Bound Staff Press

Tuscan Ornate Figures Specimen

2012-01-12T11:40:00.002-07:00

Tuscan Ornate Type Specimen, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Since I had finished carving and proofing my new Tuscan Ornate numbers, I thought I should go ahead and print up a type specimen to hang on the wall. While I'm sure this could be done at any time, life has a way of pushing fun little projects like this to the background. I locked up a less than traditional form that filled the chase of my 10x15 C&P Craftsman, and printed away.

My current plan is to complete the rest of the font with a very small 3A scheme. I had originally thought I would continue with the 20 line (~3.25 inch) size, but having barely locked up only 10 figures in my chase, I think 10 line (1.625 inch) would be a better size. Should only be a few hours. (& Smiles)

2012-01-11T10:27:00.002-07:00

In my attempt to hand carve some fancy numbers, I've been informed that the Ringmaster font I used is a revival of a 1830-50s font called Tuscan Ornate or Bracelet Victorian.

It has been re-digitized under the name Main Strike and also as a dirty digital under the name Romantiques.

Turns out the font was available in metal in 18 and 24 pt. sizes as late as the 1970s. I just may have to pick some up. Skyline Type Foundry has the mats to cast this font, but it is not currently in production.

Progress

2012-01-11T09:48:00.001-07:00

Tuscan Ornate numbers mounted, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I have been steadily making progress on my hand carved numbers. The numbers are proofed, mounted to MDF and shimmed with mat board to bring them up to type high.

When I originally carved the numbers, I didn't leave any space to cut apart the individual items. Instead, I cut the linoleum into single numbers, then mounted them all to a single board so that I could align the vertical position. If on of the numbers is crooked it is very obvious because of the horizontal lines in the top of the font.

Numbers Game

2012-01-06T00:05:00.000-07:00

I just finished cutting a set of numbers in the Ringmaster font. They are cut from linoleum and will be mounted to 3 1/4" tall x 3/4" thick MDF and shimmed to bring them up to type-high. Cutting type is time consuming, but it is much less costly than buying something this ornate and large. I plan to cut a few more numbers, and maybe a font of letters as well. We'll see how this semester turns out.

Presenting the 2012 VW Bound Staff Press Calendar

2011-12-08T19:47:00.001-07:00

Don't wait to pick up your very own Volkswagen Letterpress Calendar for 2012. There are only 17, and they are going fast. SOLD OUT on Etsy.com

There has been little time for blogging lately. Instead, the printshop has been humming with projects, not the least of which is the 2012 Bound Staff Press calender. Printed on 100% cotton BFK heavyweight SOLD OUT.

2011-11-16T08:00:00.001-07:00

Big Night

Tonight is the opening for the Own Your Own exhibit at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo. This is a great opportunity to pick up some affordable artwork for Christmas gifts. Come see my latest artwork, and maybe take some home with you.

My work was selected as part of the promotion for the show. Always fun to see my name in print.

Finished the second bucket of type

2011-11-15T15:41:00.001-07:00

Wedding Text? 24 pt., originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I've been sorting type off and on for four weeks. Some nights I see tiny letters in my sleep. Today is a celebration. I've finished sorting my second complete bucket of type. Each bucket contained nearly 100 lbs of lead letterpress type. I have third bucket more than half sorted, but it may have to wait a while. I'd like to get back to carving and printing for a little while. I have a couple projects in the wings, and they have been calling for my attention.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

2011-10-15T10:35:00.001-06:00

Its been a busy month in the studio. My latest print is a four color linocut of a Japanese white eye titled Breakfast at Tiffany's. My goal is to complete one more bird print by the end of the month.

Lots of other things happening here as well. I've been building up my collection of letterpress type. I've added a few large wood typefaces, and I recently purchased 300 pounds of unsorted lead type. This week has been consumed with sorting fonts. I have found more than 20 different typefaces, and and at least 5 of them are present in multiple sizes.

So, if you are in the area, and have a little extra time, feel free to drop by and help me sort some type.

Red Head with Berries - New Print

2011-09-08T21:33:00.001-06:00

It has been a busy week here at the studio. School is in full swing, the VW calendar is in full swing, and this bird and berries print squeezed its way in.

Pick one up on Etsy. Red Head with Berries

Take a look at the newest print from Bound Staff Press. This little bird is bound to steal your heart right after he steals the berries off the branch.

While I was setting up the registration, and proofing the blocks, I hand inked the plates, then switched out the chases with the key block and the red block. When I print a few more in this edition, I will print several red, then print the black over them. I may even go as far as to ink up the press instead of hand inking. It all depends on the number of impressions I decide to make to stock my inventory.

Pick one up in my Etsy Shop

Red Head with Berries

Volkswagen Mania

2011-08-14T21:36:00.007-06:00

I admit, I've been a little Volkswagen crazy this month.

I tend to obsess.

I've been steadily working on linocuts of busses, bugs, convertibles and Karmann Ghias. With 11 of the 12 blocks completed, I'm looking at pulling out the least desirable images, and cutting new blocks to replace them. I may end up with 14 or so images when I'm done.

In hindsight, this project was inevitable. You see, I've been in love with VW Beetles since I was 3 or 4. My mother used to participate in a group called Faculty Wives where she hung out some evenings with the wives of other college employees. Really, the name says it all. I never cared much for what the Faculty Wives did, because when my Mom was gone, Dad would get out his Dinky Toys. My sister, my dad and I would play Dinkys for hours. Dad had lots, and they were bigger and different from the Hotwheels I usually played with. Among the most special cars were a pair of hand painted, dark blue VW Beetles, and a red Karmann Ghia. Dad also had a Schuco Piccolo VW bug that was much smaller, and was cast nearly solid. I was in love. Not just with cars, but with playing with my dad.

Some borrowed images.

A few weekends ago, we were at my parents house, and my kids had the opportunity to get down the Dinky Toys box. It was so much fun to watch as my little ones had the same thoughts and excitement that I did. I watched as my son tried to make the longest train of cars possible. I watched as my daughters picked out the prettiest cars. And, I got to see the struggle for who would get the VW beetles. One of the best moments of my life.

First Five Finished

2011-08-05T23:08:00.002-06:00

I've been working non-stop this week cutting and printing. I now have the first five VW blocks printed and listed on etsy. It has been a long time since I just sat down and made art. I really do love carving blocks. I thoroughly enjoy printing, even hand inking. This is the work I was made to do. I am at the same time refreshed and drained. My summer has been full of swimming lessons, taking my turn as nap warden, bike rides with my kids, road trips, etc. I love being a husband and dad, and I love being artist. I am truly blessed to live my life.

