Print!Eugene Event & Summer Sketching

Last Sunday (August 17) I participated in a very interesting event at the Watershed Gallery, organized by the Watershed Arts Foundation here in Eugene. The event included many talented artists who work in various printmaking media. It also featured the making of HUGE prints with the help of a stem-roller! I was recruited to demonstrate watercolor monotype technique. Here is one of my previous posts where I explain what this technique is.

Above and below are two demo results that I liked:

Below is the Plexiglas plate that I painted on before putting it through the press, and the plant I used as reference.

Below are a two photos from the event. I really liked this man who was very interested in learning about the technique. He and his wife kept returning to my booth with more questions. Bottom right is the fabulous artist Mika Aono Boyd, who was also demoing and selling her work. Here she is seen helping me set up the press. She also prepared all the fabulous plates that I painted on! See her work: http://mikaboyd.com/home.html 

See more photos from the event here! (Including some of the giant steam-roller prints!)

Here are a few random pieces from this summer. It is very important to carry something with you at all times for taking visual notes . Whether you have your watercolors with you or not, sketching is key. Sometimes I carry colored pencils with me, this adds a mood and an atmosphere to the sketch, and helps me practice editing what I "say" in the drawing. How can I describe mood and experience with limited color? How can I describe form and space without the use of wash? Drawing with pen also help me focus on patterns and line. The sketch on the bottom right was done at J-tea.

Below is a little assignment that I gave to myself. Feeling a little stuck one week, I instructed myself to go out and paint at least one landscape per day. It gave me some ideas and energy to move on to the next project. If you feel stuck, give yourself a little assignment, and remove the pressure by saying: "I'll just paint something, and it doesn't matter what it ends up looking like!"