2nd (of 2) blocks for Cannonball Press

Block #2 for Cannonball.... The Bacon Brothers, woodcut, 16" x 22"

Cannonball Press has the block now, and will print them soon. More info to come.

1st (of 2) blocks for Cannonball Press

block size=16" x 22"

That backwards writing is the scientific name for a turkey. This guy featured here is one of my Broad Breasted Bronzes from this year.

Will post block #2 shortly, then they’re sent off to Cannonball Press for printing.

Printing a 4′ x 8′ woodcut onto canvas…

…is not very easy, and as I discovered, probably only possible (to do WELL) with a steamroller or heavier lawn roller. Anyway, here’s my attempt (photo at right) of rolling across the canvas (canvas on top of woodcut, all underneath protective blankets) with a lawn roller, me walking circus-bear-style (for added weight) on top.

The result was ok. The black ink was not as black as it should’ve been–definitely grey. And the front part of the hog was much darker, as I rolled over and over, back and forth numerous times. With repetitive rolling on top, you can achieve dark grey printing. The result is the banner (below) we used to announce a group show (“The Writing’s on the Wall”) that opened October 1. You can see the front part of the hog is darker than the rest, as that was rolled over and over with the lawn roller when printing.

Banner for our group show "The Writing's on the Wall." Hog is 8ft long and 4ft tall.

Fun photo shoot

Photo (reference) shoot of hog carcasses and then bulldogs. Awesome day.

I had no idea bulldogs were such sweethearts (they attach themselves to you–hard to get far enough away to take pics). Just enough good photos to use as reference for prints, but most of the photos are like this:

For a separate print series obviously, but great coincidence that bulldogs live next door to a meat locker.

Great JRT “Useful Dog Tricks” video

What a great little dog. I need to take dog trainer lessons….

Mouse hides supplies and eats props

Damn mice. That was a whole ear of feed corn last time I looked….

…and I was drawing from that.

More traps!!

Dexter got face-skunked

Man oh man does my studio stink! And that’s after the 3rd washing (1st washing down in barn). Came home from school/work to 2 skunked dogs. Evidently, on the walk tonight, Dexter raced after a skunk in the pasture above, Zuzu trailing behind. When Dex got within 1 foot of the critter, Pepé let loose with a huge cloud of spray (J, who was watching–and yelling–from below, said this huge cloud rose up out of the pasture), Dexter’s face got the point-blank direct hit.

Ran out of the good stuff, Outright Skunk Odor Eliminator, but after 3 washings Dexter’s bearable in the house. Zuzu just got lightly sprayed, so after washing she’s just fine. As you can see here she’s not too keen about sitting near Dexter in his aromatic state:

Zuzu, on left is about to get out of the stinky room. Le Miserable (Dexter) is on the right, drying...."

I’d like to say that the littles learned their lesson, but alas, this isn’t the first time Dexter’s gotten hit. You’d think “black thing with white stripe” would not be hard to distinguish and would be remembered/avoided…. Good thing I have a lot of work tonight, so the smell can dissipate for a few hours before we head up to bed.

This Friday: Opening reception for: Habitat ReStore Art Show and Silent Auction

S.V. Medaris' piece for the benefit auction: "Corn is King" • salvaged materials: scrap wood, scrap prints, wooden drawer, a CD, old feed corn, woodcuts on feedsacks

The Habitat Restore Annual Salvage Art Show and online auction opens Oct 1 and runs to Oct 29 at the Robert Rae Gallery of Fine Art in Stoughton.

“Meet the Artists” reception is Oct. 8, 6-9 p.m. (this Friday night!), with a final show and auction reception on Oct. 29 at 9 p.m.

From their site: The 2010 Habitat ReStore Salvage Art Show features 43 artists and 73 works of art. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Dane County and the Habitat ReStore by keeping reusable materials out of the landfill. The show is funded in part by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, the Madison Arts Commission, the Cress Funeral and Cremation Service and the Wisconsin Arts Board.

List (with photos) of all artwork, plus map and more info here.

New reduction woodcut edition of 50(!)

1st time doing an editon this big. Lots of fun. Studio smells like ink, mmmmmm. This was for a folio exchange organized by Julia Taylor. Title of the exchange (that we had to address in our work) is “Opposition.”

One of my favorite things about printmaking, are the lines of finished, drying prints along the wall. Feels so productive!

If you look closely above (click on any image to enlarge), you can see the 4 colors used, and separately printed (at bottom left) over the course of this print run.

And the print:

"Genetic Opposition" by S.V. Medaris • 14" x 11" • 4-color reduction woodcut, and chine collé on mulberry.

“The Writing’s on the Wall” exhibit…

…is up through Oct. 30. Opening night at Central Library Gallery (201 W. Mifflin St) was a success! Visitors to the reception numbered about 180, so thanks to everyone who came!

The artists’ work is terrific, and the debut of Michael Martin’s altered book sets “Scary Nun Stories” and “Confessions of an Ex-Altar Boy” at the opening were a hit! The exhibit features 1-4 pieces each from the following artists: Yael Gen, Nancee Wipperfurth Killoran, Laura Komai, Heather Lins, Michael Martin, S.V. Medaris, Erin O’Connor, Cynthia Quinn, Karen Timm, and Larry Welo. It’s definitely worth seeing, so I hope you get a chance to go see it this month.

Hopefully, more photos to come, but in the meantime, here’s the outside banner at the library, visible until Oct. 30 or until it falls apart (whichever comes first). It’s a woodcut (oil-based ink) on canvas, so it should be good unless the weather goes crazy, which it very well might. Printing it was a nightmare, but more on that later. Pig measures 8ft wide x 4ft high, so banner just a bit bigger than that:

Library hours for Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St (Madison!):
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 – 9:00
Friday: 9:00 – 6:00
Saturday: 9:00 – 5:00
Sunday: (October – April: 1:00 – 5:00)