Clydesdales, Lexington, and Lucky Book
Print: 4x4in, Book: 2x2in.
1-color linocut, hand-carved rubber stamps on dyed/colored masa.

In addition, we’ll experiment with printing on fabric and/or tees (with the press). Learn the tricks to making clear, crisp prints easily and without frustration. Make your print as simple or as complex as you’d like, but keep details to a minimum and/or size of block small so that you can finish cutting and printing before end of workshop. (5″ x 7″ – 4″ x 6″ ideal. No larger than 8″ x 10″) Better understand the different substrates for cutting (different kinds of linoleum, rubber, wood, and synthetic materials), different papers for printing on, and the different tools you’ll need for different techniques/substrates. You can experiment with cutting some of these materials as interest/time allow. Note: More detailed information on supply list.

NOTE: I include the Clydesdales, Lexington print/book above, to show some of the fun things you can do with a simple 1-color linocut (like we will be doing in class), dye and stamps.

4ft long goose! Reduction woodcut adhered to plywood form.

Also, Paoli’s Artisan Gallery shows are up and I think, pretty terrific. The one in the front end of the gallery is Flora and Fauna. I’ve got the new 48in goose print (reduction print–see it here) showing (over to the left on a bright blue wall that matches the blue sky in the goose painting(!), and a cutout woodcut pig.

Then, back in The Cooler (also at Artisan Gallery), it’s the Habitat ReStore Salvage Art Show and Benefit, April 10-June 2 Check out all the salvage art made by local artists. My favorites: Michael Roberts’ Hammera (a figure made out of piano hammers, from an entire piano that Michael purchased at a thrift shop), and Fish Spoon #2 by Linda Kelen (a cold-forged, chased/repoussed white bronze spoon). I’ve got 3 small wooden cutout figures–woodcut or linocuts. See all the work that’s currently showing at the online ReStore Salvage Art show April 19th – June 2nd

One of my favorite (and challenging) shows of the year: The Habitat Restore Salvage Art Show (See all of this year’s artwork for sale) where you have to find some repurposed item to use in your piece. This year? refurbished, upcycled old wood cedar siding (from our old house in Stoughton). Glued then varnished on top with old, imperfect (slated for recycling) woodcuts from past editions (because you know there’s always imperfect woodcuts lying around waiting to be recyled!). Here’s three pieces you’ll see at Artisan Gallery‘s opening reception tonight:

‘Calavera Ratoncito’ for Habitat Restore Salvage Show. About 9in tall, hand-colored woodcut on French’s paper, adhered to old, repurposed cedar ciding.

‘Wooden Bulldog’ for Habitat Restore Salvage Show. About 8in tall, reduction woodcut on mulberry paper, adhered to old, repurposed cedar ciding.

‘Wooden Circus Dog’ for Habitat Restore Salvage Show. About 12in tall, reduction woodcut on Arches Cover, adhered to old, repurposed cedar ciding.

And here is Habitat ReStore’s statement about the show. Pretty cool, huh?:
The purpose of this show is to create a community event where artists and gallery owners can collaborate and to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County and to re-purpose another person’s junk into amazing works of art. This event saves items from the landfill and gives artists and gallery owners an opportunity to network with one another and the community.

Showing with my friend and fellow artist Alicia Rheal in our From Farm to Fork (to Fabulous!) exhibit. The opening reception is a gala celebration and benefit for the Walls of Wittenberg. More info, and the poster, below. Highlight? Why Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats of course.

This is going to be a really fun (and delicious) opening reception! (Click on poster to enlarge) And, if you drive up early, you can visit Nueske’s Company Store in Wittenberg (Sat. hours: 8-4).

The WowSpace is located at 114 Vinal St – Wittenberg, WI. Easy to find…Just look for the 8ft hanging hog carcasses and the giant pull-toy pig (cuts) in the front windows along the main street of downtown Wittenberg!

And here’s more info about the Walls of Wittenberg ongoing mural project.

One section of the wall installed for now….

Installing…. That’s an 18ft long Hampshire stud boar on right (the model, Pioneer is owned by Monson Show Pigs in Richland Center). And that’s an 8ft pull-toy pig in front window.

‘My Work Here is Done’ • oil on panel • 10in x 8in (click to enlarge)

Showing this Friday at Artisan Gallery’s Painting Invitational….

