Nothing to Lose - Bob Dylan

Nothing to Lose - Bob Dylan, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

Just posted these on Etsy today. In keeping with the recession theme, they are bargain priced. Pick one up before they are all gone.
Nothing To Lose - Dylan Broadside

Messy Studio

I was accepted to show in the Own Your Own exhibit at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo. My work was also selected as part of the advertising campaign. I'll be showing with several more famous artists including John & Dorothy Mendoza and Louis Recchia. I'm planning on attending the opening with my Drawing class on November 18th. I'd love to have you stop by. Should be lots of fun.
Press Release
I've spent the last two days working to get my pieces matted and framed. As a result the studio is a wreck. A wise man would have had all of this ready to go weeks ago.

Nothing to Lose

There is plenty of talk about the hardships of the recession. I've been trying to think of a way to make some relevant artwork. I thought Bob Dylan said it just about right. This and another will be available on etsy very soon.

Nothing to lose proof, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

Press Move Stage One

Press Move Stage One, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

I've been hiding for a while. I wish that I could report that I had created tons and tons of art. Instead, I have been working on house upkeep and school. I've re-roofed our porch, painted window trim and built a shed. At the same time, I chased leads on printing presses in Kansas and Colorado. When school started, I lamented to a fellow teacher that several of the leads on antique presses had fallen through. She gave me the name of a man who was about to scrap this letterpress. It is a 10 x 15 Chandler and Price Craftsman automatic with a broken rice feeder. He thought it was purchased some time in 1920s. The previous owner had already donated a larger press to the local museum. I may eventually obtain that press or parts of it as well. At the same shop there is a 30 inch C&P paper cutter that he is offering for $400.Already on skids and ready to load.

I invited my father down to help move the press and help get it ready to lift with the forklift. The two of us along with a man named Leroy began by disconnecting the speed adjuster, and wiring. We then attempted to get a floor jack under the front of the press and set it up on some 1x4 lumber. Turns out both of the floor jacks I brought were capable of lifting my body weight, but not much more. Lucky for us, Leroy knew were we could find a couple more jacks and we got the front of the press up. When we tried to lift the back of the press up, the jack wouldn't go low enough to get underneath. I had come prepared with a long steel pry bar, so we began prying up the back of the press. It took several attempts and a couple smashed fingers, but we finally got the press up and slid some 2x12s under each side. Once bolted in place, we lowered the press onto 6 pipes, and rolled it across the floor to the garage door.

At the door, we jacked the press up again in the back and placed a 4x4 across the two back "feet" of the press. Then repeated the process in the front. The 2x12 skids and 4x4 runners were screwed together so that the press can be forklifted onto a trailer in a couple of weeks. I'd love to have the press sooner, but when someone offers a free trailer and use of a lift, its hard to complain about the time table.

I haven't come up with a name for the press. Maybe I'll have something appropriate by the time it arrives at my studio. My wife I'm sure will want a name for our next child before I spend my energy on printmaking.

Press Move Stage One, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

Featured on MVSEVM

Tower swirl at Midnight Drk blue, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

I just got word that Tower Swirls was featured on the Cloudery blog. Stop by and check out the other great artwork.

Estes 2009

Estes 2009, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

My family has been vacationing in Estes Park since before I was born. This year, Jessica and I took the kids up to join my parents. We stay at a nice place called Amberwood. We threw rocks in Bear Lake, Fall River, and anywhere else that we could find moving water. My dad likes to drive up Old Fall River Road every day, sometimes twice a day. Of course we joined him. It was beautiful while we were there. If only we could bottle that weather and bring it back to La Junta.

Since we got back, I've been working on rebuilding a shed in the backyard. I only have some siding left. Should be painted by the end of the week.

Not a lot of art has been completed since school let out. I hope that I can get the ball rolling when I've school resumes.

What will you be doing this summer

We took a little break this last weekend and drove into the mountains for a little respite. We went to Salida for wood fired pizza at Amicas. After going for a swim and a good night sleep, we headed back through Canyon City and did a little bike riding. It was a very beautiful and relaxing day. What fun we could have with this bicycle. We might have to re-think the trail along bicycle. Maybe we'll win the contest and add one to the group.

School is out at the end of the week. It will be a welcome change. We have plans for some home repairs, and I have plans to do a little more bike riding.