastic tags you see in their ears.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlRZMKThywE/VafSckqgHZI/AAAAAAAABUM/GfZCpl2rgUY/s1600/Happy%2BHeifer%2Bin%2Bproduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlRZMKThywE/VafSckqgHZI/AAAAAAAABUM/GfZCpl2rgUY/s320/Happy%2BHeifer%2Bin%2Bproduction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She printed up rather nicely and I enjoy the detail of her fur and her beaded dress. I like that she's a lighter brighter character against the dark angus bull. Who doesn't like a saucy little bovine willing to cut a rug?</div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-60431589034016335522015-07-21T15:00:00.000-07:002015-07-21T15:00:01.627-07:00One Tipsy Piggy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YYr5uz5HEQI/VafS8wVKBVI/AAAAAAAABU8/a0TqPagpZww/s1600/The%2BSow%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YYr5uz5HEQI/VafS8wVKBVI/AAAAAAAABU8/a0TqPagpZww/s320/The%2BSow%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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After I had initially carved and printed the first six Farm People, I sat back and looked at the collection as a whole. Something seemed wrong and I realized it was because the Broodie Hen was the only female in the bunch. Not only did this turn me off but also the fact that the single representation of female in the group was matronly. Now, there is nothing wrong with matronly and it's very important that a broodie hen BE matronly but, I felt that this being the sole statement was a gross underrepresentation to all us ladies.</div>
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So, one of the ladies to join the group was this cute little piggy! She is the tipsy counterpart to the Fat Hog. I wanted to illustrate her in such a way that you could almost hear her giggle and this in turn would make you smile and maybe make YOU giggle. See? I see you smiling already.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qe_Ri5POavE/VafS8qJDdMI/AAAAAAAABU4/5PEt2FfCiC8/s1600/Sow%2Bsketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qe_Ri5POavE/VafS8qJDdMI/AAAAAAAABU4/5PEt2FfCiC8/s1600/Sow%2Bsketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qe_Ri5POavE/VafS8qJDdMI/AAAAAAAABU4/5PEt2FfCiC8/s1600/Sow%2Bsketches.jpg" /></a></div>
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As with the other girls, this little piggy started out as a sketch. The first sketch was okay but didn't quite get what I was going for. Once I gave her little "Charleston" knees, it fit. You can also see that she started out with a bow instead of a head band but I didn't think that was fancy enough.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROYh8UGOMns/VafS4pX4xRI/AAAAAAAABUk/XHc-Jmczso4/s1600/Beginning%2Bthe%2Bsow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROYh8UGOMns/VafS4pX4xRI/AAAAAAAABUk/XHc-Jmczso4/s320/Beginning%2Bthe%2Bsow.jpg" width="240" /></a>I looked up flapper dresses online to check out some examples of design and a ran into a lot of geometric deco patterns. I saw lots of rhinestone and glitter and that's when I decided to give her dress a little geometric "bedazzlement" and give her a sparkly head band. I also had to scan in text and flip it in photoshop. I could do that tracing paper trick but I'm getting lazy like that.</div>
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After much chipping, plucking, and markering, Mrs. Sow is revealed. I was a bit nervous about the teeny tiny rhinestone accents on her dress. They are VERY shallow and fill in VERY easily on the press. Fine detail and small letterpress font is easily flooded and that's a huge pain because you have to take out the chase, clean everything off, and guestimate how much ink to wipe off the inking disc without overdoing it. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjlNqd59gvk/VafS2A2EZKI/AAAAAAAABUc/G8h0nT_5oBo/s1600/Sow%2BBlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjlNqd59gvk/VafS2A2EZKI/AAAAAAAABUc/G8h0nT_5oBo/s320/Sow%2BBlock.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Well, this little piggy went to the VABC and came off without a hitch. We now have 100 tipsy little sows to join the ranks of Farm People. That's a lot of bacon!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBAgzugtAXg/VafS4semhpI/AAAAAAAABUo/2LXgCFeetBU/s1600/Piggies%2Bin%2Bproduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBAgzugtAXg/VafS4semhpI/AAAAAAAABUo/2LXgCFeetBU/s400/Piggies%2Bin%2Bproduction.