Around the World Blog Hop

The very talented Maya Matthew has tagged me to participate in the"Around the World Blog Hop"!

Each participant must share their answers to these questions: 

1. What am I working on? 

I'm working on a couple of different things right now. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know that I had three miniature pieces in a traveling exhibit called Tripletta.  All three of my pieces sold recently, so I now have to replace them. The pieces  that sold were called Seed Story I, II, and III; you can see them if you follow the Tripletta link. So,  I'm working on some more Seed Story pieces to replace them in the exhibit. Here are two that are not yet finished:

I'm also working on another piece in the Heron and Crow series, which are actually illustrations for what will hopefully be a children's book:

Heron and Crow II, monotype with mixed media, 9.75 x 9 inches

 It's about 90% finished, but still needs some tweaking here and there. 

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 

The mixed media genre is pretty wide open and eclectic, so I chose to answer this question in regard to monotype. Traditionally, monotype is usually done by coating the plate (I use a sheet of plexiglass) in one color of ink, then wiping the ink away to create the image. In contrast, my working is made by building up layers of transparent inks. Essentially, my method is almost the direct opposite of  the way most monotypes are made.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?  

The images I make are formed from the vocabulary of symbols that I’ve developed as I sought to express the theme that lies at the foundation of it all: a deep belief in the unity and connectedness of everything in the universe.  Related to this is my conviction that every part of the earth is sacred, including the myriad beings that ride it through space.  At the most basic level, we are made of the same stuff as the stars, the trees, the air, the ocean.  Having come from the same source, we are all connected in the most intricate ways, both visible and invisible.  This belief is expressed by the transposition of objects, the overlapping of transparent images, and by forms that seem to transform into something else.  I'm constantly searching for more effective methods of revealing this mystery, and it is the basis of my artistic practice.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

My process for these mixed media pieces usually begins with a monotype base layer, to which I add further layers of color.  The monotype itself consists of many layers of oil-based lithographic ink, thinned to transparency in order to allow the colors of previous layers to show through.  In this way, I believe the mixing of colors to be richer and more varied than if I pre-mixed the inks in advance.  Normally there are at least four to six passes through the press, with leaves and other plant materials included in at least some of the pressings.  All of these pieces are done on a substrate of Rives BFK 100% cotton printmaking paper; inks and other materials are as archival and lightfast as possible.  

After the monotype is dry, layers of watercolor, colored pencil, and other (mainly transparent) media are added.  Collage elements may also be added; these are usually pieces of discarded monotypes.  With this layering process, I hope to achieve a certain luminosity and brilliance, as well as a blending and unity of images. This unity is an objective in conveying the content of my work.  The process I use in creating these pieces is one that I developed myself through trial and error, in an effort to achieve the result I desired.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone interested in continuing the blog hop, so I guess the hop stops here. If you'd like to join in, please let me know, and I'll send you the details.