Sketchbook April 29

It has been a long time since I have shown you my sketchbook.

I drew this because I saw it in a dream once. I was at a Natural History Museum and it was very dark inside and they had one of these creatures in an aquarium.

My partner told me it sounded like H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu. I have never read any of Lovecraft's books or seen any film adaptations of them. At least that I can remember....

You never know what memories lurk beneath the murky waters of your subconscious, which resurface only in the shadows of your dreams.



Sketchbook April 29 2008

Sketchbook April 15 2008

Tonight I attended a discussion about conceptual photography between John Divola, Shannon Ebner, and Sarah Charlesworth. It was a little difficult to follow because I don't fully understand exactly what conceptual art is. If anyone can offer some insight, please do.

The Wonderland Contest called me today because they were really interested in somehow seeing the rest of the project I submitted a photo to them from. I told them I would scan my contact sheets and send a schematic of the project to them. I am secretly a little thrilled.

My sketchbook is like a camera. I document my days through drawings. It is good practice.



Sketchbook April 15 2008

Drawings from San Francisco

San Francisco was beautiful. The San Francisco Women's Film Festival was very good, but I need to get better at talking about myself (Don't I talk about myself enough with my work? Hah!). I saw a program of experimental short films, punctuated with a "projector performance piece" by Kerry Laitala at a very interesting space called Oddball Film+Video. I went to the SFMOMA and dared to be a part of Vito Acconci's Command Piece. I sat on a hill at Delores Park surrounded by hipsters indulging in the freak eighty-degrees-plus weather. Though I have been to San Francisco a few times before, this is the first time I left my heart there - as they say. Which is fine because I would like to relocate there...one day, if I can ever afford it.

I kept my sketchbook under my arm the whole time, off and on the BART, up and down Powell Street. A sketchbook is a good companion on an adventure.









Drawings from San Francisco
Sketchbook April 11 2008, Sketchbook April 12 2008, Sketchbook April 13 2008

Sketchbook Mar 31 2008

This weekend was very busy. I prepared and shot my final photo project for class. There are still some pieces missing. I am nervous because some of the shots contained "special effects" that required a great deal of precision and timing. I get my negatives and contact sheets first thing tomorrow morning. Wish me luck.

Tonight I skipped class to come home and work on another linocut for the Female Nude by Female Artist series. I imagine a triptych. I carved for three hours. I had to stop because my neck began to hurt. I also had to come write in this blog.



Sketchbook Mar 31 2008

I don't know how I feel about this drawing.

Sketchbook Mar 26 2008, Work in progress

Sketchbook Mar 26 2008

I think I will make this into a linocut.



Work in progress

Just a proof on newsprint. I wanted to see how the lines were reading once they were inked.

Works in progress, Sketchbook Mar 22 2008 & Mar 24 2008

I'm sorry I have neglected you. Here are some sketches for works in progress.



Sketchbook Mar 24 2008
Study for collage - work in progress

Right now the piece is 22"x30", but I might cut it down to accommodate the composition. It will be a collage of prepared papers, torn apart to form a mosaic-like texture. I did it before by accident and really liked it. I had been waiting for an opportunity to try this technique again.



Sketchbook Mar 24 2008
Study for linocut - work in progress

I carved the linoleum today. I would show you my proofs, but I pulled them tonight and they are still wet. I want the image to have white negative space and black positive space. This would mean cutting everything but the lines out of the linoleum - which is enough to make a person crazy. So what I am trying is a block with the positive cut out, then I will roll out a black flat, roll white on the main plate (I know there is a much more elegant term for this I just can't recall it at the moment), and use that to get the black lines. I know the white will come out textured, but I think it will suit the image very well. I might experiment with other color inks.



Sketchbook Mar 22 2008

This one actually came first. I drew it while I was watching an episode of The Maury Show. I may or may not use it for a linocut.

And this is just because:



Sketchbook Mar 24

Thank you to everyone who attended the show on Thursday. The whole event was a great pleasure.

Sketchbook Mar 12 2008, Work in progress

Sketchbook Mar 12 2008

Because it will be my last spring break ever.



Work in progress



Work in progress

Yesterday I added the silver nitrate to the paper for my salted paper print project. I also exposed the paper. The first one I did for five minutes in the sun, which is obviously not enough. I washed it before I put it in the fix. I noticed it became lighter in the fix, so I decided I would just go straight to the fix with my second attempt, despite what the instructions say. The second one I did for ten minutes. You can see I did not apply...well, something evenly enough (I am thinking the silver nitrate because with all the salted liquids I put on the paper initially I doubt I would have missed a spot!), but the image is better. Next time I think I will leave everything out in the sun for twenty minutes, then straight into the fix, followed by a long wash. I must also be careful to apply the silver nitrate evenly. Too much is better than too little.

I must also not be so impatient. It is my greatest fault as a human being.

Work in progress, Sketchbook Mar 11 2008

I am excited because I finally collected fluids and coated the paper for my salted paper print. So far I have semen & urine on a sheet of cream-colored Arches paper. I will also use water from the bong and wine from the box in the refrigerator. On Thursday I will coat the paper with silver nitrate and expose it. I am excited because I began work on this project in February and it has just been sitting around my apartment and my brain until now.

If it is any good I will show it on the 20th.

That's another thing I have to really start worrying about, that show.

I hope you will come if you can.

Here are some drawings from my sketchbook.




In no particular order.

Sketchbook Mar 10 2008, work in progress

I have been neglecting my sketchbook for some time and it has shown. So today I returned to my beloved companion and reassured myself that I can indeed draw.

Today I practiced drawing feet because I have been having trouble with that.






Consequently, my feet were out of proportion.



Right now I am working on an etching. I used hard ground & acid. I don't know how I feel about it yet. The plate is zinc & is 9x6".



I have to think about it.