Some Volkswagen letterpress prints

2011-07-30T17:06:00.002-06:00

I've been working for several months to collect, acquire and buy Volkswagen letterpress cuts. Unfortunately, I am so cheap that my collection was hardly worth talking about. I have also been working on creating vector images from some old VW advertising. I intended to have cuts made to supplement my collection. Both efforts were moving slowly, so this month, I transfered some of the images over to linoleum, and started cutting.

I proofed these on my large C&P. Instead of using the inking mechanism on the press, I simply removed the chase between each impression, and hand inked the block. This worked well for the dozen impressions i made, but would have become tiresome had I done many more. I cannot believe how effortlessly that big press will print these linocuts.

In the coming days, I plan to have a few more prints cut, and some new listings on etsy.com

Its good to be back

Bill Flick at work

2011-02-10T08:12:00.002-07:00

Found a little video of Bill Flick cutting and printing a large linoleum block. Sit back and enjoy.

Anatomy of a Linocut by Bill Fick from Jim Haverkamp on Vimeo.

Shop update

2011-01-07T08:17:00.006-07:00

For more than 4 years, I've been trying to refurbish and use a 4 color screen press that was in my studio classroom. When I found it, the pneumatic cylinders on the hinges were shot, and it was accompanied by several dozen wooden screens in various states of repair and use. Some students and I re-screened some of the wooden frames, and abandoned hope for others. Replacement parts were purchased for the press, I even built an exposure unit. Unfortunately, these things took years to accomplish. The screen press has always taken a back seat to some other project or event. But now, the time has finally arrived. Prompted by the acquisition of a conveyor dryer, I finally set up a work space for screen printing. The exposure unit works well, with a 10 minute exposure, and we are ready to print shirts or artwork.

Things remaining to be accomplished include wiring the conveyor dryer, replacing a bulb in the flash dryer, and making the vacuum work on the exposure unit. We can print without these, but it will be better with them.

Away for a while

2010-12-07T23:37:00.003-07:00

I've not been blogging for a several weeks. I would love to have a story of too much print work, or new equipment. Instead, I just haven't felt much like writing or creating.

Kristin, my sister, died in late October. She was 37 years old, and a 7 year survivor of breast cancer. She was a mother to five wonderful children, and a wife to one of the hardest working men I've ever met. Her life was one lived without reservation. She was quick to share her opinion, and even more generous with her possessions and time. All of these express who Kristin was, but the most important description of Kristin is that she lived to point others to Christ. There are people who know they will see Kristin again because of Kristin; because she led them to a relationship with our Lord and savior by her words, her actions, her very life.

I may not carve many prints in the next few months. I may not post many pictures of my changing studio. I may have overwhelming sadness.

Whatever happens, I will know that my sister has run the race, and fought the good fight. God is glorified, and Kristin can see Him face to face.

I will remain sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.

Jumping Off Point - Finished

2010-10-16T22:06:00.001-06:00

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

Some of you may remember seeing this piece more than a year ago. Shortly after my Aunt Emiko died last year, I carved a set of blocks to somehow work through my own feelings of losing her. This print was the result.

I hadn't ever tried to register multiple colors on my small letterpress, and the results were not pleasing enough to display or sell the print. I had however, recently acquired a broken and dirty old letterpress. Since that broken press is now working and I have a show deadline at the end of the month, I inked up and printed four colors in one day.

My first yield from the big letterpress was amazing if small. I only printed an edition of 7. The colors I chose allowed me to only clean the rollers and ink disk twice through the whole process. I started with a tiny amount light blue for the first color, then just flooded the ink disk with dark blue for the second pass. In the middle of this edition, I learned how to remove the rollers and clean up. Back at it with a thin layer of brown, and finally I flooded the disk with black for the final impressions.

This printing was accomplished amish style with a little foot power. OK, I'll be honest, It was a LOT of foot power, and I was completely worn out running the press. It takes so much concentration to treadle the press, that I had to use use the throw-off lever every impression, and feed the press with just one hand.

My students loved watching me print, and I had a wonderful day seeing all of my restoration work on the press materialize in the completion of a long awaited print.

Print shop

2010-10-16T21:39:00.002-06:00

I have been printing like crazy. Last weekend was the annual Art Walk and art exhibit at Somewhere On San Juan here in La Junta. I scraped together 4 pieces from this year to enter. Of course I hadn't printed any of them on quality paper yet . As usual, I printed and framed right up to the deadline for the show. You would think I could get that done a week or two ahead of time.

I really feel like I'm in the groove of printing and carving right now. I can remember how I used to have ideas just ready to explode onto the block each time I would pick up the pencil. My print shop is coming together, and I just can't wait to get back to making art all the time.

Of course with great motivation comes great distraction. The weeks are full of extra things to think about and projects that need to be completed either as part of my personal life, or at school, or my family. I am trying my best to focus all of that energy towards making art. As a result of events in my life, I have some heady topics to deal with artistically. If I can just break into that artist flow... I feel so close.

Amish letterpress

2010-09-21T12:50:00.005-06:00

In the never ending saga of my C&P Craftsman letterpress, I have finished most of the work that I can on the press. To recap briefly, I bought the press last year from a nearby newspaper office that was being scrapped. I have since, removed the automated feeder mechanism, repaired a broken casting, and cleaned and painted the press.

Since the last update here, I have constructed a delivery table from maple. When the automated feeder was removed, I was left with no place to stack printed work. I also wanted to be able to have a little shelf for storage. I combined these to ideas and am very pleased with the result. I have yet to seal the wood with polyurethane, but that is coming in the immediate future.

Soon, the press will move to it's final location and be wired to run with a motor. Until then, I have fixed up a solution that doesn't include any electricity. This decision was made out of a desire to use the press more than some moral objection to modern convenience. It is quite a workout, and not something I plan on using forever.

All that remains is locking up a print and making some prints.

A Fork in the Road

2010-09-15T04:32:00.012-06:00

I've used this blog to write about my adventures both in printmaking and in teaching. For some, I'm sure this is welcome, and for others, one subject or the other is less than interesting. For me, it has been hard to separate the two. Both occur in the same studio classroom; and I very much want to share both parts of my experience with you. Within the last year, some of my goals for blogging have changed. I want to keep a space dedicated to the progress and artwork of Bound Staff Press, but I also want to have a space for new things I'm trying in my classroom. The changes in my classroom have diverged so far from the artwork of Bound Staff Press that I have neglected posting many of these thoughts. As a result, I now have two blogs. You know two blogs just means two places that don't get updated.

Please join me at my new classroom blog on Wordpress called Studio 201

Series of Amazing Events

2010-07-11T21:54:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago, I received contact from a young man named Mark wanting to learn about linoleum printmaking. He and I made arrangements to meet for a one on one workshop. I showed him my small studio and we both started cutting. Cutting and talking. Turns out that both his mom and my dad grew up in Africa. What's more, they went to the same boarding school, Rift Valley Academy.

