Alaska Premier Closets

So, this is something a little bit unexpected and different. I was approached by Alaska Premier Closets after taking part in a studio tour here in Girdwood, Alaska (but that's a whole 'nother thing I failed to blog about). They are, as you might guess, a closet company, or one that deals in creating custom storage, closets etc. with a showroom in Anchorage. I wasn't sure what to expect, when I decided to drop by and see what they had in mind. It turns out that they are putting together a first friday event, turning their show room and also their workshop into gallery space and inviting a few local artists to show their work. It's part of a kind of branding idea for this district of Anchorage, that is outside of the usual art walk area. It's the other side of down town, or NONO (North of Nordstrom) and includes this very cool local organization - Anchorage Community Works.

Anyway, it looks like it is going to be a fun evening, with art opening out onto the street, drinks and even some music. So do come on by. I'll be showing my linoleum prints and a couple of new prints I created for Fungus Fair, but again, didn't put up here earlier. It's been a very busy summer!

Collagraphs

I did these a little while ago, but am just getting round to posting them. They are collagraphs made using matte board, sand paper, carborundum and putty and are a progression from some collaging I did last year some time. They are pretty quick tests I made, just so I could see if this is a route that is worth pursuing... and I think it just might be. So, that is really what I am working on right now. I suppose my recent trip down to Utah might have spurred me on to continue this work, what with all the super cool Geological features down there.

One is quite a bit darker than the other simply because I was experimenting with the degree to which I wiped the 'plates'.

More Lichens

Lately I have been thinking a lot about lichens. They aren't really something I know much about, but I am so curious about them. I'm kind of just letting ideas roll around my head right now, in the hopes of one day starting a project on them. One thing I love about my working process is how it enables me to research and learn about whatever it is I am interested in at that time. It tends to work seasonally too, so I move between subjects season by season, year by year. One think I love about lichens is the idea of them affecting their surroundings at such a slow rate and on both a micro and amazingly macro scale. I feel like my thoughts are starting to crystalise to the point where I could begin something. It might be something about the Autumn colours that inspires me about Lichens this time of year. Autumn just kind of inspires me on all levels though.

Final Push

My October exhibition for the IGCA is just around the corner and I am busily trying to complete 6 pieces in preparation for it. Frames have arrived, glass needs to be ordered and the works need to be finished. It's getting kind of stressful, but not quite reached panic levels....yet.

I Lichen Lichen

I really do.

New work

So, I have a show coming up in October at the IGCA in Anchorage, I'm a bit behind on creating my work for it, but I now feel like I have something solid in the works. I'm not going to go into much about them, since my ideas and approach constantly evolve through my process, but here is an image to be going on with. It's laborious, as all of my pieces seem to be, but there's always some gratification in that for me.

Hunter Gathering

It was a beautiful sunny day here and I took my little friend Moses out for a wander at Bird Point. Here are some cool things I found there that I will stash away in my head to simmer over time.