I practice an art of visual storytelling, carving blocks of linoleum for printmaking, and scrubbing ink and watercolor into sketch journals. My linocuts currently spotlight the beauty of Delaware’s public lands, historical interest, and local lore. My sketch journals range more widely, often depicting nature, but more typically engaging with the granular stories of local people. I draw inspiration from my years as a newsroom artist, and my roots in the Brandywine Valley.
Linocut printmaking
Exploratory journaling
People journals
Sketchbook
Our poor go-go dancer model S.J. had to pose in Monika's puffy coat because the Artspace heat had been set to 50•F. The space finally warmed up for her last 30 min pose. I think we need a smart thermostat. Or a smarter prez.
Indiana outtake sketch #3: Big shout out to Southern Indiana-based artist Michele Pollock. I was quickly impressed in my first meeting with my co-artist-in-residence and housemate. She showed me sketches she had done of colorful rocks she found on the beaches. The lines, colors and textures were beautiful. Over two weeks I watched her work her fascinating artistic alchemy of reference photos, onsite sketches, Gelli printing, collage, and sewing. At the kitchen table, she listened to my doubts about the direction of my art and offered truly inspired ideas about where I can take this. I captured this sketch of her while she was embroidering.
michelepollock.com/
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Indiana outtake sketch #2: One curious thing that quickly struck me about Indiana Dunes was its industrial context. The Port of Indiana and U.S. Steel plant man-spread across the center of the park, cleaving it in half. The east end is punctuated by this power station that sits where the huge, beloved, Hoosier Slide dune once dominated the beaches. The Ball Brothers discovered that its clean iron-rich sands could be transformed into beautiful blue glass. By the 1920 the dune, which stood taller than this smoke stack had been entirely excavated, shipped, and melted into Ball jars. I sketched this on my first trip to Mount Baldy beach but it felt more negative than I wanted.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Indiana outtake sketch #1: Indiana Dunes NP hosted me in an airy 3 bedroom mid-century house, clad in local limestone. My base of operations hugged an edge of the park, 4 minutes from the Visitors Center. It provided the perfect base of operations. I am very grateful for the hospitality, kindness, and respect for my endeavors, shown by the park staff.
So I would have felt quite rude to post this sketch on my first day. When I first walked into the house I was greeted by this little creature on the kitchen floor. It filled the house with and elephant's worth of stank. But I am fond of the sketch. Shout out to Febreze.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
0 CommentsComment on Facebook