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.

Jumping off Point

Jumping off Point, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

It seems that my creative slump may be ending. I pulled out the Jumping Off Point block and layed out the three other blocks. I have some carving done on the key block and the light blue block. I still have some drawing to do on the dark blue and brown blocks. I haven't decided how all of the transitions will work on those two.
I've noticed that since this is the end of the school year, the stress is building and my list of things to do is longer than my arm. When one thing gets crossed off, three more wait to be added. After our art show and awards ceremony next Tuesday, several things should calm down. Little stressers are always there to pick at my brain in the middle of the night, but a little print work should help with that.
My wife and I had a wonderful evening with our new pastor and his family on Tuesday. He is an answer to prayers. Seems God has been preparing he and our church for quite some time. Lots of exciting things happening.
Finally if you need a good truck, I have one for sale. A pretty 1972 Chevy I bought from my brother-in-law as a fixer upper. I'd make you a killer deal.

Front Page

Rock'n the front page of Etsy.

Figure Drawing

Last evening was figure drawing night for my college Drawing class. A couple of my high school girls came and posed for us. They did 7 minute poses, and traded off posing and drawing. The class drew pretty constantly for about 2 hours. It is fun to see students grow so much in their ability to draw. Each week one of the college kids poses for their classmates for 3 or 4 minutes. We talk about blocking in the basic shapes of the figure, a then adding detail to the framework. It is always a challenge to convince students to begin adding shadows, and stop just outlining objects.
There are a few other examples on my flickr page.

Countdown to the End

About a month left till my students set up the year end show in the studio. We have begun to slow down production and step up the polishing and finishing that must take place before such an event. I have begun to clean my space and organize all the new things that have been acquired since last year. Jewelry production has really added to my inventory. From day to day I change the way tools are arranged in the drawers and on the the torch table. Just trying to find a way to make things accessible and still organized.
Today I glued and attached the top for my exposure unit. I set the glass, and it is going to work perfectly. I think I'll do some painting before I finalize the project. I do still have the vacuum to arrange, and electricity to work out. I did have a great conversation with the Ag teacher about having her students made a steel frame for my Neoprene vacuum blanket lid. It will be made out of 1" square tube steel with angle iron to hold the blanket, then brass hinges and clasps up front. Hopefully I'll have some screens burned before school is out. We'll see. I've promised pictures, and I have taken some. I just haven't uploaded them to anything. Soon.
I still desire to make something each day, but Spring Break put an end to the coffee paintings, and I haven't been dedicated enough to begin cutting on my multi-color blocks. I have cleaned my desk, so this week has promise.

Screen printing

I've been playing with my screen press, and today I received an order from Ryonet. I ordered roller screens, mesh, 6 new squeegees, an a neoprene blanket for my exposure unit that I hope to have functional soon. I still need to make a top for it, and have a glass cut to fit. Then it will receive a vacuum lid. I copied my design off of Ryonet's X-Vactor. It will be huge. On spring break, I stopped by The Ink Lounge Gallery in Lakewood, CO. Stu was kind enough to spend some time describing his exposure setup, and showing me examples work produced in their shop. He and his wife are quite talented. Their calendars are amazing. I hope to have my unit up and running in a week or two. I don't know if it will have a vacuum top then or not. We'll see how ambitious I am.

I still haven't started carving the blocks for my Aunt's piece. Instead, I did manage to print 50 impressions on my letterpress for and exchange using my Empty Nest block. I heard who else was involved in the exchange, and am pumped to receive the work in the mail. I hope that my work is pleasing to the others involved. After reading the participants, I was a little worried.

Biggest news in my studio is the four new 24 inch iMacs, and the new Macbook Pro that were purchased with some magic grant money our district received. Next year every teacher will have a laptop. Our current tech director is in her last year, and she is one of the few who supports the use of Mac technology. I'm sure pictures will eventually follow. The difference between my new machines, and the old ones is ridiculous. I put the same image up for a desktop of each vintage, and the iMac blew the old eMac out of the water. It's good to be me this week.

Dry Throwing Pottery

This has been a year of new challenges. I took on the Stagecraft class, and have directed the building of two sets. My students cast silver rings this year, and are working on their first silver soldered jewelry project. I also am the only Ceramics teacher. This means that if equipment is to be used, I am the one who must teach students to use it.
Not long ago I saw a you tube video by Ayumi Horie on dry throwing pottery. I have always had trouble with the potters wheel, and since clay isn't exactly my passion, I had neglected to teach any wheel throwing in class. This new technique is incredible. It takes the pressure out of centering the clay, and is easier, I think, for beginning students. Like reductive sculpture, this method removes all the clay that is not the vessel. Watch and see for yourself.