smart thinking

In my latest KKV session I also took the time to make some more tiles (screen printed with special enamel screen printing colour). I liked the way they turned out - but it wasn't smart thinking. I can't take these with me to London because of the weight... I should have been making miniatures instead! And on paper.

enamel on tiles

Next Friday and Saturday I'm going to have Open Studio (Friday 16:30-18:30, Saturday 13:00-15:00). Part of my preparations for next week is to finish some enamels as complement to the ones I made in November last year. I spent a day of total flow at KKV today (yes, yes!) working on them. I also screenprinted with enamel colour on tiles. As it is much cheaper I felt free to experiment more.

the incredible hulk

I watched the The Incredible Hulk TV-series in the early 80's.

Zorro

I could not resist - of course - to work a bit on my own art these days in Lidköping. I did a bit of drawing at night and printed at my lunch break just using paper stencils and open screenframe - the simplest ways of working with screenprinting. I liked the limitations; I had to work with cutout silhouettes instead of lines. But somehow the lines got even more important.

one more thing

I almost forgot: Bibbi is opening her exhibit tomorrow - and I'm going. I've never seen her before (just read the blog) so it's going to be exciting!

even though I've been teaching full time this week I managed to make my own prints (in my lunch break) - experimental printing thinking about my children's book idea.

mixing

confession: I'm tempted to start working on a book for children.

screenprinting made easy: 2

Also for my screenprinting class: Sometimes you can just use what you find. Here I picked some leaves on my way to KKV and simply put them directly onto the screenframe and exposed the photo emulsion. I then printed the leaves in one go, letting different colours mix in the printing process.

screenprinting made easy: 1

For my class next week, and last week of April, I prepared these simple screenprints. Instead of transferring something to a plastic film through computer and copy machine/printer - I simply used some shapes I had cut earlier (playing with the offspring). I taped them on to the plastic film and transferred them to the screenframe directly (using photo emulsion). To get the irregular orange background I simply taped a shape onto an unprepared screenframe ("typical screenprint" to print a colourfield like that as a base). The white shape (in the print on the right) was originally a rhino made by using a stencil directly under the screenframe while printing.

The idea with these prints is to show how you can make screenprints in a more direct way. Sometimes that can be the best way to start out so you'll understand the underlying principles. This way of working is also referring to early poster art made with silk screen: big simple shapes in strong colours.

Lately I've gotten more interested in works on paper. Georgia Russel cuts paper (no 8 - De Baudelaire au Surréalisme is my favorite) - many of them books. Caterina Crepax makes fashion inspired paper art (check opere).

2 versions of Valkyrie

So - here is the result. I decided to print the Valkyrie in two versions: 15 of the first and 6 of the last. Which one do you prefer?

Next week I'll show the result of the tests I made for my screenprinting class later in April. I can already now mention there is a blue rhino involved. (is that like pink elephants?)

screenprinting session

Today I screenprinted with Eric at KKV. So nice with company - and not just any company! Camilla and Morran showed up for a coffee (nice nice) while we were still doing all the preparations (hours and hours) before starting the actual printing (30 min). It's like giving a party - the planning and preparing is essential to get a good intense party (printing). Though I didn't feel any post printing depression. Anyhow the party - sorry: printing - continues tomorrow.

All and all a very NICE day: nice sun, nice company, nice printing, nice last manga class ... and now: a glass of nice wine!

preparing for screenprinting

I'll do some screenprinting at KKV the rest of the week. This Valkyrie is a sketch for the print I'll work on. I have sketched on a Darth Vader as well, but I haven't really gotten what I wanted there - yet. So I'll better wait with that one. Besides - part of the screen session is to prepare for some classes I'll give in screenprinting on paper later in April. So I need to run some tests (and not try to print too many prints).

The Valkyrie is to be part of my Superheroes (Darth Vader too!).

eagle fight

As it's after Christmas I can reveal one of the gifts. This is a t-shirt with eagles printed on it - eagles fighting. But I never got enough time to make something for my son's trains... maybe something for his birthday instead?

naked/dressed

I'm continuing to work on my screen printed superheroes as I planned. I colour them (or as I call it in Swedish "fylleri-övningar" - hard to translate) playing with how different you can make them look. Naked/dressed is something Vanessa Beecroft works with in her installation as many know. But she has also made some really sensitive paintings (looks like watercolours to me?) that I didn't know about before (so check the link!).

dear deer

It's been a looong and hard week (mostly fun though) and now it's soon 22:00 - friday night. So I should call it a day - and a week (over!). Today I went and picked up my prints (above) from this week. I made more then I need. Any buyers?

screen: day 2

This two days-screen printing session was actually supposed to be a test printing for the "enamel week" I'm planning in two weeks. But I must admit it became a minor part of my screening. Sure, I printed five roosters with different combinations of street name and number - but that was it. (yes it's still the animal enamels I just keep referring to, but actually never make. Just planning).

Above is a mirrored deer looking more red nosed Rudolf like (photo taken from a strange angle). Printed today. I'm planning to use it as Xmas card - both for selling and giving away. I made another one as well. I'll post "proper" photos of them later.

screen: day 1

Day 1 of two planned screening days at KKV. I'm working on more super heroes (less lonely ones) - planning some additional work with watercolour on some of these.

Camilla Engman was printing with me. Nice company!

It was almost totally dark when we left KKV. Turning to look back at the fort-looking building we spotted the angel. Hard to miss... I assume it's Vladimir Stoces' work.