HOORAY, it's Monday!

One of my favorite things about Monday right now is that no matter how much I have to do or what state my studio and work is- I go to an hour and 15 minute  yoga class at Bend Yoga here in Prescott.  They only opened months ago and since I love hot yoga and could take classes only when I traveled- I was really excited to see they were here.  So I started with 2 days a week, went to 3 and now a couple weeks ago added Mondays!!!  I am back in my studio now and ready to start my day and although I worked my butt off for a bit earlier- I am energized and flowing creative energy.

On the agenda, more writing-  I have started my book on digitally printing alternative surfaces. For today I will finish the chapter on my 6 printers so readers can see just how I use all my printing tools.   This book will be crammed full of all sorts of information on my digital printing process.  I will do complete how to's on surfaces I have been creating and sharing and some new.  There will be information on printing with all 6 of my printers so surfaces will be designed for non-art printers also.  Coming up when I have finalized my table of contents I will post it.

Front of a cheesecloth skin.  The image is a detail of one of my digital mixed media pieces on slightly dyed yellow cheesecloth.

This shows the back of the above print on a cheesecloth skin.  The yellow tone of the dyed cheesecloth is visible as the base of the print.

JuliAnne Kaplan- Photographer

I’d like to introduce a professional photographer out of San Rafael California, JuliAnne Kaplan.  
About her work JuliAnne says  "My work is typically abstract and minimalist using natural lighting to highlight color and texture.  


JuliAnne contacted me at the end of 2010 to make plans for a one on one workshop in my studio in February 2011.  I had seen some of JuliAnne’s photography by visiting her website and was drawn to her interesting photographic world.  Her photographs lend themselves to all sorts of alternative surfaces.  What I didn’t know about JuliAnne was that she was a bit conservative in many ways and somewhat timid.  What I mean by this is that JuliAnne likes to structure her world a bit and my out of the box approach was an entirely new way for her to think.

Well think she did and in returning home she was so excited about what she had learned she immediately purchased a new Epson 7890. JuliAnne also got many of the supplies together she would need to embark on this new endeavor of digital printing alternative surfaces.  Now we need to dial it forward a year to 2012 and the ink still hadn’t been removed from the plastic packages and her printer was (after it being in a box in the garage for awhile) just freshly put together and in plastic in the corner of her computer studio. 

Luckily I was on my way to San Francisco to participate in a workshop and JuliAnne was in the need of getting her studio put together in such a way as she could actually print.  It was like a match made in heaven since I was available to spend some time setting up her printers and getting everything set so she could print alternative surfaces.  

If you visit my Digital Alternative Journaling site, you will be able to read the pages of my iPad journal about our journey through some of the set up and the significant results we had digitally printing some incredible surfaces. It was one of those- you had to be there, but humor was a LARGE part of our time together and both of us smile each time we think about our experience.  Three pages of my journal are posted from April 5, April 6 and April 9.  (You can click on each date to take you to the individual posts.)

Ms. Kaplan recently told me “the work you do has been the BEST THERAPY I have ever had!  I’m even learning how NOT to make my bed in the morning!!!  Your one-on-one workshops have really helped to stretch my comfort zone and as a result, I am quickly seeing and entirely new phase of my works emerge after shooting since 1970....”  

Visit JuliAnne’s website to get familiar with her photography.  Some of her work will appear in my upcoming book about digital printing alternative surfaces. 

Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces

Don't you just love the internet?  I recently returned from teaching a 3 day workshop for the Texas Federation of Fiber Artists.  I was also the juror of their show "Fiberwerkes 2012 and I gave the keynote at the dinner "Untwine Your Mind: Beyond Fiber". It was a brilliant week and I was surrounded by all sorts of wonderful people.  It was a great time and recently a couple people blogged on the event.  Diane Sandlin who was my "angel" in the classroom and everything else.  Then Leslie Tucker Jennison who is in the 8 That Create group I am in.  It was great to meet Leslie for the first time.  When you visit the link that is attached to Leslie's name, go back and look at this link also- it is about the workshop Leslie too from Mary Ruth Smith.  Mary Ruth was one of the instructors at the conference.  She was also one of the artist's I juried into the show and her work is just awesome.