When Mark had cut a few blocks, we proofed and printed. Mark is quite an artist, and made a nice little print. Here he is with a his work in my new workspace.

A New Printing Press

2010-07-11T00:02:00.003-06:00

Like many people, I religiously comb through Craigslist for bargains. Usually, I am too late, or too cheap to buy much. Monday yielded a different result. Listed in the Denver area was a Dickerson combo etching and lithography press for way less than it was worth. It had been listed for a few days, so I was not hoping for much. And, even though it was a bargain for the press, it was still a significant amount. I mentioned the press to my wife, and she thought I should pursue it. It was still available, and apparently, I was the most earnest about wanting the press.

Tuesday night arrangements were made for a hurry up trip to Denver with Jessica and my two youngest kids. Wednesday morning, the seller and I disassembled the press, and loaded it into my van and we were back on I-25 by noon. With a little help from the maintenance staff, the press was safely unloaded in my classroom.

I still need a few items to produce lithographs, but it shouldn't be long.

Assessing Without Grades in the Art Room.

2010-05-27T15:14:00.003-06:00

I’ve never talked with anyone who could explain an objective grading system for the art room. Our culture is littered with phrases that reinforce the idea that no one knows what beauty is, or how to assess it. Have you said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” or maybe you prefer, “There is no accounting for taste.” This semester, I delivered a lecture entitled, “Judges smoke crack.” All of these are attempts to explain the idea that it is very difficult to systematically assess visual arts projects. No one is ever happy with the outcomes. Should an art teacher assess effort? Should final product be the only item of importance? I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m not even sure that the grades I entered last week or last year are accurate or important assessments of my student’s knowledge or ability in visual arts.

Something had to change.

After lots of blog reading, I decided to try an experiment in my classroom this quarter. In each class, I would only be assessing through conferencing with students and writing short paragraphs explaining their growth. My ultimate goal is to share my little paragraph with parents on a regular basis so that they can have a reliable account of what is happening in my classroom.

For my first project using this system, I taught linear perspective. As a class we took notes, and practiced drawing cubes, then street corners. When I was mostly sure that the students could proceed to independent work, I asked them to prove that they understood linear perspective with an art project. If the student had interacted with the lecture, notes, and practice, they should need very little help proving their knowledge. It worked. Not only did students create some of the best perspective projects I’d seen, they also were very handy with the material.

When it came time to assess the project, I distributed a worksheet for the students to develop their responses to my questions. Each student was asked, “How would you use this project to teach someone else the system of linear perspective?” A separate question asked, “What will make your project a show winner?” Each question had some vocabulary listed to help prompt a reasonable response. I called students to my desk, and discussed their answers. I only had one student who did not learn the material. This was due to absences. Some students were ready to teach a lesson on perspective, and others new only basics, but almost everyone had learned the material. I had several students who could not create show-winning work, but I had expected this result. What I had not expected was the level of learning.

If I had only assessed show-winning (beautiful) work, like in the past, I would have missed the opportunity to really know how many students understood linear perspective.

What I want this to look like in my classroom next year.

Classroom Art Standards will be discussed in connection with each assignment.
Students will write and verbally discuss their assessments on at least 50% of their projects.
Students will blog about their projects so that parents can see semi-daily progress.
Parents will be contacted when students meet a classroom standard.
Grades will only be given when necessary at Quarters and Semesters. Arrived at in conference with student after considering standards met during projects.
Every project will have a specific due date. Previously, I let projects go on indefinitely. This worked when grades were assigned on a variable day of reckoning. Without a numeric grade, students were not motivated to finish projects after they had proven their knowledge of the content.

C&P Craftsman 10 x 15 repair

2010-04-15T22:41:00.005-06:00

What was broken is now repaired.
It took three attempts, and lots of studying and asking before I managed to fix the broken casting on my newest letterpress. When I bought the press, it was already broken, and I knew that it would have to be repaired prior to printing. Since my welding skills are crude at best, and mostly self-taught, I was not looking forward to the prospect of making the repair myself.

After some discussion with my dad over Easter break, I decided that I could probably attempt brazing. The only hang-up was my poor torch skills. I have used a propane torch for countless hours soldering jewelry, but when I inherited an acetylene torch, I never obtained any formal training. I read as much as possible, but couldn't quite tell what the authors were talking about. I had a few students help me, and we did manage to melt some bronze. The trouble was the bronze didn't attach to the iron.

In a moment of need (I later found out this is called pointillistic learning) I searched the internet for torch and brazing tutorials. Youtube was a bust, so I checked the video tab on Google. To my delight, I found a high school teacher taking his class step by step through the brazing process. It was exactly what I wanted. Here is a link to the demo. Turns out I had been using a reducing flame, with far too much fuel, and not very much heat. When I learned how to adjust the torch, a couple students and I had the part brazed in a matter of 10 minutes.
That evening I ground the excess brass from the joint, and then wrapped the whole joint in Quick-Steel. The epoxy wrap added some strength, but was mostly about aesthetics. The next morning, I filed and sanded the quick-steel to a pleasing shape, and painted the whole thing black. Tomorrow, I'll start putting it all back together.

Brazed part wide angle, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

C&P Craftsman 10 x 15 arrived today

2010-03-23T20:34:00.003-06:00

In August, I made arrangements to purchase a Chandler and Price Craftsman letterpress. The day I looked at the press, it was 104˚ outside, and when I went to make skids for the press a few weeks later the temperature was -12˚. I smashed a finger when we were placing it on the skids, and it finally grew all the way back. Life has piled up, and my best intentions of having the press delivered always managed to be stymied. I was determined to make arrangements for delivery next week when I received a phone call from the seller. Would I be willing to take it this week? Today? Tomorrow? After some bargaining with the head of maintenance, I had a fork lift driver for today. I almost couldn't sleep I was so excited.

Today I watched as it was unloaded and placed in the back of my studio. Really made my day. The principal even came down to see the new beast. I have several projects going, but I'm sure I will find time to tinker and clean. The plan is to remove the remains of the automatic feeder, and replace it with a delivery board. I may also add a treadle, but this will have to wait a little.

C&P Craftsman 10 x 15 arrived today, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

The previous owner mentioned that he also has a Chandler and Price guillotine paper cutter for sale. It has an extra blade and is in pristine condition. He is asking $350. I don't think that my little space will accommodate such a massive cutter when I already have a small Paragon guillotine.

