Another New Printer

Two weeks ago my Epson Stylus Photo R2400 gave up.  I returned to my studio one afternoon and there was ink leaking out of the printer and on the desk.  To make a long story short it was an end of life problem. Never knew there was such a thing, but if I had a PC that is what the message from the epson utilities would have been.  They say you don't get that error message on a Mac.  Seems the ink pads that collect the ink cannot be replaced on that printer or actually any in that class and when you do a lot of printing it happens sooner then in lightly used printers.  Amazing, but from research with Epson I found out it is expensive to fix, better to get new.  HMMMM and my R2400 was working so well for me.  Traveling to conferences for years, oh well.

That brings me to my new Epson Stylus Photo R3000-once again Epson has seriously improved that size printer since 2007 which is when I purchased my R2400.  I may have gotten along with my Epson 7890 (see my blog post from March 19, 2011) except that I don't want to print beverage cans on it.  The R3000 is really wonderful.  It prints a little thicker paper than the 2400 so printing metal mesh, beverage cans, heavy weight canvas, papers and fabrics are a snap.  The pic here is set up for a 7 can print.  I had to change one of my type of carrier sheets.  The cans print best when using the Epson Presentation Matte paper for a carrier sheet.  They of course have to be really smooth, no creases or anything and taped well on the edges, but I easily printed  30 cans or so and they look great.  It also did a great job on some new brass looking metal mesh I have.

Studio Dog or Actually Studio Pup:)

Today Robert Genn (of Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letter) wrote an email entitled "The Dog Decision".  I have been getting his emails twice weekly for as long as I can remember and enjoy his perspective on the art world.  This morning was perfect because I recently made the decision to take on a 6 week old puppy for a new studio dog.

Robert writes "Every puppy begins in joy and ends in tears. Sometime ago I wrote about the loss of our former dog, Emily. The email condolences that came in here were overwhelming. As far as I'm concerned there are two downsides to having a dog. The first is when you finally lose them, and the second, an ongoing problem, is what to do with them when they can't travel with you. Lining up trusted dog sitters is vital.   Having said that, a dog will increase your studio hours and prevent you from wandering off and getting into trouble. Benjamin Franklin said that in order to be happy a man needs "a good woman, a good dog, and ready money." I've noted that none of my dogs have ever criticized my work. A loving tail-wagger in the studio goes a long way in a profession of loners."

So right now I am in the middle of the chaos of potty training and the ever present puppy finding anything she can put into her mouth.  The good news is my studio floor has never been this clean.  The bad news is that at this time, she does cut into my work time. That leads to more good news as I get to walk her on my property and appreciate my surroundings - which makes me more productive and I get to enjoy a walk outside which I wouldn't do when I am working on something.  It does keep me feeling good.  Today I will be printing wire mesh and beverage cans, so we will see how she does with that going on. I have a nice little fence built around my printers so there will be no chewing on any printer parts.

This picture is from the middle part of May.  Actually she is a puppy and at the time the picture was taken 7 weeks old.  Sage was born on April 5, 2011so she will be 2 months old this weekend.  She looks little, but is growing everyday and being a mastiff she will be quite large in a really short time.  After my lab died I missed having company with me everyday and so I finally gave in a decided to go for a puppy.

"Not Just Digital Printing" Workshop

On July 16 and 17, 2011 I will be teaching a workshop "Not Just Digital Printing" In my studio in Prescott, Arizona.  This workshop will focus on printing and assembling 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.  We will use and Epson Stylus Photo R3000 for most of the printing, but students will also rint at least one print on the Epson Stylus Pro 7890.  This will be hands on experience with a couple of Epson's newest printers.

We will prepare and pring metal mesh, lightweight metal and beverage cans along with surfaces we build from scratch.  Students will get a well-rouded look at the digital printing process with alternative surfaces.  At the same time preprinted surfaces will be available for students to get an idea of innovative ways to assemble digital prints and create studies for future projects.

The workshop fee of $350 includes all supplies

For a complete prospectus contact me.

To register and save your spot click the buy now button.  Since this is in my studio there are limited spaces available.  When you register you will receive information on travel and a prospectus.

