Graphic Chemical's Bone Black, revisited

A while ago I was whining about my new one pound can of Graphic Chemical Bone Black etching ink, but today I had a successful time printing with it; I added two pinches of magnesium carbonate to my ink pile and the consistency became very much like some other inks I've been using. And it was very easy to wipe. I try not to waste any supplies and since I ran out of other black inks I knew I had to make the Bone Black work. Yay!

ArtPrize 2012

Looking forward to ArtPrize 2012! I'll be returning to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where I had a good experience last year. "Brassworks" is now the official title of the etched backplates project; Nate pointed out I might need official permission to use a company name. In any case, I'll keep posting Brassworks progress.

Doyle Watt, 1926-2012

Doyle Watt, the design director at Keeler Brass when I started there, died on March 8. I probably learned more from Doyle in one month than I learned in four years of art school. This photo is from the memorial folder from his funeral, and the doodle is one I did when I was supposed to be designing hardware. The doodle I will incorporate in the next brass etching.

Thanks for all you taught me, Doyle!

Proof: Marlin Signor

This image is from a sketch I made of Marlin around 1988. When the design department all worked in one large room, sometimes when I got tired of drawing hardware I'd just sketch whatever (or whomever) was around. This is a first state, it needs some revision. Marlin had more hair, for one thing. It's easier to see what's wrong once it's printed. As all the Keeler series will be, this is etched on an actual brass backplate from the company.

Epiphany

I didn't print a new Christmas card this year, but this is my favorite of the ones I've done in the past because of the W.H. Auden quote: "I am the star most dreaded by the wise....I shall deprive them of their minor tasks." The new year is a good time to think of the minor tasks of which one needs to be deprived. I was talking to David W. at work and he said "I'm always busy, but I don't want to be busy, I want to be productive." I think creative people have no problem of thinking of things to do, but of focusing on the important ones. Perhaps I should just speak for myself here. In any case, I hope I can make the coming year more productive than busy. This year's focus will be the Keeler Project of backplate prints; then plastic plate lithography.

I'm looking forward to this reception tomorrow-- thanks to the Allegan Area Arts Council!

Meanwhile I'm printing more Miller Road copies, though I don't think I'll be fulfilling the edition of 15 soon. I want to move on to the Keeler project, and do some experimenting with plastic plate lithography on my etching press. I bought a new, larger roller for this a while ago, and haven't used it yet.

Ready for ArtPrize 2011

Miller Road - 49080 is installed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. (http://www.bethlehemchurchgr.org/) I've added a slideshow below of the images and text of the book. The images are also available at my Artist's Profile on the ArtPrize website, http://www.artprize.org/.