Student work. Amazing smoke

2010-02-26T12:26:00.001-07:00

Student work. Amazing smoke, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

Arianna has been working on smoke this week. I've seen several versions of this. Some were OK, but none were great... until today. She really surprised herself and me as well.
The assignment was to find a lyric or poem to inspire our paintings. Something in her lyric has to do with breathing in a person like smoke in her lungs.

Capitol Affair

2010-02-24T09:10:00.009-07:00

I'm participating in an art show for Colorado College educators titled Practice What You Teach. Turns out that the graphic designer and curator liked my work enough to use it for the invitation and online announcements. Nothing like a little recognition to boost the confidence.

Link to the web page.

In other news, I've been swamped with projects. This time of year at school means graphics work for several groups including camera ready work for a banner for the senior class. My illustrator skills are shaky at best, but I am getting better. Thank goodness for live trace.

I have been cutting on a new block, but that is at the bottom of the list right now.

Printing Again

2010-02-11T22:58:00.006-07:00

After a considerable dry spell from creating and printing, I have fired up the press again. Of course, as usual, I was up against a deadline. I refilled my inventory for my bird prints so that I could enter them in a show in Denver. I finished a small project for an exchange, and I printed 75 calling cards for a woman who has adopted my kids as her grandchildren. It has been a busy but good week. I hope to have framed work shipped by Saturday. Which, surprisingly, is a week early. The exchange work is already shipped, and the calling cards have only two more passes in the press before I wrap them up.
I have a couple prints in the works right now. One I hoped to have cut in time to ship for Valentines. That didn't happen, but I'm OK with being prepared for next year. Another print is drawn and inked and awaits cutting if I ever stop long enough.

Free Bird

2010-01-18T21:02:00.003-07:00

I've been wanting to sit down and draw out some new linocuts, but I have struggled to get organized and actually begin. At the end of last week, I set up my calendar with all of the things I need to accomplish for some upcoming shows, and I'll be honest, I have lots to do. So what better time than now to put off show work, and start a new print. This is the drawing I completed this morning. I have a little more inking to do before I cut the block.

Stay tuned for a second block that is also near completion.

Tech is the New Black

2010-01-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

I enjoy a gadget as much as the next person. I have a blog (obviously) and I participate in online forums, and communities and even teach an online course. However, I have been very reluctant to join twitter. What could be the use in knowing when twenty or thirty people ate supper, or other unimportant factoids? What was unknown to me was the vast and active professional community of twitter. Earlier in the year one of the science teachers had suggested twitter, and a service called social bookmarking. I blew off the suggestions. When he again presented this information in a professional development session, he showed us some of the excellent links he had gleaned from groups like #edchat and #edtech. He also reiterated the effectiveness of Delicious a bookmarking service.

That afternoon following the session, I looked up AP studio art portfolios within a few minutes, I found a site with the elusive information I have been searching for on Google for close to 2 years. Others were obviously looking for the same data, and bookmarked it.

The next day, I read furiously the conversation during Tuesday morning's #edchat. Twitter was clearly about more than personal trivia updates. Real people were sharing great information. I was hooked.

Now if I can just make a little art my life will be well rounded.

Great to be back

2010-01-05T23:14:00.005-07:00

Lots of things to catch up on.

The Christmas break was great. We took our annual cross county trip through Kansas to see family. We managed to stay ahead of weather, and the kids all behaved in the car. We don't often make it back East, so we made this trip really count. We stopped at my Grandparent's on the way out, then at my other Gandmother's on the way back. Let everyone hold the newest little Miller girl. Always mixed emotions with seeing people age. We were of course happy to spend time catching up. with everyone.

My son can talk of nothing but guns and swords. I took him shopping with me this year, because I knew that if my wife asked what I had bought, he would tell her it was a sword. The boy can really keep a secret provided I was not actually buying cutlery. I have been looking for die-cast metal cap guns for a couple of years, and notice that it is rare to see metal guns on the store shelves. I really wanted to find a set similar to the ones I had as a child, and it turns out ebay usually has a couple ready to go. He had a ball. The best part was watching him play dead after being shot. He lays on the floor and sticks his little tongue out. It was one of the best parts of Christmas.

The Own Your Own exhibit still has a few days left. It will close on the 9th. If you are able, you should stop by. I've had the pleasure of dealing with some of the greatest ladies at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center. Just before Christmas I received word that the gift shop would like to carry my work after the OYO show closes. Made for a wonderful end to the year.

Smashing success!!

2009-11-18T22:40:00.004-07:00

Just back from the gallery opening for the Own your own show. I sold 8 of 10 pieces before I left. I have an order for at least one more to be sold to the curator, and was asked to restock for the remainder of the exhibit. I haven't exhibited in this large of a setting before.

Really took me by surprise when I walked past a woman who said, "I just bought a Justin Miller..." I stopped and said "That's me." Overall a wonderful evening.

Nothing to Lose - Bob Dylan

2009-10-30T14:01:00.003-06:00

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

2009-10-28T11:28:00.004-06:00

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

2009-10-27T19:50:00.003-06:00

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

2009-10-11T22:55:00.002-06:00

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

2009-07-30T20:33:00.002-06:00

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

2009-07-27T21:52:00.002-06:00

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

2009-05-20T22:03:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-30T16:00:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-27T08:54:00.002-06:00

Rock'n the front page of Etsy.

Figure Drawing

2009-04-16T10:04:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-14T20:55:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-03T15:02:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-03T11:44:00.004-06:00

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.

Spider Ink Studio: Pronto plates and Z-Acryl

2009-03-12T22:14:00.000-06:00

I was browsing through the DickBlick catalog this week, between CSAP tests, when I saw the new Z-Acryl plastic lithography plates. I just read about them on Spider Ink Studio. Go check out the link for yourself.

Spider Ink Studio: Pronto plates and Z-Acryl

Coffee factory painted and sold in one day

2009-03-11T22:58:00.001-06:00

Coffee factory 3-11-09, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

The most recent coffee stained ACEO. When I came home to get the etsy address and attach it to my flickr picture, it was already sold. Couldn't be more proud when I found out it went to one of the founders of Etsy. Made my evening.

Simpleton's House

2009-03-10T12:10:00.002-06:00

Simpleton's House 3-9-09, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

This is my most recent daily sketch. I painted this with the coffee I was drinking last evening. Nothing on TV, so worked on this instead. I massaged it a little with watercolors to finish up. I'm experimenting with what to do with these little pieces. They are so fun to do, I find myself getting lost in the landscape. I am still not very pleased with the way my scanner captures the texture of the paper. I tried black paper behind the card, and now brown paper, in an attempt to trick the light meter, but I still have noticeable grays where there should be white paper.
I also have not decided on rounding the corners. The first one had corners rounded, and the others have not.
Which do you prefer?

