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

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.

Bordering the Ridiculous

In the process of finishing the last 2 pages in my first Forest Book in a series.  There will be 10  total- 2 feet by 4 feet pages.  Once these last 2 are complete, the book pages will be attached to the metal spine.  This would be really exciting except that it will still take quite awhile.  The labor for this page is pretty time intensive. The hardware cloth in the frame for these last 2 pages has to be worked side to side in stages so as not to ruin the assemblage being constructed on the opposite side. As the pages are worked on, the work is juggled side to side for the correct time to put pieces together.

The part being constructed below needs one 8" piece of jute twine in each 1/4" square of the grid that is open.  The twine is pulled through, doubled over and tied close to the grid. The composition in the center is also being built up with layers of melted and torn lutradur that will attach to the top of the cheesecloth skin digital print.  Before the lutradur goes together the jute has to be completely attached to the grid.  It took 2 hours to do the small section in the left bottom corner that is finished.  I'll be here awhile:)

The crochet grid pattern you see in the background of the frame is the back side of this page.  The crochet grid will be the bottom layer of an assemblage using digitally printed tyvek, metal grid and waxed linen.  Some other elements are also being considered.

Dimensional Collage With Digital Prints in WOW's March Issue 2011

"Dimensional Collage With Digital Prints" is my new workshop/article written for Workshop on the Web.  This article will appear in the March 2011 issue of this interesting internet publication.

My artwork including journals and art books incorporate original digital images with many textures and other mixed medium elements.  Digital media can be used in many uncommon ways with alternative ways.  This concept drives my work.  For this workshop/article my focus is on simple ways to include digital prints in mixed media art.  I chose a base of watercolor paper that can be printed on any digital printer with no precoat.  This makes the process fun and simple. The dimensional parts come from other added elements seen in the article.

Here are a couple pics-for the complete worshop/article visit Maggie Grey's Workshop on the Web to subscribe.