10-17-09-4

Today in the studio is most unexpected. I had expected to be in California, flying out yesterday to be with my 94 year old mother for the holiday. However, I ran into the impact of the storm which paralyzed the east coast last weekend. My plane was due to miss the connection in Philly, and it would have taken 3 days for a space to become available on another flight to Los Angeles. So I am looking upon this disappointment as an unexpected bonus to have time in the studio, where there were surprises today, as well. This is only the second piece I am including in the series with no pastel over the monoprint, whatsoever.

. . . .by the way, in the event you are concerned about my mother, my sister's flight did take off, and she's on her way out there right now. So Lucile will not be alone for Christmas.

10-17-09-3

This piece has very little pastel on it. The monoprint was complete unto itself except for the roughness of a couple of edges which were distracting, and now have been smoothed with pastel.

8-23-09-3

Be careful what you look at, before going into the studio. . . .or at least that's how I explain this piece, which has an unexpected Chinese feel to it. Earlier in the day, I had examined a picture of a Chinese Painting at the Met, and well, I guess it just stuck with me, though unintentionally so.

10-16-09-2

Pastel over monoprint

Dare I admit to being somewhat enamored of this piece, the way the dome of the mountain (largely a mark in monoprint) emerges out of the October mist? Having not posted for the past month does not indicate a lack of industry about this project - quite the contrary, as I have been printing and organizing, and opening the Making Their Marks exhibition. However, now is a good time to start finishing some of these pieces, especially as the Year of Printing comes to a conclusion at the end of December.

10-17-09-9

Pastel over monoprint.

I went back to the Dove-O'Keeffe exhibition catalogue that had intrigued me previously for some hints about dealing with the rolling quality of this October mountain.

10-10-09-3

Pastel over monoprint.

Nothing like an October wind storm. It's when you start believing in ghosts.

Are these finished or not?

10-17-09-7 pastel over monoprint - I call this one the "Calico Mountain" though none of these pieces are supposed to be titled.




10-16-09-4 pastel over monoprint




10-11-09-4 pastel over monoprint

One of the challenges in the fading light of this snowy day has been - simply put - seeing. I cannot tell whether these three pieces are finished or not. In the light of my drawing station, they seem complete unto themselves, but once moved across the room, I'm not so sure. So they may be re-visited later into the project. Suffice it to say, this was a dark December day in which I dwelled in October imagery most of the time.