Holly Sugar Factory - Original Illustration

2009-03-06T15:36:00.003-07:00

factory ACEO ink 3-6-09, originally uploaded by BoundStaffPress.etsy.com.

So sketching every day isn't working out like I would hope. Instead, I was thinking last night, why not just do a quick ink drawing every morning. I could post on Flickr and Etsy. That keeps me fresh, and practiced, and posting every day. I have the time built into my schedule at work. I just haven't taken advantage of it.
Here is the drawing for today. It is my impression from memory of the Holly Sugar factory in Swink, CO. I drive by it all the time. This was drawn using Pitt artist pens, and colored with coffee, and watercolor. I'm very pleased with the result.

CSAP testing

2009-03-05T22:07:00.003-07:00

This week and next week is CSAP week at our school. CSAP is the Colorado Student Assessment Program and is the standardized test that Colorado Dept of Education uses to test the growth and achievement of students. Each morning, I proctor a test for either freshman or sophomore students. Afternoons in our building are shortened classes, with little or no real learning. Students and teachers are both brain dead. I told my wife yesterday, it seem like I teach for two days every day of work, one for testing, and one for classes.
Like many educators, I have my opinions about standardized tests. I think they could be used better if they held students responsible for learning. Instead, the high stakes test holds teachers accountable for what is being taught. Since the students don't feel any of the weight of these tests, they are on their honor to preform well. Teachers, especially core subject teachers, are under the gun. If a group of students chose not to do their best, the teachers are held responsible. I think course end testing would better serve the whole education community. Students wouldn't pass the course if they didn't pass the test. And, it could still be used as one of many tools for evaluating teachers.
Enough soap boxing, I discovered a cool video this week. Ayumi Horie throws pottery without water. Just pound the clay on the bat, cut away the parts that aren't balanced. I threw a cute little bowl yesterday, then ruined it today when I was trying to trim the foot. I'll try again tomorrow.
Craft classes are busy cutting out tiny metal pieces for silver solder jewelry. I'll post some pics when I have completed projects turned in.
I still am contemplating the color schemes for Jumping Off Point I think I have it down to 4 colors and cream paper. lots of things get in the way when you procrastinate as well as I do.
This week has also included the start of screen printing at Bound Staff Press. I have a four color one station press, and I pulled my first two proofs for the art club t-shirts. I also have begun the process of ordering repair parts for my press, and constructing a light box.
You know, I should break this into several smaller posts, but if I did that, I wouldn't get any of this stuff done.

Jumping Off Point

2009-02-17T11:11:00.001-07:00

Jumping Off Point, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I've been mulling over the loss of my Aunt a few weeks ago and have been struggling with how best to work through my thoughts. My Aunt Emiko met and married my uncle when he was stationed in Japan with the Navy. They lived on the West coast, and rarely visited Kansas when I was young. As a result of distance, and our cultural differences, I feel like I barely knew Emiko.
About the time I entered Middle School, my Uncle Jim retired from the Navy, and moved with his family to Bazine, KS. I was awkward, but Emiko was always kind to me. She and Jim reached out to me, planning for my visits, taking me fishing, opening their home to me when the adults gathered some place else.
Emiko struggled with cancer for the past few years. Her life had become less than comfortable, and ended unexpectedly in relation to a surgery. With Emiko's fragility, and my small children, we had not made contact in quite some time.
With her passing, I was suddenly aware of how often I had passed up opportunities to get to know her better, or even to stop and say hi. I know I am not alone in feeling this way after a death, but that doesn't change my hopelessness.
This latest print is in response to Emiko's passing. I borrowed some waves from traditional ukiyo-e prints, and used a Japanese fishing boat. The transcending ladder and abandoned ribbon are my own symbols. I really want to do a multi-color multi-block cut with this image. We'll see how ambitious I get.

New Computer

2009-02-13T21:49:00.002-07:00

This morning the director of technology invited me to her office to take delivery of a new 20 inch all-in-one iMac. I had plans for the morning, but I put them aside to set up, and clean my off my desk to make space. If you haven't gazed into a new Mac monitor, you haven't experienced the graphics on your computer. I was thinking of the old SE30 classic style Mac that my Dad brought home one year with the tiny little black and white monitor with pixels the size of my fist. What a difference. Even the tired old 1st gen iMac I'm typing on right now doesn't compare. We had a little celebration in Advanced Art. I sprung for donuts. The crowd cheered.

I stole the pic from the net.

Sesame Street Character Quiz

2009-02-06T12:29:00.002-07:00

This is pretty much dead on.

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you have a huge sweet tooth.

You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.

You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and unusual way of speaking

How you live your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Getting ready for a show.

2009-02-06T10:23:00.003-07:00

This morning, I am printing and preparing work for The People of Print International show in Denver next week. I only just read about it this week on Flickr. Looks like it is in a classy little venue called Ink Lounge Gallery. When I read the call for entries, I was surprised to see that the prints didn't need to be matted or framed. After a little research yesterday, it looks like most of the exhibits are hung with binder clips instead of being presented in frames. Way cool.

I am sending Tossed About, and Swing by the House. People of Print encourages cash and carry sales, so I'll be packaging up 6 impressions of each block. One for the exhibit, one of the Colorado University collection, and 5 additional for sales. Fortunately for me the show is very soon, so I don't have to wait long to hear if I was juried in or not. Stop by the show if you are in Colorado.

Inventory

2009-01-29T14:02:00.003-07:00

Brayers, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

This week I've been moving some printmaking supplies from the old Crafts studio to my current studio/classroom. I knew there were a passel of brayers and some water soluble ink to move, but I didn't know there were this many. I cleaned out some drawers in the printmaking cage, and began to unpack. There may not be any competition for who has the most brayers, but I win.

Featured on foundhandmade.com

2009-01-27T22:15:00.002-07:00

Featured on foundhandmade, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

What a wonderful close to a day. Right before I left work, I received a message saying one of my prints was featured on foundhandmade.com. Stop by and see what a wonderful site this is. I was amazed at all of the info compiled for anyone buying or selling handmade work.
Foundhandmade blog

Latest Proof - Love Grows

2009-01-20T10:28:00.003-07:00

Love Grows - Valentine, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I've been working on this since before Christmas break, and finally inked up yesterday and did a quick proof on my letterpress. I'm pretty pleased with it overall. I do think it is pretty stark on the white paper, and will likely print it on cream or some other warm color.

Life has been busy, but not overwhelming as of late. I spent the weekend finishing some projects in the basement. The ceiling needed some touch-up paint, as did the blue paint on the walls. Just the regular finish work that needed to be done. Next is shelves for the kid's closet upstairs, then the utility room. The utility room has been on the list since we first moved in, but it is so easily avoided by just closing the door. Finally, we are having trouble storing and retrieving items so it will have to be done.

