Baltimore Sonnets

I want to offer stationery for the holidays. For the first time I outsourced printing of my artwork to create a limited edition of cards. The cards came out really nice. The cards are 5" x 7" and blank on the inside.  

linocut on vintage letter pressed poem

linocut and monoprint on antique paper

handmade paper with custom 3 dimensional molds, 2012 I came down here to fetch a poet: "Why a poet?" That his advice may guide the city true And so keep up my worship! Dionysus   The Frogs by Aristophanes

linocut prints. Checking everything twice.

Yesterday, librarians from my local library asked if I could donate a handmade book.  It would be the center piece on their holiday wreath. Handmade artist's books I went home and reviewed my ooks and decided to make a new one.  I wanted it to be vibrant, golden, and fun. Once upon a time . . . , Based on children's fairy tales, my book began, "Once upon a time . . . " The cover and endpapers were created with  gold leaf on kozo paper and embossed  with silver and red mica. I delivered the finished book to the library this afternoon, 20 hours later.

by Euripides Spirits have many shapes by Suzanne Coley Chorus (singing) Spirits have many shapes, Many strange things are performed by the Gods. The expected does not always happen, And God makes a way for the unexpected. So ends this action. Translation: Richard Aldington, 1930, London These are the last five lines of Alcestis, a tragedy by Euripides. Classical Greek Drama During ancient Greek times, the chorus played an important theatrical role.  Wearing masks and singing in unison, they were commentators of the action.  They voiced public opinion, made the actions of the characters clearer, and said things that the main characters could not say. The chorus in Euripides' tragedies consisted of fifteen actors.  In the final scene, called exodus , the chorus remained on stage and sang the last lines.   sc

Newspaper print from Soliton video  and on-site installation. linocut printed on wax paper over newspaper, 2013

Part II There are several ways to make an accordion book. This is how to fold a monoprint into an accordion structure that fits inside an existing book cover. I want this monoprint to fit into this textured  red book cover I made a few months ago. To begin you need the following supplies: X-acto knife Adhesive (PVA glue & methyl cellulose) Binding board or cover for book Bone folder, teflon Self-healing cutting mat Ruler Scissors Small weight Small sponge roller Wax paper Take your paper   and measure it.  This paper is 18 inches, 46 centimeters long. I turn the unfinished book cover on its back and measure one side. 3 inches, 7.6 centimeters  I measure 3 inches and begin to fold the paper, keep folding until you have 6 panels Take the cover and line the inside boards with kozo paper.  Kozo paper is great for binding and lining books as it is strong, archival, translucent, ...

Part I I am going to turn this monoprint of leaves and linocuts into an accordion book. It should be dry tomorrow and I will post  the process.

watercolor is spelled with two words "Water Color Block"   I love this paper. Prints come out so beautiful! my Grandma's paper block I wish I had more, but I haven't been able to find any .

I finally finished a handmade book to  house all my paper samples. page from my paper sample book page from my paper sample book page from my paper sample book

In the studio: Salvaged pages from a damaged antique poetry book by Alfred Tennyson O let the solid ground Not fail beneath my feet Before my life has found What some have found so sweet; Then let come what come may, What matter if I go mad, I shall have had my day. Let the sweet heavens endure, Not close and darken above me Before I am quite quite sure That there is one to love me, Then let come what come may To a life that has been so sad I shall have had my day. Alfred Lord Tennyson, Love Poems , p. 55

of books Endpapers handmade paper and linocuts on Chiyogami paper I love opening a book and seeing beautiful, hand painted, textured endpapers between the covers.   Antique hand marbled papers and illustrated  gold leaf designs are my favorites. The most exquisite ones are in museums . Linocut printed on Chiyogami paper, 2013 I decided to create a series of books with just Endpapers, titled Between the Covers , combining my handmade papers  with a collection of silkscreened  Chiyogami papers from Japan. handmade paper textured with custom mould, 2013 *Chiyogami - chiyo (1000 generations) gami (paper) Originally designed and developed during the  Edo period (1605 - 1868) these papers are also known as Yuzen washi paper. Made from the inner bark fibers of the kozo,  mitsumata, and gampi trees, Chiyogami retains its long fibers and is soft, strong, durable and acid free. ...

Today I met a good friend for coffee  and she showed me a photograph she took of my art installation, Soliton. Thank you J.

He hangs in shades the orange bright, Like golden lamps in a green night, And does in the pomegranates close Jewels more rich than Ormus shows;         Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)

life is a journey recorded in colors and symbols bound in structures that can be passed on to others 

Monochromatic Stillness when the art world  clashes with my studio world I quiet the discord by creating these paintings. I can tell how chaotic my world is by the way the lines flow. If I get bad news, I take a deep breath, go to my studio and make these clean, crisp lines. The act of creating these paintings clears my mind. My process: I take acrylic paint and drip it on the paper.  In order to  achieve these lines, there has to be  the right combination of spontaneity, free flow, calm, and control.   Perhaps these are my emotional writings ?

Just finished this journal today.   I hand painted the cover and then waited a week before printing two linocuts of lilies on top of the painting.  It is interesting to see how the paints and inks interacted. I used embossed crocodile paper to bind the spine.

"Final Impressions" Last week we had a rain storm, with winds sending leaves everywhere.  I love the colors of orange, red, brown under my feet, reminding me how connected monoprint of autumn,  2013   I am to nature, especially the cycles of LIFE. monoprint of autumn, 2013 Using traditional  printmaking  techniques and tools, I tried to capture the vibrant colors of the  final days  of life  for these leaves  My memories of Autumn 2013.   Lasting impressions on paper