Building Studio Journals

Keeping a studio journal is a great idea and one that I let go for long periods of time.  Once Sue Bleiweiss asked me to participate in both her Sketchbook Challenge Blog and her actual Sketchbook Challenge Book (tag line to be announced - book in mid 2012)  I have given more thought to incorporating what I call sketch-journals into my art practice.  Participating in Sue’s book was a gift in more ways then one.  Actually doing a studio journal type idea lead me to focus on documenting my art in a better way.  The fun part is that I love doing the mini creation of books to go with my artwork and increase the viewers awareness of what I am thinking.  

Without a narrative it is easy to see that when photographs are taken of my beverage can installations and some of my other digital imagery assemblages, the viewer doesn’t get the full idea of what goes into the artwork. Especially if they are only seeing a photograph.   I have to agree that the transition of thought from beverage cans to rich lush forests may be a leap for the person taking in the artwork.  The viewers don't see the fluidity of the piece as you run it over your hand.  They don't see the light shining on the metals that move and reflect like the leaves moving in a tree.  If you have never been in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park as the sun comes up, you may not have the experience of the massive giants that grow there over hundreds of years and how the patterns run off them in amazing ways in their bark and form.  No one has any idea of where an artist is or what they were thinking unless you share it with them.  

This led me to creating a workshop on exactly how I have designed my studio journals.  So this months mini workshop is “ Building a Studio Journal”.  In this workshop I share my path to creating the basics of my sketch-journal and then other elements can be added as the book progresses.  The great part of it all for me is that I have places to play and write quotes or doodle and then have other pages to do the documentation of my work.  

Studio Journals Mini Workshop is posted on KathyAnne Art and since it is the workshop of the month it is free to members.  Go to my INSIDE KATHYANNEART BLOG for details.  

Studio Journals

The month is more then half over and last night I realized that I haven’t posted since for weeks.   Where does the time go?  My studio is full of bits and pieces of unfinished work for new workshops in the works.  I am constantly thinking of how I can take what I do and teach informative workshops in a one day format.  It is always a challenging proposition.  Then of course my monthly enews needs to be finished and a new workshop posted on my KathyAnneArt site.  At least I know my workshop will be about how I create my studio journal/sketchbooks. It will be a video workshop and posted by the end of the month.  Probably the video will record on Thursday but my deadlines for that are loose:) 

Since Sue Bleiweiss invited me to be a guest blogger for her Sketchbook Challenge and then included my art and sketchbook for a certain project in her new book due in June 2012, I have been working on a plan to create sketchbooks/journals based on my current work.  It is easy to see that when photographs are taken of my beverage can installations and some of my other digital assemblages, the viewer doesn’t get the full idea of what goes into the artwork.  When a viewer is standing in front of one of my large beverage can wall pieces the statement I hear the most is- “but where are the beverage cans?”  When I pair that with the experience of creating artwork for Sue’s book, I see how important it is to keep records of what happens in my studio.  

So today as I was feeling frustrated with some results I was having with one of my projects for a new workshop idea I sat down with my studio journal and before I was done writing I knew what I wanted to do.  I blurred out a word or 2.  There are also a couple other pages from my studio journal from a couple months ago.  Enjoy!

Beverage Cans and Crochet

Tomorrow I will be leaving for Colorado on a trip that combines business and pleasure.  Why is it that whenever I leave my studio for a bit I think I have to set up all sorts of work on the road?   Then even as I drag the work in progress with me, I could never possibly finish much of it when I am out of town.  Case in point today while trying to clean my studio a bit and get a little further on some of the projects for deadline, I get involved in setting up the pieces to continue work on my 4 foot tall Forest Book.  This page involves beverage cans and crocheted hemp.  So even when I should be packing, I am cutting cans and punching holes in them to string them on hemp to crochet while I am out of town.   At least I had the cans printed from a few weeks ago, so I wasn't varnishing them in a hurry to get them ready to string. 

Looks like this right now as I work through the pile to punch holes:) to add to the crochet section.

Studio

Trying to make sense in my studio lately is a massive job.  Working on ebooks and creating new workshops helps me make a serious mess.  It never fails - one minute the studio has all sorts of room on my 4- 4 x 8 foot tables and as soon as I get going there is stuff everywhere.  Plus out my sliding door I find myself looking at 4 huge plastic bags of uncut beverage cans.  Need to get tons of stuff done this week.