Diane and Leslie beat me to any blogging on the subject and I wanted you all to see their posts.  I know for myself that every time I teach a new group or meet other artists interested in digital alternative surfaces I get all sorts of ideas on pushing this process.  So many ideas came to me when working on my keynote and researching the artists for my keynote.  I continue to grow, get tons of new ideas and spark my creativity!!!

So today along with the other links I will show you how to access one of my new domains.

Digital Alternative Surfaces.  I am building content in a few new places which will keep me hopping I the blog category and keep me creating and pushing the digital surface.  This is going to be a great year for creativity, but aren't they all? 

Bits and Pieces in Construction

Still thinking about this piece.  I know what I want to plug in the layers, but there is a ton of work left.  Since I am leaving for Texas to teach at the Texas Federation of Fiber Artists Conference I will have to let it sit till I get back.  The layers consist of a digital print on wire mesh, digital print on beverage cans and there will be slivers of beverage cans that have digital prints in between.  It will be very crushed up. As you can see the layers fall off of each other right now.  I may be able to get a few pieces done just to see what it looks like, but there is tons to do before I leave and my keynote to finish today.  Those pesky images need to be in place and work:)

Pushing Forward with Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces

Going forward there are so many ways to push digital printing on alternative surfaces.  This new workshop that will take place in my studio on June 16 and 17 this year will take ideas further while sticking safely inside the perimeters of current printers.  Here is the information for this workshop.

Pushing Forward with Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces

June 16 and 17, 2012 

9AM to 4PM

Kathyanne Art Studio

930 S. Cowboy Springs Trl.

Prescott, AZ  86305

Workshop fee of $375.00 for the 2 days $50.00 supply fee due at workshop.

Deposit of $190.00  balance paid 30 days before workshop.

Contact me for registration- payment by check or paypal

My In-Studio Workshops have a 4 person limit

In order for a student to participate in this workshop they must have digital alternative printing experience.  A prerequisite such as my In Studio workshop on April 28 & 29,  “Getting Started with Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces”.   If you have not taken one of my digital printing classes before, you can take my online course “Getting Started with Digital Prints on Uncommon Surfaces” from the KathyAnne Art site to prepare.  Contact me for details.

This workshop will focus on extreme surface preparation for alternative digital printing.  We will be experimenting rather then creating finished prints, but you will print.  Cutting edge surfaces will be the goal.  We will also experiment with after print processes like encaustics.  Sewing may be included, but I have several machines and plenty of supplies.

We will use altered kozo bark and pound it into amate bark paper, dry, coat and print.  Amate bark is an amazing surface for printing if constructed correctly.  This technique may be used with other fiber.  Surfaces will be built and techniques shown to make sure substrates will print safely.  Feel free to bring some prints or pieces of prints to experiment with some of the after process ideas.  Some of my prints will be available to use so that students will be able to experiment with some construction ideas.

This will be an adventurous and uniquely experimental day.  

A laptop will be helpful.  Images may need to be altered to fit the size and the look of your surface.  I will have jump drives to move and load images for printing.  

When building surfaces elements may be added that could affect the look of the final print.  We will scan and/or photograph these types of surfaces in order to create a print based on the substrate. 

Bring lunch since there is no place near to get something to eat.  I have water, diet soft drinks and ice tea and will have some snacks.  There are a few errors in some of the gps tracking for directions.  Let me know where you are driving from, so I can give you correct directions.  

This studio is in a rural area on a dirt road.  I do have animals around including a cat in case you are allergic.  

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes that won't matter if you get some type of product on them.  If you want to wear gloves while painting or applying products please bring them.

