My Prince!

This last January, I participated in the Cascade Print Exchange VIII sponsored by Oregon State University's printmaking department. Print exchanges are fun because the artist submits a set of identical prints that adhere to a list of set parameters.
In this case, the subject was open (sometimes this is predetermined), but the prints had to be on 5” x 7” paper in a numbered edition of 15. Every artist then received a set of 13 different prints done by other contributors. There are print exchanges listed on sites such as www.sketchbookproject.com/challenges/printexchange Some have entry fees (to cover costs) and some don't. This exchange required an SASE (Self-Addressed-Stamped-Envelope). What I got in return was a wonderful set of small prints along with a professional catalogue showing all of the submitted works.

Here is the serigraph (screen) print I submitted. I call it “My Prince!” I had a lot of fun making it as it is quite unique. I made everything but the ArchesRives BFK paper (and the pencil for label). For the printing material, I made home-made wallpaper paste using a recipe from Recipes for Art and Craft Materials (Discussed in previous blog entry) page 21. I measured for half the quantities and still had plenty. Next time I will make even less because it goes bad after a while (but so does the store bought stuff we used in school). All of the brown colors are from three different materials that I have collected and processed at home. I used oak gall ink and field dirt pigment (both shown in earlier blog posts, and walnut ink (I will show in near future). Each gives a different quality and shade of brown. Soon, I will also post an article to show the different colours with swatch samples. So... all of the printing materials were completely handmade by me. I like working with a monochromatic (one colour) scheme, building up the value differences with layers.

Even the bullfrog image is from home. I had photographs of a bullfrog my grandson Forest caught here. And... there is a hidden riddle in the project... see if you can find it... (hint: not the copyright watermark in the image)

 My friend Peggy went with me to the opening of the exhibit of the exchange at Oregon State University. It took us a while to find the room with the reception, but that gave lots of time to look at all the wonderful student artwork (there was a lot). It made part of me wish I had gone there, but I do appreciate that I learned so much from my printmaking professor Rebecca McCannell at WOU.

Sculptured garden on OSU campus

Lost trying to find the reception...