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com1Afton, VA 22920, USA37.9719378 -78.815611337.7716613 -79.1383348 38.1722143 -78.4928878tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-81447558512984189252015-07-18T08:00:00.000-07:002015-07-18T08:00:03.616-07:00Poppy Pilot Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ThjNnowhu2c/VafNSS12-9I/AAAAAAAABSY/WsHtELyWDFk/s1600/Poppy%2Bpilot%2Bevent%2Bprinting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ThjNnowhu2c/VafNSS12-9I/AAAAAAAABSY/WsHtELyWDFk/s320/Poppy%2Bpilot%2Bevent%2Bprinting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This past Pilot Event went really well! I had planned to make cards that day using a block I had already carved for a previous card. It's a poppy and I was excited to see how it would print this time. The original design was to use this image as background while the text quote in the foreground commanded attention. This time around my design would get center stage!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VtFnwrsQVd8/VafNYXvLdYI/AAAAAAAABSk/wivoA4FGytw/s1600/poppy%2Bblock%2Bup.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VtFnwrsQVd8/VafNYXvLdYI/AAAAAAAABSk/wivoA4FGytw/s320/poppy%2Bblock%2Bup.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is poppy block looking mysterious and sexy in the moody lighting.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXXLORP-1xo/VafNYRAJioI/AAAAAAAABSg/wdL0H9uR9dw/s1600/poppy%2Bblock.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXXLORP-1xo/VafNYRAJioI/AAAAAAAABSg/wdL0H9uR9dw/s320/poppy%2Bblock.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is poppy block facing the camera looking fierce. Your a tiger! Okay, lemme stop messing with you guys.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHyAYK6cZ-Q/VafNZfpo_LI/AAAAAAAABSw/MpdIDEJAeZM/s1600/Poppy%2Bcard%2Bon%2Bpilot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHyAYK6cZ-Q/VafNZfpo_LI/AAAAAAAABSw/MpdIDEJAeZM/s320/Poppy%2Bcard%2Bon%2Bpilot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I picked a bright bold color because . . . well. . . come on, it's a poppy! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAXITGoKIFs/VafNeeqsMBI/AAAAAAAABS8/NhUHAqfMRzI/s1600/Poppy%2Bcard%2Bdetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAXITGoKIFs/VafNeeqsMBI/AAAAAAAABS8/NhUHAqfMRzI/s320/Poppy%2Bcard%2Bdetail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wow! Am I ever glad I went with this color! It came off so bold, bright, and clear that I was taken by surprise when the first print came out. As you can see below, the first run of quote cards really put this image on the back burner. I like the way it came out but I'm glad I did a run with the image by itself too because I put a lot of time into that design!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kVU3NRBOos/VafNer0_CuI/AAAAAAAABTE/nJWKbywjGjI/s1600/poppy%2Bcomparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kVU3NRBOos/VafNer0_CuI/AAAAAAAABTE/nJWKbywjGjI/s400/poppy%2Bcomparison.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The white card stock really helped this image too. The cream colored paper and golden image of the original poppy is very soft and dreamy with the C.S. Lewis quote over it.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xlCMgCoj3s/VafNgSqCyOI/AAAAAAAABTQ/ag1L5-g7P3M/s1600/Rat%2BRolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xlCMgCoj3s/VafNgSqCyOI/AAAAAAAABTQ/ag1L5-g7P3M/s320/Rat%2BRolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a picture of what I embarrassingly call "rat rolls". I usually try to be pretty fastidious with ink. It is easy to waste and more often than not people mix up WAY too much of it. If I have extra left over and I like the color, I will scoop it off onto some plastic and then roll it up like so. I put them in a drawer and they look like a little pack rat's collection when you come upon them. They last a surprisingly long time. I'll definitely be revisiting this color.</div>
