"Celebrating Auburn's Past"

I know I haven't posted for quite awhile.  Originally I was just worn out from that last High Hand event - The Artful Bra Show - but other than household chores and yard work I was starting to get back into action.  I did order the 13x19 Museo Silver Rag inkjet paper and it has arrived.  Then the power went out and my PC monitor went out and I couldn't recover it.  Found out it was dead but I did get 8 years out of it, so I guess that's good.  Purchased a new monitor not realizing it didn't have speakers like my old Dell monitor.  So had to go back to Best Buy and buy speakers.  I'm arguing with the guy, "...I just want plain ol' speakers - no fancy woofer..."  ; )  So for $35 I got some Logitech speakers with a woofer.  WOW!  I have a new stereo system!  Love it.  I listen to Pandora while I'm working - or CDs from my PC or sometimes from my boombox - heh heh!  So now I can put one of the speakers in the darkroom too!  I'm all set up  -- again!!

My recent project is the Auburn Arts Commission's Call to Artists for "Celebrating Auburn's Past".  I worked on a collaboration piece with a fellow artist/friend Rose Kirby.  I took the black and white photos of historical buildings and landmarks in Auburn.  She took the printed photos and collaged them, added acrylic paint to create "Rattlesnake Dick" who was one of the most wanted men in the early 1800's.  She entered it and it got juried into the show!!  The awards ceremony is this upcoming Thursday in conjunction with Aurburn's Artwalk from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at City Hall.  Awards will be made at 6:30 p.m.  Here's a picture of the artwork:

  With the recent heat - it gets pretty hot in my studio - even though it has central H/A.  Today is nice and cool - I think I might be doing some printing on the Museo Silver Rag.  I do have to bring in new artwork for July and August.  I have one framed photo transfer and I think I'll print some Bodie images.

High Hand Gallery - 5th Annual Artful Bra Show

I'm still here! ; )  So much going on in the art world.  Saturday was the Art in the Park and it was a beautiful day, however, just not enough foot traffic, as well as too many other competing events that weekend.  Glad it's over.  I am seriously re-thinking these art fairs where I have to lug my equipment and framed images around - maybe go to selling on the web.  I have a lot to think about on that one.

Getting the last minute paper work done for the Artful Bra Show.  I designed the show's program and took it to the committee chair for review.  With one minor adjustment, it's ready for printing.  I have one more trip to the gallery this morning to finish taking photos of the last of the bra entries.  Then I'll just have to make up bid sheets for those and post the images on High Hand Gallery's Facebook page and I'll be done for the week.

My girlfriend who is an acrylic painter sent me the picture of our 'collaboration' of a project for the Auburn Arts Commission's "Celebrating Auburn's Past" event.  I took the black and white photos of historical places and buildings in Auburn.  She incorporated them into her black and white painting of Richard Barter aka Rattlesnake Dick!  He was one of the top 10 bad guys of the old west.  Her painting of him is so awesome.  She said it's not done yet, but when it is I'll post the image here.  She is doing such a great job!  It was her idea, so kudos to her!

Next on my own artwork agenda, I will be buying more mat board and then cutting mats for the beautiful black and white prints of Bodie that I made earlier in the month.  They are absolutely gorgeous on the Museo Silver Rag paper.  You gotta try it out for yourself!

Printing, Photographing, Happy Mother's Day!

I received my shipment from Freestyle:  the Awagami papers of bamboo which I ordered two different types (thin white and a cream color).  They do provide you with three 8x10 sheets to practice on.  One of them didn't have the test sheets, so I called Freestyle and they said they would ship them the next day!  I love Freestyle's customer service.  I have not tried them yet for several reasons.  I also purchased a box of 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of Museo Silver Rag made by www.museofineart.com   And I must say THAT WAS THE BIG SURPRISE OF THE DAY for me!!

My photographer friend from NYC, Dave Beckerman, had written about this paper on his website several years ago.  I remembered it and also wanted to try that one out too.  It is an archival fine art inkjet paper, 100% cotton, gloss finish, and is 300 gsm, which makes it a heavier paper.  The results are extremely similar to a print from the darkroom - and maybe even better! ; )  I thought I was just going to try 'one' for the evening the other night.  I made about eight prints of some of my images of Bodie Ghost Town.  It is truly amazing.  This paper makes everything else look like crap!  My eyes have been opened up to a whole new world.  But dang this stuff is expensive!  I paid $40 for a box of 25- 8 1/2 x 11.  For me to buy the 13x19 size of 25 sheets, it will be $100!  But then I'm thinking it would be worth it.  The strange thing to me is that Freestyle gave it a 'B' rating.  In my book I would give it an A+.

The last two days I've been at High Hand Gallery taking photos of the bra entries for the Artful Bra Show.  I will be uploading photos soon, re-sizing, printing them on bid sheets for each entry and I need to have this done early next week.  Monday I am teaching a one-on-one class on photo transfers.

In the meantime, I'd like to wish all the mothers out there a wonderful and Happy Mother's Day!  And for those of us who no longer have our mothers around any longer - relive the memories, over and over!