Today was the last day of the semester, last day at the printmaking studio until Autumn. Bittersweet as I will be better able to focus on painting, but saddened that the immediate thrill of fresh ink on virgin paper will need to be postponed until next semester. Painting, particularly in oil has many joys, but not immediacy, oil requires patience. Relief printing seems so direct, so immediate, I love that quality.
In all this was a great semester, some noisome mockingbirds disrupted class with there incessant chatter, but Jim our instructor guided the class with a firm hand. I was pretty prolific, 11 prints in all, some in multiple editions with different color ways. Some were complete duds, but a few I actually like, particularly as I stood back and ACTUALLY looked at them during the critique.
Sometimes the forest really is just too thick to make out the trees.
Jim had many encouraging words for which I am grateful, he is a discerning man, his praise is not given lightly.
To top off the day I sold Strange Fruit, a two color relief print that I had submitted in the student show. Very delighted by that. The young woman who purchased the print really “got” the print, particularly concerning aesthetic sensibilities; again, I’m very appreciative of that fact.
So today was a good day, will get back to painting soon but right now just savoring having finished a semester in such fine condition.
The following is the ‘sold’ print, image from the purchaser’s Facebook page.
Thank you Natalie!
Until next time, take care, LG
Boondocks Babylon 
what a fruitful semester! and congratulations 🙂
Thank you , it was a satisfying semester .
Congratulations!!
And I will be looking forward to seeing your paintings, but I also feel like I should point out that it is not hard to get a good print from lino without a press if you find that you miss printmaking over the summer. A wooden spoon works as a baren, or you can put the paper under the lino and push down hard with you hands (or feet if you have a nice flat floor and don’t like sore wrists). Anyway, it’s incredible and impressive all you’ve done in such a short time.
Thank you . And yes I know the spoon technique , I use it for proofs but nothing seems to beat the richness of the press. Plus if I become to proficient with the spoon the spouse will never buy me a press 🙂
Again , thanks, LG