Basement shelves finished

2009-01-06T13:34:00.001-07:00

Basement shelves finished, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Jessica and I stayed up late last night sorting toys and redistributing our office items. We started out with a strangely narrow desk on the left, and an extremely deep trophy case of sorts hung above what now holds the oblong leather bench.

First on the list was getting rid of the bright red shag carpet that came with the house. Since the carpet was going, we painted, and painted, and painted. With the previous built-ins removed, I began construction on the desk and book shelves. Our guest room got equal time with new carpet and the removal of a built-in desk. Feels good to have a clean and organized space to live and relax in.

Wildflower

2009-01-02T23:22:00.001-07:00

Wildflower, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

A few years ago, my wife and I began counting the accomplishments from the previous year instead of making resolutions for the upcoming one. It goes something like this. "I resolve that last year I will have been accepted into a national show." Sure beats thinking of all the things that we need to improve. As an added bonus, I always feel inspired afterward build on the previous highlights. Why not try for two shows this year? This year we recounted the transformation of our front yard, our first garden, traveling to Santa Fe, completing a stage set, to name a few. I'd like to add to that list the discovery that Starbucks coffee is worth the price over Folgers, restoring a letterpress, remodeling our basement, and playing with my children. The last, of course, overshadows all the others.

This year for Christmas, I made each of my children their own wooden rifles using scrap lumber and a mop handle. It has been a barrage of warfare ever since. My mother sewed "prairie princess" dresses for the girls, and we have spent this week watching Little House on the Prairie. Isaac shoots at the television, and the girls ask to have their tied tight like Carolyne's. I sure love playing.

I hope you are having a wonderful New Year. Take some time to recount the blessings in your life. It sure is fun to notice God's gifts in your journey.

Suitcase sale

2008-12-19T10:27:00.001-07:00

Suitcase sale, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

What a busy week and weekend. We started Saturday with an early run for donuts I snagged one, and ran off to set up my booth for the suitcase sale. Friday, I had printed up a storm trying to have all my work available on both white and cream paper. I also printed variations on my most recent birdcage block. On Friday, I had also found several works that I had forgotten about, hiding in the back of my files. Three of these lost items were reproductions I had made from pencil or ink drawings. To my surprise, they were the first to sell.

I also made buttons from my scrap proofs, and a few choice parts of my favorite prints. These were a big hit. At $1 or free with any purchase, I only came home with half of what I had taken.

At noon, I left my space, and got dressed up for my daughter's dance recital. She did very well, and the usual celebration ensued. Home again to change clothes and send the kids off to watch the Nutcracker ballet with their Nana and Papa.

Free Gorgeous Paper? Could it be?

2008-12-11T15:32:00.004-07:00

Win some FREE paper.
The good folks at The Paper Place have put together the ultimate Chiyogami sample pack, an 8.5x11” sheet of every Chiyogami paper they offer in the online store – 637 patterns in total (retail value $1911.00). All tied up with a pretty red bow.
Just leave a comment here to be entered in the contest. How can you turn that down.

Proof of birdcage watertower

2008-12-10T13:56:00.002-07:00

Proof of birdcage watertower, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Last evening, I stayed a little late at work, and finished up this cut so that I could proof it before I left. I was very dissapointed with the results. The trees were not as I had imagined them. This morning, after the image mellowed in my mind overnight, I was much more happy.
Most of the morning was spent reworking the details of the piece. Cleaning up, proofing, cleaning, proofing. Finally, I locked up the block in the chase of my Craftsmen letterpress. I opted the hand ink the image so that I didn't have to clean the whole press. I cannot believe how well it printed. There just is nothing better than perpendicular pressure for printing relief.

I still need to work on a title. I was thinking about soulless or empty or dead for the concept. I also noticed today that the watertower vaguely resembles a dress form. I don't think I want to combine the two ideas, but you never know.

In other news, my crafts class cast silver rings today. It has been a road frought with touble. My studio space has a ox-acetylene welding table with 6 stations. Since I moved in, it didn't have tanks so it was just an aesthetic. I've used a torch before, but I haven't done much with ox-acetlyene. So today was a learning process from first to last. After repairing some valves on the table earlier this semester, I had lit a torch, and melted some copper scraps so that I could practice before I had students watching. So today I loaded up the silver, and tried and tried and tried to get the silver hot enough to melt. Finally I consulted my manual and made a "fuel rich" flame that was hot enough to melt the metal, but not so hot that it burned the metal. Honestly burning the metal wasn't going to be and issue for me today. We ladeled the molten metal into the spin caster's crucible, and it almost imediatly it solidified. Torch still lit, we re-melted the silver and let it spin.
Here are the less than perfect results. For a first time and DIY on-the-job training experience, I am quite pleased

first casting, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

New ipod!!

2008-12-09T11:23:00.001-07:00

New ipod!!, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I love my wife. Yesterday she won an ipod on the radio, and braved the wind and snow to run up to the Springs to get it. What's more, she upgraded to the next size. I've always tried to justify buying one, saying that I would use it when I work on my printmaking, or when everybody in the car is asleep. Last night, I put in some Elliott Smith, and carved away. Now most of the detail work is done, and I can just clean out the large open areas.

I usually use the #1 speedball blade to outline all of the details before I change to #5 gouge to remove large areas. This way, all the hard work is done at the first of the block. When I'm just ready to start printing, I can just finish up without a lot of thought or stress.

I have not yet come up with a title for this piece. I'm toying with the idea of a body without a soul or spirit. I also have thought about something to do with freedom, or imprisonment since the cage is empty, but locked.

Hard Days Work

2008-12-08T17:00:00.002-07:00

Hard Days Work &Proof, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I have been working feverishly to have work ready for the annual Suitcase Sale at Somewhere on San Juan. I have two prints that I've been cutting on. One is infinitely more complex than the other. I have to switch off, or my eyes and neck start to tire. Now I just sound old.

I have also been trying to get my Art Fire shop filled with goodies. I listed most of my editioned prints there late last week. I shot some new detail photos, so that not everything has the same picture of me carving Birdhouse Bird. Of course, life doesn't slow down when I want to get these things done, but there are always little blessings that come along that surprise me.

Today my wife called me at work, and told me she had won an ipod from the radio station she listens to. After an hour or so of planning and scheming, she decided that today was the only day she or any of us could make it up to the Springs to pick it up. She told me it is my Christmas present, but we'll see. If it is pink, I'll know it is for her. If it is in silver or black... Yipee!!

I hope you find some way to see God's blessing today.