So instead of working I'm multi tasking - working out and writing at the same time.  Our property has a 700 foot driveway from gate to studio. This invigorating incline is the perfect place to do intervals. It's a favorite thing of mine to use the driveway for a workout-a quick 45 minute up and down and I'm done.  In many of my previous times I get all sorts of ideas about my artwork and I had to run into my studio to grab some paper and pen before  continuing on my way. Now I carry a little 3.5" x 5" sketch book to scribble while I walk.  Yes I could record instead, but what fun is that.

Great news in the mail yesterday.  My piece Mariposa Grove won an award in the Yosemite Museum Gallery show.  Yosemite Renaissance XXVI.   It was a nice surprise and accompanied by a check.  Mariposa Grove Is one of the most beautiful and inspiring places in the world.  Thinking of taking a trip there before the end of the year.  Spending time in that forest early in the morning when you are virtually alone except for the animals and the trees gives me such a sense of peace and well being.  The grove is a brilliant environment.  Yosemite National Park is one of those places you have to see to believe. 

Time to be in my studio picking between the jobs on my agenda. 

The Sketchbook Challenge.........a Book

This is exciting news!! A bunch of us artists have been keeping a secret and today we are able to tell part of the secret and keep the rest until you all see the finished product.  The amazing popular Sketchbook Challenge will be a book by the summer of 2012.

A couple months ago, I was invited to participate in a what will be an incredible book by author Sue Bleiweiss who initiated the challenge by the same name. The title is a The Sketchbook Challenge with a tag line, but that will be a surprise later too:)   Thanks for including me Sue and congrats on your book, can't wait:)

It's thrilling to be invited to be one of the artists included in this book. It's a brilliant list and here are the artists, in no particular order:

Carol Slone, Jane Davies, Leslie Jenison, Lynn Krawczyk, Laura Cater-Woods, Jackie Bowcut, Jill Berry, Judi Hurwitt, Lyric Kinard, Jamie Fingal, Diana Trout, Kelli Perkins, Jane LaFazio, Kathyanne White,
Susan Brubaker Knapp, Tracie Huskamp, Kathy Sperino, Carla Sonheim, Violette and Kim Nugent.

For the rest of the details, you'll have to wait.  When the book comes out, I will share some items here, but for now I will give  you some tidbits from my project for the book.

TIFF Images on KathyAnneArt.com

All professional image editing applications on the market are able to open TIFF files.

.tif or .tiff.   The advantage of using a TIFF file instead of a jpg file is that a TIFF file can 

preserve transparency on a layer while a .jpg cannot.  For use on the KathyAnneArt website that transfers to being able to load images, collage element sheets, words, shapes and many other objects without a background of white or black.  For instance these images and elements can be taken from layer to another layer as a selection.

Starting this month I will be building up the TIFF images on KathyAnneArt in all sorts of ways.  Having the capability to save layers supporting transparency opens up new opportunities for the file uploads.  In the second mini workshop that is free to members this month, I show ideas on how to use the new images and selections.  When I post Photoshop or Photoshop Elements workshops, the images plus all the layers from the tutorial images will now be available on KathyAnneArt.  

The images are placed on black, but could have anything behind them since they are selections that are movable.

Ebooks on Kindle and Nook

All three of my ebooks have been published on both Amazon's Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook. Actually Design Intriguing Surfaces is still a hold out on the Nook since it seemed to me that some of the pages cut off the words on the edges.  Once that problem is solved Design Intriguing Surfaces will be available on Nook as well as Kindle.

Kindle is still a black and white format, so be sure to get the app for your iphone, droid, ipad or computer so that you can enjoy the full color versions of these 3 ebooks.

Design Intriguing Surfaces  Kindle version    Nook version (in the works)

The Complete Guide to Digital Printing and Assembling Beverage Cans  Kindle version  Nook version

Inside Sensual Surfaces   Kindle version   Nook version

The pdf versions of my ebooks are also available on www.kathyanneart.com They are in the tutorial section, but you can follow these direct links to the pages -Design Intriguing Surfaces       The Complete Guide to Digital Printing and Assembling on Beverage Cans     Inside Sensual Surfaces

To buy now and get the full page pdf versions by email for 9.99 

Design Intriguing Surfaces

The Complete Guide to Digital Printing and Assembling Beverage Cans

Inside Sensual Surfaces