Come with your imagination, questions, ideas and desire to explore.  We will deal in what if's while we create extreme surfaces that safely print on my printers.  Any questions feel free to call.

Getting Started with Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces

In Studio Workshop set for April 28 and 29, 2012

For all of you who want to learn to print on digital alternative surfaces.  

Getting Started with Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces

April 28-29, 2012

9AM to 4PM each day

Kathyanne Art Studio

930 S. Cowboy Springs Trl.

Prescott, AZ  86305

My In-Studio Workshops have a 4 person limit.

Workshop Description:

This workshop will focus on printing alternative surfaces.  Where digital printing is concerned my goal is to discover the possibilities between the surface created, the inkAID precoat used and the printer capabilities.  One of the goals of this workshop will to be experiment and build surfaces that will take us into the basic new ideas of digital printing.   We will use an Epson Stylus Photo R3000 for most of the printing.  This will be hands on experience with Epson printers.  We will also create a couple of surfaces to print on the Epson 1100 Workforce for hands on experience with a straight pass through non art printer.

We will prepare and print metal mesh and beverage cans along with fabrics and surfaces we build from scratch.  Students will get a well-rounded look at the digital printing process with alternative surfaces.  At the same time preprinted surfaces will be available for students to use to get an idea of innovative ways to assemble digital prints and create studies for future projects.  I have supplies and tools for us to experiment with assembling metals.  

A laptop will be helpful. Images may need to be altered to fit the size and the look of your surface.  When building surfaces we may paint, dye or add elements that will easily be seen in the final print.  In this case students will create an image file that reflects the look of the prepared surface.  We can scan and/or photograph your surface to get a better idea of the effect the prepared surface will create.  I will have jump drives to move and load images for printing.  

Bring lunch since there is no place near to get something to eat.  I have water, diet soft drinks and ice tea and will have some snacks.  There are a few errors in some of the gps tracking for directions.  Let me know where you are driving from, so I can give you correct directions.  

This studio is in a rural area on a dirt road.  I do have animals around including a cat in case you are allergic.  

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes that won't matter if you get some type of product on them.  If you want to wear gloves while painting or applying products please bring them.

Come with your imagination, questions, ideas and desire to explore.  We will deal in what if's while we create surfaces that safely print on my printers.  Any questions or registration contact me.

Digital Printing Fabrics and Beyond in Austin Texas

New workshop scheduled for May 18-20, 2012.

Dragonfly Gallery at Rosedale will be hosting my "Digital Printing Fabrics and Beyond" in Austin Texas this May.  

Digital Printing Fabrics and Beyond

This workshop is designed to be your complete guide to digital printing on uncommon types of substrates.  We will prepare and print fabric, specialty paper, substrates we build ourselves, beverage cans and metal mesh.  During the course of this workshop you will be introduced to many ideas for you to continue your exploration of the alternative digital printing process once the workshop is over. 

For a better understanding of this type of process and how images print with different substrates and precoats, it is recommended you use one image throughout the workshop.  Images that work best are all over prints without strong dividing lines such as a floral scene.  If you have any questions about suitable images, please contact me.

Exercises on color correction, size and resize and printer profiles will be available for students to understand how to create quality prints.  The current Photoshop CS will be used for demonstration, but instructions will also be printed using the current Photoshop Elements program at the time.  

Dragonfly Gallery is on Marathon Blvd in Austin Texas.  For workshop registration contact Nina Mihm. 

Spontaneous Creating

This morning I was on the way to my studio just wanting to create something. (Okay so it is only at the bottom of a set of stairs, but I knew something had to happen since I was feeling so inspired to go forward with an idea.)  Right now I am in the midst of many amazing projects, writing an ebook, doing workshop prep, a keynote to polish, an enews to write and a workshop of the month to finish for KathyAnne Art members.  Plus I am in the process of working on 2 art pieces simultaneously one for our 8 that create group and one for a refuse show.  

