Ferry alternative

My little jab at the state of the ferries in the province in this month's Northeast Avalon Times. Pick one up if you're in the area. If you're not up on the story, it's a reference to Sheilagh O'Leary's recent "Tickle Swim for Mental Health" from Portugal Cove to Bell Island.

Some Good Market

Made a new copper "Trout Zepplins" this week which you can check out in person this Saturday at Some Good Market at Canonwood Hall in St. John's, 10am-4pm. Grand puffin prints, Alphonse Moose linocuts, Arthur the Stout Cod embossings, hand-screened shirts... a whole yaffle of crafty, arty goodness...  and that's just my table. There's 60 quality vendors! If you're in town, drop by!

More details and list of vendors here.

Age of the Paper

I came across Félix Vallotton's ‘L’âge du papier’ on my Tumblr feed the other day. I'd seen his work before but this one stuck. I guess I was feeling sentimental about newspapers. I spent 12 years in the newspaper industry. I don't think I'll ever work there again, but I do miss it. I think the inky smell at the plant gets in you. And lingers.

Vallotton's image (see below) is an etching. Mine is soft pastels on paper (above). Approximately 12"x13". The soft pastels are chunky... probably the wrong medium for such an image. Tough to get fine detail. It's a bit rough but I'm happy with it. Colours are Van Dyke Brown and Naples Yellow. I simplified the background at the top. And added some puffins. :) Can't wait to hang it in the house.

Félix Vallotton, ‘L’âge du papier’, published in Le cri de Paris, 23 January 1898

Painting exits; enter embossing

"Noble Cod" is off the easel and at the framers. He'll join me at future markets in print form in the coming weeks. Arthur the Stout Cod re-emerged in the workshop today (see below), after a lengthy absence. Hoping to make quite a few embossed pieces in the coming weeks.

Noble Cod progress

On the easel this week is Noble Cod, the next of the Victorian-style portraits I've been doing lately. He's only half-way to the finish line yet, but I thought he's presentable enough for a progress shot.

Charles Puffin t-shirts

After a few months of gathering gear and ordering supplies, I've started a little screen printing operation with my friend and t-shirt mentor Doug Bird. Having a great time with the process. Our first screen is based on my Charles Puffin linocut... I suppose Alphonse Moose will have to be next or he's going to get his nose out of joint.

Red Unravelled, poured paint abstract

It's been a while since I've poured some paint. Had a hankering for it lately and this is the result from Monday evening. It's not exactly subtle... has quite a bit going on actually... but I'm happy with the result. There are several patches of crazing on each panel which was unexpected considering the amount of pouring medium I used. I like the look of it. Letting it fully dry for a week or so before putting a coat or two of varnish on it.

I love taking the time to look at the details of each panel, letting my brain try to make sense of the chaos... eventually faces, creatures and landscapes start to emerge. Although I can't wait to hang this one in the house, it's certainly for sale! I'll post it in the shop soon... if you don't see it, message me for pricing/availability.

Red Unravelled
Poured acrylic on three canvas panels
Total size 48"x 24"

Alphonse Moose linocut

Finished Alphonse last week, just in time for Saturday's market. He was a big hit.

Some people questioned the "14 points" and counted them out.

"I only see eight" they'd say.

"Hunting accident," I'd reply.

Still chip-chip-chipping away at the new linocut... day 2. Should finish on Thursday or early Friday. Hoping to have prints for the Some Good Market on Saturday (Canonwood Hall, 10-4). This is a pic of the top of the plate. I seem to be working from the outside in. Glad I did all the lettering first... the rest seems relaxing by comparison.

Linocut process pic

Working on a new linocut which I'm hoping to print by the end of the week. The blue is from the transfer paper. I started the illustration in Sketchbook Pro (iPad) finished it in Illustrator. When everything is just so, I print it out and use the transfer paper to, well, y'know... transfer to the linoleum plate. Then the knives come out and the real fun begins. I'm using Xacto blades for the lettering this time around to get cleaner lines.

This is my major art project for the week. Printing on Friday for Saturday is a realistic goal as I'm using water-based inks these days. Got a big market on the weekend, hence the deadline.

If you're in St. John's, drop by Canonwood Hall for Some Good Market (10am-4pm), Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. I'll be there with my linos and painting prints.

Historic sites gallery

I was really fortunate to get a few pieces in the new Historic Sites gallery on the second floor of their Water Street shop in downtown St. John's. If you get the chance, drop down for a looksy. Should be on until the end of August.

Surly puffins

A little jab at the tourists in Newfoundland for the Northeast Avalon Times. Pick one up!

Puffin dood

Some puffin scratches from the sketchbook.

Scallywag show pix

Formal puffins, cartoon kitchen parties, large surreal woodcuts, expressionist landscapes and more! Here's a sneak peek an the Four Scallywags show, on now at Hava Java until mid-September. The Scallywags are Nick Kokis, John Andrews, Bill Ryan and Doug Bird. If you find yourself in downtown St. John's during the next two months, drop by and check it out! It's a great variety of styles, mediums and subjects. 

Scallywags have a show

This Sunday I'll be hanging pieces for another group show with Nick Kokis, Bill Ryan and Doug Bird at Hava Java in downtown St. John's. If you get the opportunity, please drop by and check it out! It's on from July 15 to September 14. There will be a wide assortment of paintings but I'm really looking forward to seeing Nick's woodcuts... he's a very talented printmaker. His "Croc" woodcut is the artwork on our promo material (see above).