Monthly Musings and New Schedule January 2009




Catching ideas in the dark                monotype 13 X 17

Bear stands at the center playing with light in the darkness
The lights are ideas that have not formed
Bear catches the ideas that resonate through his heart
Holding the ideas at his belly he activates their
possibilities through his own will-power of imagination

                                             A                         B

        C                                                            D
I am going to describe how "Catching ideas in the dark" came to be a finished piece. A B C & D are plexiglas plates that are photographed while on the light table.  Working on the light table allows me to see through the layers of ink. I pull one print from plate A. Next oily and stiff inks are rolled onto plate B on top of the thin layer of black ink left on the plate after printing. When I roll a stiff ink over an oily ink some of the image comes back onto the roller.  I then roll the image onto a larger plate C where I can see a faint bear figure. I add more ink and draw the bear out with Q tips. You can see the rectangle behind the bear, this is the original plate impression from the roller rolling over the plate. In C and D you can see some of the repeated lines and shapes from A and B. If you want a detailed step by step description of my print making process go to my website www.drawingonthedream.com and click on Printmaking.

Setting the technical process aside I would like to talk about how "Catching ideas in the dark" came about. First of all it felt great to be working in my studio without a deadline. To do art with no pressure is a joy. I began by relaxing into my body by taking three deep breaths into my belly. I enjoyed laying the black ink on plate A with a pallet knife and small roller and then wiping with a cloth or Q-tips. When I create without distractions I sink into deep listening with my heart and body. I also listen intently to what is trying to emerge on the plate. It is a kind of dance with the unknown. I don't have preconceived ideas. I focus on the subtle clues I feel from my intuitive body uniting heart, soul, and belly mind with what I know about the printing process. But what I know about printmaking isn't important. What I feel and hear through deep listening with all my senses is important. My willingness to trust the process and draw what comes into my heart is important. It is a letting go of outcome. I let the piece guide me.  I trust my art and my art trusts me. We are in this together.

When I was working on plate A and then plate B I was letting my thoughts and feelings become visible and I was setting the foundation for an image to emerge, though at the time I didn't know what that image would be. I often find that it is the image that comes off the roller that is the most exciting to me. It is always a surprise to me and there is no way to control what comes off the roller. It is part of the mystery of creating art in this printing process.  I never know what is going to happen.

Once the image from the roller is transferred to a larger plate C I was able to see the beginnings of a standing bear with his arm coming from the spiral line and his vest from the dark areas on either side of the orange tree shape. The bear was drawn by taking the ink away and off the plate using Q tips. On the finished piece the bear fur is the paper showing though. 
 
When I was ready to run plate C through the press I thought I would photograph the plate before I printed. As I was holding it for the photo the plate slipped and I dropped it causing finger prints and a line going across the whole plate. This is after hours and hours of working on this image. First I said "dough"! (imagine Homer Simpson). Then I thought okay how can I fix it, so I added another line and more finger print balls of light, more ink, and I cleaned up the bear.  Guess what? It's what the piece needed. I'll let you in on an artist secret, whenever you blow it, make it look like you meant to do it. There are no mistakes. They lead you to new possibilities.

What happens next is another deep listening process. I hung the print on the wall in my studio and I studied the image and I let the image, or bear in this case, tell me what it is about. We had a dialogue. I wrote until the story was clear.  The titles, poems, and stories for my art always come about this way.  The words for "Catching ideas in the dark" came easily which lets me know that dropping it was part of the process of this piece's completion.
Art is always worth it when you have trust.

Thanks and check out my new workshop schedule below.
Denise
 
Manifesting Your Art's Desire
4 day art making retreat

Tools for manifesting your creative dreams in an art making sanctuary known as Kester Studio in Ashland, OR.  Designated Fear Free Zone.

Printmaking, paste paper, collage, journal writing, stamp carving, creative discussions, and book making.

March 13, 14, 15, & 16
June 16, 17, 18, & 19
August 3, 4, 5, & 6
October 10 & 11 and 17 & 18
                    4 days two weekends
9:00 am to 4:00ish pm
4 days
limited to 4 participants
no experience is necessary
$395.00 includes all art materials
$100.00 deposit is required to secure your spot and is refundable up to 2 weeks before the first day of class
 
Monoprinting
2 days of printmaking

Techniques in viscosity printing with oil based inks creating monoprints and monotype prints.

February 7th & 8th
April 11th & 12th

9:00am to 4:00ish pm
2 days
limited to 3 participants
no experience necessary
$325.00 includes all art materials
$100.00 deposit is required to secure your spot and is refundable up to 2 weeks before the first day of class
Deepening Into Your Art's Desire
3 day art exploration and retreat

Tools for accessing source wisdom through art process, intention, & dialog.  
This is a class for people who are willing to stretch toward a deeper, authentic, exciting, connection to their art and
art making. 

What we do in this retreat will remain a delicious mystery so if you are ready to take a chance you are most welcome.

This workshop is for people who have worked with me previously. Think of it as the next level after Manifesting your art's desire.

February 14, 15, & 15
March 23, 24, & 25
April 20, 21, & 22
July 16, 17, & 18
September 4, 5, & 6
November 2, 3, & 4

9:00 am to 4:00ish pm
3 days
limited to 4 participants
$300.00 includes all art materials
$100.00 deposit is required to secure your spot and is refundable up to 2 weeks before the first day of class
Workshop Sign up
Email me at :
denisekester@drawingonthedream.com
 or call 541-482-2660
All workshop retreats are held at Kester Studio located at 440 Helman Street, Ashland OR 97520
Fear Free Zone
Go Obama! I believe we can.
Denise Kester
Drawing on the Dream