<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-5338382080773513072015-07-17T09:30:00.000-07:002015-07-17T09:30:01.576-07:00The Ewe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-218gSSNbKVE/VafTZATY7gI/AAAAAAAABVo/T60CDzTfUq4/s1600/The%2BEwe%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-218gSSNbKVE/VafTZATY7gI/AAAAAAAABVo/T60CDzTfUq4/s320/The%2BEwe%2BPrint%2BNew.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meet one of the new ladies in the Farm People line up! This is the fastidious little Ewe. She<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;"> has impeccable style and can be found in her boudoir primping and preening so that she'll be the talk of the soiree. She prides herself on being on the forefront of the farm fashionista movement. From her peacock feather down to her little satin frock, she's the perfect decor for your powder room.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9dMOm4NbWns/VafTWTA3huI/AAAAAAAABVY/-BaXx2Ep9Hs/s1600/Ewe%2Bsketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9dMOm4NbWns/VafTWTA3huI/AAAAAAAABVY/-BaXx2Ep9Hs/s320/Ewe%2Bsketches.jpg" width="193" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">I think it's important for people to see my process. Pencil sketching comes easiest to me and that's where most of my work begins. I've found that several small warm up sketches help me to get the general structure. It helps me to get a better idea of what I want instead of blindly committing to a concept and then figuring out after several revisions that it's not going to work out that great. I still really like the image of the fat little sheep stuffed into her dress and clutching a handbag as if she's waiting for the bus. That's the nice thing about getting these little ideas out; I can always go revisit the concept at another time.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAiJ97WeQHQ/VafTWes_yTI/AAAAAAAABVQ/upzf0-rptfg/s1600/Ewe%2Bfeathers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AAiJ97WeQHQ/VafTWes_yTI/AAAAAAAABVQ/upzf0-rptfg/s320/Ewe%2Bfeathers.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">Next comes the carving job where the image is transferred down onto a block. Although it appears to be a minor accent, I think the peacock feather is actually compositionally one of the most important parts of this piece. I picked this as the starting point for the initially carving. If I couldn't get the feather right then I'd bale then and find another design to suit the block. Thankfully, the feather was a success and all carved well. Note that the text is carved too and I had to do it backwards!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0z029uVvFw/VafTV2AHErI/AAAAAAAABVM/xB15q8kt2HM/s1600/Ewe%2BBlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0z029uVvFw/VafTV2AHErI/AAAAAAAABVM/xB15q8kt2HM/s320/Ewe%2BBlock.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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Here she is all finished. I have found with linoleum carving that as of late I work with a permanent marker close by. I used to carve without a contrast color and I think you can really see it in the work I had done before. The contrast color allows me to carve better detail. I had always done this with woodblock carving. I don't know why I never adopted this sooner. Ah, well. Learn something new everyday!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IvcfrcOwXBU/VafTYkjdtSI/AAAAAAAABVk/h2qbSOXYE1w/s1600/Ewes%2Bin%2Bproduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IvcfrcOwXBU/VafTYkjdtSI/AAAAAAAABVk/h2qbSOXYE1w/s400/Ewes%2Bin%2Bproduction.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the army of Ewes coming hot off the press, literally. As I've said before, it gets hot in this window but the heat is worth it because the little caste iron press gets warm. This allows the grease in the joints to flow better and lubricate all the moving parts. I'm printing in oil based ink and the warmth helps disperse the ink as well so even though the operator is drenched in sweat, the press is happy and the prints look great!</div>
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<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-27285757805287141112015-07-12T19:01:00.000-07:002015-07-12T19:01:05.741-07:00Show in a Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07kGftFvyFc/VaMae05dIkI/AAAAAAAABSE/h9xese9MftI/s1600/Show%2Bin%2Ba%2BBox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07kGftFvyFc/VaMae05dIkI/AAAAAAAABSE/h9xese9MftI/s400/Show%2Bin%2Ba%2BBox.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, I'm bummed that we didn't get to do Fleaville this past weekend. I was raining heavily and Lindsay and I decided that it was better to lose our slot fee than to risk losing our paper wares to humidity and water damage. I am feeling pretty darn successful, though. I tallied up all I had to prepare for Fleaville and for my showing at the Smokehouse Grille and I've figured out that I have framed no less than 38 pieces for this! I scored that cool old trunk in the photo above from the Habitat Store in Charlottesville and it fits 28 framed prints wrapped in bubble wrap nicely. Now I just have to score a venue to make up for not selling this weekend . . . </div>