So what am I doing today?  Creating without regard to what deadlines are looming.  That is one of the things I love the best.  This is also a refuse piece that is calling me, so I can’t stop myself.  Have to go with the flow on this one and what a great morning it was with most of the elements ready to construct this piece.  

Here is the start of the set up and then I will have to see what other parts will be needed to assemble the piece.  Only a few more elements to get this to go together.  

My first inspiration was to go for the bottle caps.  Then I went for a rectangular box shape that is 6" x 6" x 10". 

This rectangular hardware cloth piece was put together a few months ago and not used.

Next I knew I wanted to fill the bottle caps with layers of something and the total layer thing wasn't clear yet, so I started with beverage can prints.

I tested some beverage cans to stamp into circles and found the size I wanted.  I then proceeded to cut enough circles with a smaller size circle to layer over the large one.   

I know what's next- this print will be torn small to fold over the edges of the bottle tops with 2 layers of beverage can circles and maybe beads.  I will try a study of a few caps later today or tomorrow.

Art Unraveled 2012

It's wonderful to be back at Art Unraveled again this year and teaching Explore Digital Printing.  My workshop at Art Unraveled 2012 will allow all the students to get a jump start on digital alternative surfaces.  Everyday I am creating ways to print on uncommon surfaces and now am continually designing surfaces that can be printed from a regular Epson Work Force printer.  It is amazing what can be done on a regular straight pass through printer.

I will include the workshop description here and links for access.  There is a short video on youtube to see a little of what the surfaces look like.  As with any of my workshop I strive to give the latest and greatest to my students and by August there will be tons more latest and greatest.  In any event we will also play with my printed surfaces so students will get an idea of what they can do with printed surfaces.  It will be informative, interesting and lots of fun, so if you are planning to be at Art Unraveled this year, check it out.

Registration is open on January 17th, so get ready.  We will be using my Epson small format printers and if we can print on them you can print on any pass through printer.

Explore Digital Printing

One of the amazing things about digital printing is the amount of surfaces you can use to print images for your artwork and journals. In this workshop students will print surfaces that have been prepared in advance. There will also be complete instructions to prepare surfaces for future printing. We will explore printing on fabric, lightweight metal, cheesecloth skin, tyvek and watercolor paper.

During the workshop we will use 2 Epson small format printers as everyone prints the surfaces from their kits for hands on experience. Learning how to use these 4” x 6” format printers prepares students to use other direct pass through printers to print alternative surfaces in the future. This workshop is mostly a process workshop although participants will make a small project of a mini journal and/or artist trading cards with some of their printed images. Additional materials will be available for students to use to experience working with printed surfaces to create mini journals or artist trading cards.

Each student will receive a CD containing a pdf of information about the digital printing process on alternative surfaces including printer profiles, sizing and resizing images, supplier information, a description of precoats and step by step instruction for applying precoats. See my youtube channel for a look at the surfaces we will print- 

Art Unraveled 2012 Explore Digital Printing

Art Unraveled 2012, Phoenix Arizona July 30 to August 7, 2012

8 That Create

Catchy title for a new artist group.  Like our title says, we are "8 that create".  Our group includes, myself, Kathyanne White, Sue Bleiweiss (the one who pulled us all together), Jane Davilla, Jamie Fingal, Gloria Hansen, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Liz Kettle and Carol Sloan.

8 That Create is a group of professional, artists that explore the use of

innovative mixed media techniques to manipulate, alter and enhance the

appearance of their chosen surface. 

Our mission is to support each other in our individual artistic journeys and to

provide inspiration to others through our group exhibitions, publications,

website and blog. 

Each of us has introduced ourselves on our 8 that create blog.  There you can follow what is coming up for our group.  We will have our first internet show in March so stay tuned to see what happens then or better check our website for details sometime in the future.  My piece is in the works and I will post "in the beginning pictures" in about 2 weeks.  Check our blog from time to time and keep up with the happenings of "8 that create".

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES- WE DO!!!!!