(Opening this Friday, March 1, 5-9pm, Artisan Gallery in Paoli, WI)

If this big white dog–the Great Pyrenees–looks at all familiar, it’s because she’s Betty, our neighbor dog who guards her herd of alpacas. I photographed her in action helping with the birth of that baby alpaca (cria). You can see the photo sequence of ‘Alpaca gives birth’ here. The Mama alpaca is Maggie, and the cria is T-cup. This scene is from Galpaca farm, the place just down the road, to the southeast of us.

‘Getting Close’ • oil on paper • 4in x 6in

Yep, I finally picked up the brushes and started painting with oils again, after a 4-year hiatus, while I went to grad school and learned how to do relief printmaking, then spent last year perfecting the print extravaganza that was the Tunnel of Mortality.

Last month I was invited to take part in Artisan’s Painting invitational, and just figured it’s time to get back to it. It was a little slow going at first, but sort of a relief–just color, you know? And not having to think too much about it–just mixing up hues and values that work immediately. No planning out layers of colors for print.

‘Constant Companion’ • oil on panel • 5in x 7in

Roughed out 4 paintings to work on simultaneously, so I could keep working without stopping and waiting for something to dry…. I started out really small with 3 little oils (before finishing Betty and the gang, at top). Here are 2 of them… above, one of our hogs from last year, ‘getting close’ to that time. And a portrait of Oreo, this great, faithful companion of a farmer on hwy 78. Oreo could often be seen patiently waiting beside the driveway entrance whenever his master went away. And here, in this shot, he lay with a very watchful eye, in the closest spot of shade, while his master worked on one of the farm vehicles.

Available at our Spring Art Tour site for only $15. See the whole poster, below. Detail of little Squirt at right. (BUY POSTER NOW)

This is a fundraiser for our Spring Art Tour. You can support our nonprofit group MHAAA (Mount Horeb Area Arts Association)–that pays for advertising (to promote the tour), a yearly art scholarship for a local high school student, and basically allows us to hold this Mount Horeb Area Spring Art Tour every year–just by purchasing this scene from a little dairy barn near Blanchardville.

The dog is Squirt, and she IS quality control for this farm. At milking time, she can be found trotting up and down the aisles, keeping all the girls in line while they’re being milked. If anybody’s out of line, she nimbly jumps up and nips them on the nose. All the girls watch her with eagle eyes as she trots by. When milking is over, the farmer goes and opens the door, and Squirt runs around and gets them all moving. She gets the first one to go out, then dances to and fro, herding every last cow out of that barn. The farmer just holds the door open. Don’t you wish your terrier was this well-trained??!! I do.

Quality Control was originally a 6ft x 5ft oil painting, done for a solo show The Lives of Farm Dogs, in 2005. It was easily the most popular painting of this sold-out (well except for Not From Around Here) show. The poster is a standard 16in x 20in size, which will fit into any 16x20in frame you can pick up inexpensively at Hobby Lobby, Lynn’s of Madison, or any of those big box stores that I don’t want to name but that sell everything really cheap.

Go get the Quality Control poster here!

Our Spring Art Tour poster features Quality Control, originally a 6ft x 5ft oil painting on canvas. The poster sells for $15 and measures a handy 16in x 20in. (click poster to see it in detail)

‘Corvus corax (tastes like chicken)’ by S.V. Medaris • 22in x 22in • reduction woodcut

There is some fantastic work in this show…. Specifically, ceramic crows by Ryan Myers, a gorgeous silver point by Robert Schultz, another beautiful woodcut by Nick Wroblewski, exquisite paintings by Kelli Hoppmann and Jonathan Wilde, and the list goes on…. Check it out tonight at the opening reception (and through Feb 24th). There is a preview of some of the work on Artisan’s Facebook Page.

This raven above (yes ravens were allowed in the show–yes, I asked before I even started planning this one out) was modeled after some great taxidermied ravens at the UW-Madison Zoology Museum. The “tastes like chicken” text in the print? You’ll see that the raven at lower left is snacking on a dead chicken. One of the biggest food sources for ravens is carrion–I see crows more often than vultures out here in the middle of nowhere, on a rural road, working on road-kill. I’m sure if any raccoon or coyote or possum or hawk or owl (…) was insane enough to leave part of a juicy chicken lying about, a raven would finish it up sooner than later. Everybody loves chicken doncha’ know?