Spreading the Love

2008-11-30T20:09:00.002-07:00

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone. We had an amazing visit with my in-laws, and managed to travel with only a few minor crying fits from Isaac. The kids and I poured through every toy department between here and El Dorado, KS. We plan lots of stops for sanity and

When we returned I had a great little message in my in box. I was featured in a blog by Nita Kurmins Gilson of Gilson Graphics. Go check it out, and look though some of the other featured artists. Take a minute and leave a comment for someone.

Stop by the Etsy shop this week and pick up an impression of Tossed About. For sale for the first time.

Tossed-About, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Weekend Highlights

2008-11-24T21:21:00.002-07:00

Justin Fargas, compliments of the NFL

I just cant resist posting this. Sunday afternoon, my wife and I went to the Raiders - Broncos game. Neither of us had been to a professional sporting event before, and though we live in Colorado, neither of us are Bronco fanatics. In fact, because we live here, we do not root for the the Broncos. Instead, I am an Oakland fan, and have been most of my life. This means I'm no stranger to disappointment, and was expecting the same. Even in the fourth quarter, I said there's still time to lose. To my suprise, we won, and won big! Bigger than big! This is an amazing event. The Raiders haven't beat the Broncos in 9 years.

My wife cautioned me against being to obvious in my support, since we weren't sure who we'd sit by. As it turns out, we were surrounded by a little outpost of the Raider Nation. Plenty of good-natured cheering and excitement from everybody. What a start to the week.

Art Fire

2008-11-21T15:40:00.004-07:00

Marissa Lee posted today about Art Fire. A fairly new website that sells handmade goods. It is very much like etsy.com. I checked it out, and joined. It only costs $7 per month to list as much as you want. And since they are just getting started, they are pouring lots of money into advertising. Come see the place I'm sure you'll find something you need.

The good is sometimes hidden

2008-11-21T08:25:00.001-07:00

Birdcage drawing detail 2, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Life seems to pile up when the best progress is being made. Last evening, I had intended to work a little on the birdcage print, while relaxing at home. No bother, many other equally enjoyable opportunities came up. Right after school, I met my family at the box store, so that I could defend my honor as a professional photographer. As I arrived my two daughters let out squeals of delight and ran to my arms. Even the photo booth girl can't dampen that excitement. My wife had gone to pick up the pictures from her sisters wedding that I photographed. The photo booth girls usually take some convincing to let us out with what they believe to be professional work. A little ego boost connected with a hassle.

From the box store, we went to place some welcome gifts in the house of our newly hired pastor. He and his family will arrive during the next week. We are thrilled to have him join us, and the church is blossoming just because of the idea of having someone fill the post. On the way home we stopped for pizza, and my son, now 19 months let us know that he recognized the restaurant sign by screaming, "Peessa!! Yum!"

When the kids made it to bed, my wife and I watched The Office and it's accompanying line up. Then, we sorted wedding pictures for placement in the album. Right before heading off to bed, I remembered that I left my truck in the parking lot of the box store. Oh great! I left my print, and my bag in the truck.

Today I rode my bike to work.

The world can't get me down. Public squeals of excitement from my kids, compliments from the photo girl, an evening with my wife, and a little morning exercise, I am blessed.

Caged Enthusiasm

2008-11-20T09:49:00.001-07:00

Watertower detail 2, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Life is on an upswing at Bound Staff Press. The set is done the set is gone, or nearly so. I have dedicated some time to drawing, and have three prints going. All are using imagery that I've explored previously, but they seem to be moving in a different direction. My print work was tightening up at the end of the summer, and these will have some of that tight illustrative quality. I really like the result, the work of cutting all those little lines can become tiresome, but I still like it. I can let my mind drift, which is what I love about making art.

When I am imagining a new work, I like to get inside the piece, and move around. I build a little story in my mind, and follow it along as the artwork develops. I assume this is what writers of novels experience. I just follow the story, and fill in details where they are needed. Sometimes I am forced to remove and rework some areas of a piece, but this only serves to solve problems I see in the narrative. One of my professors told me that the way to make great artwork was to fix the most obvious problem, then the next, then the next. When I'm satisfied that this particular narrative is worked out the work is finished. In my mind the story is told.

LJHS High School Musical Set

2008-11-12T15:34:00.001-07:00

LJHS High School Musical Set, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Tonight is opening night. I am so relieved.
As you know, I have had the opportunity to teach stagecraft this year. It is not what I had hoped for, but I the situation didn't offer any other possibilities. My students are good kids, who want to make a nice set. A few are have experience with power tools, and more than half are competent painters. I've spent countless nights agonizing over construction problems. Usually to no avail. My class now has a little down time, then on Monday we strike the set, and paint everything back to black.
I have been hoping that finishing the set would open up some time to make art, and help get me out of my current funk. I still feel overwhelmed by the daily stack of paperwork, and time wasting meetings related to being a 21st century teacher.
Today I started drawing out a new print. Soon I'll post a picture. I also have plans for a business card design on the letterpress. Getting started is always the hardest part.

Finally!

2008-10-29T22:37:00.001-06:00

Stripes re-assembled, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Since sometime in June, I've been working to get this press cleaned repaired, repainted and ready to print. It started out with some yellow and red stripes, and a broken ear on the press bed. In my attempt to repair the bed, I took the press completely apart. Since it was apart I thought it should be painted, then the wood refinished, then I broke it. With some patience, and some money, I ended up here. Everything is painted, polished and oiled. It glides through it's paces. I may still get some new rollers. We'll see how soon that happens.When things slow down a little, my plan is to print up some business cards. Maybe some artwork.

At work, we are nearly finished with the set for High School Musical. This is my first year to teach stagecraft, and it's been quite a little adventure. I'll be glad when we can strike the set and move on to the next play.

This weekend we are off to the mountains. It will be great to get a little break. Should be very relaxing.

Swing by the House - block

2008-09-25T11:07:00.001-06:00

Swing by the House - block, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I've been caught by the fast pace of school and home projects. I finally took some time to carve a new print. I've been working on it during class for the last week or so. I'm very happy with it, and it is done just in time for an upcoming show at Somewhere on San Juan.
I have been trying to get Stripes, my letterpress, fixed by my options are to wait for a student to re-weld the broken piece, or pay $200 for a replacement. Neither suit my desire to get printing. I religiously comb through Craigslist, and e-bay for affordable presses. I think I may have found one close by, and am debating how much family time I can sacrifice to get a bigger better deal.
This weekend is my oldest daughter's 5th birthday party. We will be having all of our family here. Some have never made the trip before. We are will have a bounce house, and a big shin-dig. She is crazy excited about being 5.

New Etsy Listings

2008-09-11T10:47:00.002-06:00

Still swamped here. I couldn't take much more of life this morning, so I stopped and printed up some plates to post on Etsy. I can always get lost in the gentle "smack" of relief ink.

