The Cat in the Wagon

There was a friendly cat at an inn where I stayed last weekend. I think this is his favorite spot to rest! So cute.

Solarplate Etching of Coin

Last year I was commissioned by a friend to make a solarplate etching of an ancient Greek coin that she had recently received as a gift. I thought that was an interesting idea! It's very small so we had to find some old photographs of coins to help me figure out how the coins really looked since they are quite worn from use. Here's how it came out. I had a mat which was just the right color, I thought!

Coin of Antimachus 11

5"x 8"

Goldfinch Solarplate Print

I finished my drawing on the solarplate and printed it. I used an oil-based printing ink for this one. I tried a water-based ink and it's almost as crisp as long as I have just slightly damp paper. You can't go back and work on the exposed plate to make any changes but you can go back to the glass plate and work on that. Then expose another solarplate. I'm just learning about the peculiarities of solarplate etching! Of course there's a learning curve with every new process you try. This one will be shorter than learning copperplate etching and you can't argue with that!




I can print this in a different color if I want.
Or add color with watercolor.
Or expose it to the light for a different time for a lighter print.

Goldfinch Solarplate Drawing on Glass

I thought I'd try another solarplate etching. This time the drawing is from a painting that I did earlier. I chose a portion of it to create a small black and white drawing on the glass. It might be a bit of a busy design but I'd like to see how it comes out. It's not quite finished but when it is, I'm going to expose it on a solarplate in the sun and then print it. Oh man, I love drawing on the glass. Drawing can be so relaxing.....ah....
Sorry I got lost there for a moment. Printing results are coming soon!

Hollywood Cemetary - An old US Cemetary in Virginia

Last year I discovered Hollywood Cemetary in Richmond, Virginia. The name comes for the holly trees that dotted the landscape when it was first created. There are some famous people buried there - US Presidents and military generals....18,000 Confederate soldiers from the Civil War of the 1800's. It's great to visit for the history and for the quiet. To have a nice walk! Or be inspired to make more cemetary etchings!
Here are some photos. You can search the web for more info, if you like.

Virginia Zoological Park Farewell Event

Two weeks ago I volunteered to participate in an event at our local zoo, a farewell to two female elephants, soon moving to another larger zoo in South Florida. The zoo asked if some artists from my art center could come to the zoo and do some artwork in public of animals of our choice. I asked to be set up near the Crested Cranes but when I arrived, there were only Bongos! Oh well, I really do like Bongos. They are fun to paint because they have those cool stripes and other spots. So I took my watercolor kit and paper and attempted to paint a Bongo while talking to lots of interested kids and their parents. It was very cool that day and a bit windy. There was no desire by my easel  to remain upright so I gave up and sat at the table!

Happy for warm sun on my back!

Hey, come back here.

From that, I am working on this Bongo watercolor painting.

Another zoo view from my spot.