Beverage Can Prints

Crazy busy in my studio and at least I am getting to some of my serious printing tasks.  Since I am gearing up for vending night at ARTFEST 2011 (wow is it really next week?) I have been doing some printing.  First some cheesecloth skins on my new 7890.  Those are already packed so you won't be seeing those, but these can prints are in the drying process and on their way to be varnished.  Loving our weather in Northern Arizona, my drying time is sweet.  I will be printing some more cheesecloth skins this weekend, since that will be about all the time left before finishing packing.  LOTS of stuff to get ready before my 2 workshops and vending night.  It's always so wonderful when you get there and it all comes together.

 Beverage Cans in mid process.  Varnishing next.

Details

Check out my ebook to learn about printing on beverage cans.  Amazon Kindle-"The Complete Guide to Digital Printing and Assembling Beverage Cans"

Epson 7890

Well is just had to bite the bullet and purchase a new printer.  There were several problems that needed service with my 4800 and it wasn't worth repairing it, so I bought the 7890.  It's an awesome printer, but a little bit of a learning curve is appearing.  The other thing is that it loves to suck the ink to get set up, or clean nozzles or whatever it thinks it should be doing.  It is not as easy to fool as my last printer with paper or sizes or anything and tomorrow I will start printing some cheesecloth skins, so I will learn how to use this printer with carrier sheets etc.

The color is beautiful and now I can print 24" wide which in the case of my new large book pages is a fabulous thing.  This afternoon I am printing silk 17" wide prepared for printing.  Think this is the last of my 17" fabric and then I will be precoating lutradur and heavy weight canvas to get my printer profiles down with those surfaces and also some recycled printers plates.  Hopefully by the end of my planned printing I will feel a little more comfortable with this printer.

Digital Printing Workshops for 2012

In 2012 I will be teaching 2 amazing digital printing workshops.  One in February in Texas and one in July in Greenville New York.


Fiberwerkes 2012
Texas Federation of Fiber Artists
Kerrville, Texas
February 24 - 26, 2012

Digital Prints on Alternative Surfaces


This workshop is designed to be your complete guide to digital printing on alternative surfaces.  We will prepare and print fabric, specialty paper, substrates we build ourselves, beverage cans and metal mesh.  Whether you are new to this idea of familiar with printing on fabrics, this worksop is jam packed with information on the subject.


For a better understanding of precoats and how they react with different substrates, it is recommended you use one image throughout the workshop.  Images that works best are all over prints without strong dividing lines for example a floral scene usually works well.  


There is a class fee for and a supply list for students.

Hudson River Valley Art Workshops
Greenville New York (at the amazing Greenville Arms)
July 1 - 7, 2011

Digital Printing Alternative Surfaces and Beyond.

This workshop will teach you everything you need to know about digital printing on alternative surfaces.  Starting with specialty paper and fabrics and beyond.  During the 5 days with this subject you will be amazed at what is created.

Techniques such as overprinting, adding elements to a surface before printing, light weight metal mesh, beverage cans and handmade substrates will give students ways to start experimenting and printing alternative surfaces successfully during and after the workshop. 

Photoshop or Photoshop Elements (in the current version at the time) will be used for any instruction on working with and printing digital images. There will be information and ideas for image manipulation, correcting color, resizing an image and the proper way to print successfully using printer profiles.

Before the close of this workshop we will experiment with assembling digital surfaces.  This will be comparable to doing studies with the prints you created in the workshop.  There is no end to the amazing ways we can work with digital prints.  You will get ideas and learn ways to successfully use digital prints to add elements to you artwork.   Consider the prints you will create during the workshop accordingly.  If you have a specific idea you would like to test, bring the supplies for that.  I will bring a stash of items for students to play with.  I will be happy to speak with individual students before the workshop to help clarify this idea and assist each student to arrive fully prepared.

If you have never been to Hudson River Valley Workshops before you will be amazed at the facility. The classroom is always open, so if you want to work other then workshop times you are welcome to.  At least one evening we work with Photoshop ideas and shortcuts. 

I am looking forward to an incredible week for students to learn about expanding the digital print and assembling your results. Whether you are a fiber artist or a mixed media artist this class will enable you to add digital elements to your work. Techniques will be taught on innovative ways to use your printed alternative surfaces in your artwork. 

Join us for a week to push the envelope with digital prints and your art.

Information and registration

The Sketchbook Challenge

The Sketchbook Challenge, have you heard about it, are you participating, are you curious?  In January Sue Bleiweiss started this amazing group of artists to participate with her on a wonderful idea.  Who of our creative selves doesn't at least think of sketchbooks and journals. even if we don't keep them ourselves.  Well here's your chance. Start any time and get behind the monthly theme.  March's theme is Spilling Over.  I love this theme, my sketchbooks and journals never stay in their pages.  If you check the blog today, you will see that I am the guest blogger, check it out.  I was thrilled when Sue asked me to participate.  

There are sketchbooks and journals laying around all over my studio and house.  Never know what I may want to pick up play with. I work on many at one time and am always creating them new when I am procrastinating or looking for something to do.  One thing I know is that they have to have color, pictures, texture, layers and covers with dimension.  Below I put together some images with the must have for all my sketchbooks/journals.  Colored pages either dyed or painted, some type of dimensional collage or elements, definitely some digitals and anything else that calls to me. 

Phoenix Airport Museum Art Collection

The Phoenix Airport Museum has included my work Forest Trail 4 and Forest Trail 6 in their museum collection. Both of these pieces from my Sensual Surfaces Series were exhibited in "Fiber Art Unraveled: Material and Process".


                        Forest Trail 4                                                                        

Forest Trail 6

"In the heart of Phoenix is one of the largest airport museums in the nation.  The Phoenix Airport Museum is spread out in six buildings at three airports.  It has a collection of more than 500 works of art with gallery spaces for exhibitions."

Art Museum Mission Statement-Through the art collection, exhibitions and aviation archive, the Phoenix Airport Museum's mission is to enhance the public's experience by creating memorable environments in the airport system that promote Arizona's unique artistic and cultural heritage.