Prints Charming

Isn't this poster and concept fun? This is a city wide event, celebrating LOVE for the week prior to Valentine's Day.  Art Avenue will be participating with the concept of Prints Charming, meaning we will have the ECU Printmaking guild come out and screenprint tshirts, prints and cards.

You can RSVP for the event on Facebook.  I'm excited about it because printmaking is one of my other favorite crafts, besides jewelry making.  So, if you are in the area I hope you'll come visit Art Avenue and my studio space!

Pin It

last day of printmaking

I've really enjoyed this class, I learned quite a bit in a short amount of time. However, the class was also draining, standing most of the time, cranking the press bed and constantly editing and proofing. I have a new found respect for printmakers.

Here are photos of Matt Egan, our professor, showing us how to screenprint. It was a quick demo and has me wanting to learn more. However, I'm slowly considering it, as Egan is a demanding professor.

Matt taping the borders of the screen, so as to prevent any acrylic from seeping in.
Matt applying the acrylic.


Matt powerwashing the emulsion off of the screen.


Our collaborative screenprint for our portfolio covers, on the drying rack.


The final product!

I was really happy Matt decided to give a brief demo on screenprinting, which I've been wanting to know more about, for awhile. Matt had each of the students make a design in black and white and then put it onto one image for our portfolio covers. My design is the moth in the middle.

Now I'm off to take my printmaking exam...wish me luck!

Thanks for reading.

Pin It

Self portrait

Whew, this summer has been busy, and it's only the beginning of June!

I'm almost done with my printmaking class and I've really enjoyed it - despite feeling the effects on my body from hunching over the wood carving or my hand hurting from cutting into linoleum endlessly, I love to see the effects on paper.

Printmaking is almost like an advanced method of drawing but in a different medium. I'm not the best at drawing (especially proportional figures) however I find that printmaking has introduced me to new methods of imprinting on paper, and how to transfer drawings to other mediums, such as linoleum, woodchip board and clothing.

It is a very labor intensive craft and one that I find challenging yet gratifying.

This is what it looks like when cutting into MDF (my classmate Cristina)Other students in progress.

Below is my first 'pull' (aka draft) of my MDF (medium density fibreboard) linocut, basically you cut into the woodchip and get a relief of the image.

MDF cutting

First pull

2nd pull

Close up shot

I wouldn't say it's an exact portrait but I really love the line quality and the detail of my lips and eyes.

What do you think? hope you're enjoying the summer - thx for stoppin by my blog.

Pin It

linograph

I spent most of the weekend working on my 'linograph', part of my printmaking class. It's a method of cutting into linoleum to create an image or pattern and then transferring to paper with ink. It is ALOT of work, especially if you do something complicated like a snake!

I barely got an time to work on my jewelry which bums me out but I really want to get an A in my class. I still have to run into the studio early this morning to touch up the print and run several more. My wrists were hurting so bad last night! Ok, enough complaining...I think it'll be worth it.

Hope you enjoyed the weekend and thanks for reading!

Pin It

My first outdoor market

Yesterday was a great day for Greenville's 1st Umbrella market of the summer.

Julie did a great job of setting up our table, I got to the market a bit later because I had to work but it was perfect timing - the sun was just beginning to move away and not be so blistering hot and humid.

And we both made sales - so that made us happy!

Julie and I at our booth
(I don't know why I look glum, I was in a great mood)

My handmade embossed cards!
I'm so proud of my marketing skills, and using the printmaking equipment.

Awesome displays, arranged by Julie.

Pretty seashells decorate the table and display Julie's jewelzzzz.

I had this pretty market-goer model one of Julie's necklaces,

she was wearing the perfect top for it.

If you didn't make it out to the Umbrella market or live too far away, you can always check us out on Etsy. Eilisain Jewelry and Julie DiNitto Designs.

Thanks for stoppin' by my blog.
Pin It