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Onwards!</div>
<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-49253470890671633552015-07-04T08:50:00.001-07:002015-07-04T08:50:46.437-07:00New Roller Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xKLr5R-xLc/VZf2Jyc0HNI/AAAAAAAABRA/Hgv1lrh6Y5w/s1600/Rollers%2BSnuggled%2BIn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xKLr5R-xLc/VZf2Jyc0HNI/AAAAAAAABRA/Hgv1lrh6Y5w/s400/Rollers%2BSnuggled%2BIn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the beginning of what I hope will be the unclogging of a logjam of ideas/goals/projects that have been a LONG time in coming. I have finally mustered the courage to take the plunge and take a leave of my day job for the month of July to invest in myself a little.</div>
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These are the rollers for my Chandler & Price Pilot Press. <a href="http://virginiabookarts.org/" target="_blank">VABC's</a> new space has seen a moving around of things and my little press can now be seen in the front window from the street. I'm hoping to get people excited about printing with some free demonstrations called Pilot Events, but more on that in a different post!</div>
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Now that my press is in the window and open to a lot more street traffic, I had to make a few changes. I like for people to be able to approach the press to see what a beautiful little machine it is but I get a bit nervous about the rollers. There are a few factors: 1.) The wonderful sunshine that flows in through the front window heats everything up and I'm just not sure what that will mean over time. 2.) There will be much more traffic of people in and out, the rollers are soft and sensitive, and they also have a constant film of grease on them. 3.) The biggest sticking point of having them around without ME being around is . . . I paid $500 for them and just don't think it's a great idea to have them hanging around.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPwMSEdOO00/VZf2MSQEebI/AAAAAAAABRI/MiSIiuOOJDo/s1600/Crappy%2BRoller%2BTransport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPwMSEdOO00/VZf2MSQEebI/AAAAAAAABRI/MiSIiuOOJDo/s400/Crappy%2BRoller%2BTransport.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the past when I was at McGuffey, I had the ugliest scrap wood contraption cobbled together to hold the rollers on the tabletop. I only used it to let the rollers hang out when they were drying from being cleaned but then, I was only contending with myself because it was a private studio so it worked well. At VABC, I left the rollers on the press because it was in the shop and only certain individuals who knew how to run the equipment properly had the ability to use them. If those people wanted to use it when I was not there it was kosher. Fast forward to the Pilot moving upstairs and the above photo is how my rollers were kept at home and brought in for use. Yes, it worked but to me was the hottest of hot messes.</div>
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Well, I had all these grand plans for hand building a roller box and it was going to be awesome and cool and this and that. Life has a way of happening, you know? Here we are and I am currently in one of those states that all artists . . . scratch that, MOST artists know currently known as "poverty mode." I'm broke as hell, folks.</div>
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So, I'm sitting in my living room having a little pity party. Just a little one, mind you. I have scrap wood but don't want to use the table saw at work. I'm being a bit lazy here but I'm prioritizing in my head and foreseeing a common theme in my life: I spend a lot of time and effort cobbling together scraps for a project and before you know it I've blown a huge amount of time on a project that I could have better used making art. What to do?</div>
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Suddenly, I remember an old box I had. I had gotten this piece of shit from an antique store for $15 probably 10 years ago and some people would've shot me then and there because it smelled of basement and had a chunk missing out of the bottom. It was a nice shape, however, and had dovetailing. I tried to use it to store my gouache but it wasn't very functional.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TWFG_htAbC4/VZf2Up0U4_I/AAAAAAAABRc/gDEGxDBx3tM/s1600/New%2BRoller%2BBox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TWFG_htAbC4/VZf2Up0U4_I/AAAAAAAABRc/gDEGxDBx3tM/s400/New%2BRoller%2BBox.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Turns out, it's just perfect for housing my rollers until I need to use them.</div>
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I popped some new brass drawer catches to the front of it.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-todFr7j4qXE/VZf2UiGV7kI/AAAAAAAABRY/AlmxOW4mQ1Y/s1600/Roller%2Bbox%2Blid%2Bopen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-todFr7j4qXE/VZf2UiGV7kI/AAAAAAAABRY/AlmxOW4mQ1Y/s400/Roller%2Bbox%2Blid%2Bopen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It looks kind of Japanese when you open it. (That suits me just fine!)</div>
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I fashioned this inner lid out of wood scraps. It fits exactly over the roller nesters to lock them down so they won't jump out of place should they accidentally get jarred. The lid pulls on the top double as spacers that touch the top of the inside of the lid so the rollers are locked in place.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKpvCYeV23w/VZf2Xv9W5AI/AAAAAAAABRo/5PM74LporOw/s1600/Roller%2Bbox%2Broller%2Bbrace%2Boff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKpvCYeV23w/VZf2Xv9W5AI/AAAAAAAABRo/5PM74LporOw/s400/Roller%2Bbox%2Broller%2Bbrace%2Boff.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>
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Pull the lid off and there are my rollers, ready to go and happy to see me!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6i6sXakV5hQ/VZf2ZR09lfI/AAAAAAAABRs/wh5dcs-woTw/s1600/Roller%2Btop%2Bbumpers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6i6sXakV5hQ/VZf2ZR09lfI/AAAAAAAABRs/wh5dcs-woTw/s400/Roller%2Btop%2Bbumpers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While constructing this, I figured out that <i>oops,</i> there is space between stringers on the lid and if the box got jarred from side to side, the lid might fall down onto the rollers. My heart first said, <i>Oh, but I'm careful. I'll just be really conscious not to let that happen. </i> My brain then chimed in, <i>Whatever, ding dong, figure out how to fix it now while you have all the tools out or cry later about how you screwed up your $500 rollers.</i> So, I cut some scrap spacers and glued them in so the problem go fixed.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0CSUxDPhcU/VZf2TaTsOjI/AAAAAAAABRQ/cRd0fXz9muc/s1600/Daylight%2Bfor%2Brollers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0CSUxDPhcU/VZf2TaTsOjI/AAAAAAAABRQ/cRd0fXz9muc/s400/Daylight%2Bfor%2Brollers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Note the daylight you can see under the rollers. It's really important that the roller itself be suspended in mid air. If the roller rests for an extended period of time on a flat surface, it will settle a flat line in your roller surface and ruin your $500 rollers. We're in business now! Now, to see what else needs to get done . . .</div>
<br />Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979945855634470615.post-57833513620879559202015-05-12T20:06:00.000-07:002015-05-12T20:06:21.216-07:00How 'bout that<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ee-fxa9dJXc/VVK_HXob0jI/AAAAAAAABPs/Ey1XJVU4hFE/s1600/happy%2Bhefer%2Bsketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ee-fxa9dJXc/VVK_HXob0jI/AAAAAAAABPs/Ey1XJVU4hFE/s320/happy%2Bhefer%2Bsketch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here, have a happy heifer sketch. She likes to dance so hard her earrings jingle and the wine flies out of her glass.Lana Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130649889359855650noreply@blogger.com0