We have carpet coming tomorrow, and I have to get our old carpet out tonight. I have been trying to get some recessed lighting installed before the new carpet arrives, but I think I'll be lucky if I get the holes cut. I doubt that I'll have all the wiring done before tomorrow.

I thought I had a great lead on factory-new parts from Craftsmen for my letterpress. However, they do not have my specific part in stock. Until this week, I've been planning on re-drilling the old part, but I received some advice from a welder/printer who thought it might be better to just break and re-weld the piece with more precision. Now I just have to convince one of the welding students next door to come help me accomplish this.

Busy Busy Busy

2008-08-14T21:46:00.003-06:00

I have been swamped with work and life and home remodeling. After the press broke, I have been working on a project that my wife and I have wanted to do since moving into our house. We tore out some built-in desks, painted and prepared to have some carpet replaced. The carpet project is on hold unexpectedly for now. The others are mostly finished, and school has started. I have a week and a half of meetings and in-service. If you haven't been to and in-service, you haven't died. There are some nuggets of information of great value, but they are shrouded in a deep camouflage of time wasting and posturing.

I do now have color correct lights in my classroom. This summer they were moved from my old room to the new studio space we acquired last year. They are a welcome addition. I also "repaired" press platen back from the welder. It is not as I had hoped. The hinge ear was welded on about 1/4 inch too long. It will have to be re-done I'm afraid. I have put the entire press project on hold, and am looking feverishly for a replacement. If you have a small lever press or a 8x12 C&P lying around and would like to make a donation to La Junta High School Art Dept, let me know. I'm also interested in purchasing a press of my own.

Good news on another front. In April I entered the National Small Print Show in Creede, CO. Not long ago I received word that I had sold 7 of one of my prints, and 8 of another. I was floored. I spent a couple days this past weekend printing, and matting the work so that they could be mailed off on Monday. Not bad for my first national show. I think I'll try that experience again.

The show will go on

2008-07-28T15:17:00.001-06:00

Stripes gets a new coat of paint, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Good news today. The head of maintenance at work has connections with someone who can weld cast iron. I sent off the broken pieces of Stripes, and should get them back close to new.

I finished up stripping the last few bits of crud from the other parts of the press, and gave it a bath in mineral spirits, then in acetone. Next was a fresh coat of gloss back tractor paint. Looks like a new press. I'll probably give it two coats, then razor off all of the machined areas before reassembly. It sure feels good to see it start to come together.

My broken heart

2008-07-26T22:10:00.002-06:00

It all started with and afternoon stripping paint from stripes. I had made wonderful progress. When the stripped paint was ready to come off, I would fire up the side disk grinder and I was just flying. All I had left was the waffle grid on the back of both platens. I stopped to scrape some crud out of some corner, and my make-shift work table collapsed tossing the moving platen to the floor. My heart sank when I heard the clunk. One of the hinge ears broke and a support cracked. I'll have to make a trip to a repair man on Monday. I will continue to prepare the press for paint, but some of the excitement has dissipated. I'll post pictures soon.

Sandblast - Not a blast

2008-07-25T20:28:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I spent 5 hours trying and trying and trying again to sandblast the 4 and 5 layers of paint off of my letterpress. As it turns out, I wasted most of the afternoon. I don't know if I didn't have enough air pressure, or if the unit was faulty, or something else. I got my first piece mostly cleaned of paint. After that I could get was at best spotty removal, and at worst a light massage of air without sand. Today, I changed to paint stripper. It worked great. I have 4 or 5 pieces left to strip, then a quick wipe-down with mineral spirits for everything. Soon it will have a new coat of gloss black on all the non-machined surfaces, and a coat of wax on all the machine work. Should be a like a brand new press.

First finished prints of Tower Swirls at Twilight

2008-07-23T22:35:00.004-06:00

Today I did a quick documentation of printing the water tower print. I used the sign press, black ink, and blue paper. I then added white colored pencil to the swirls. I'm pretty happy with the results. I framed one this morning, and sent it off to the local Arts League show.

Tomorrow I start taping and sand blasting my letterpress. I have it disassembled, and have run some of the pieces a wire wheel to get rid of the yellow paint. Mostly small parts or nut and bolts. Hopefully I'll have it painted tomorrow afternoon.

Stripes is in Pieces

2008-07-21T19:15:00.002-06:00

I tore into the little Craftsmen press this morning. It took around 4 hours to get it all the way down to where I can sandblast it. I discovered that it has been painted twice since it was original, once was light gray, then the red and yellow scheme it has now. Most of the time was spent fighting paint in the threads of every bolt, screw head and set screw. I discovered a few things that I had not expected. Apparently, the set screws on the gripper bars are only soldered on. Of course, they broke off and have been useless. I'm not sure yet if I'll try to re-solder them, or attempt to spot weld them. My dad, who has done his fair share of letterpress, said he used to just use masking tape to secure his grippers in place. Depending on how my adventure turns out, I may do the same. Everything else appeared structurally sound. I also began to construct a fix for the broken rail. I am using a piece of cut and bent angle iron that I will shape to mimic the curve of the other rail.

First proofs

2008-07-20T17:46:00.001-06:00

First proofs, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Isaac decided that he wasn't going to take a nap after lunch, so we made a quick trip to the school to proof the water tower plate. I think it looks very good. I may still work the sky a little more so that the line looks more natural. I'm imagining this on a blue paper. Maybe some chinè colle in the smoke, or the swirls.

I have been trying to formulate what to do with Stripes, my letterpress. The press bed has a broken roller runner on the bottom of one side. I have been considering adding a piece of steel to keep the roller off of the press bed. As it is, my bottom roller is ruined, and if I replace it, the new roller would be ruined right away. If I don't fix it, I can't very well sell work that I make using the press. Some places just don't have good coverage. I am also very serious about sandblasting the whole press and re-painting it black. So that I can still keep the name stripes, I think maybe I will do some red and yellow pin striping.

I really enjoyed making the invitations for my Amy's wedding. I have been reading, and researching what it would take for me to start picking up more of that kind of work. I have started dreaming and looking for a second press that I could own personally. I would like to pick up a few jobs with my current press so that I can pay for one of my own.

Anyone have one they want to part with for cheap or free?

Back to Lino Cutting

2008-07-18T18:27:00.001-06:00

bird and watertower almost done, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I started this block several months ago. It has been sitting gathering dust waiting for a less busy time. I am not sure about the sky details, but I am very pleased with the rest of the image. My original plan was to print this on Stripes, my letterpress, but I hadn't really printed much letterpress when I made the decision. As it turns out, the chase is only 6.5 x 11. That will make it pretty darn hard to lock up and register an 8 x 10 block. Oh well, I'll just have to start on a 6 x 9 block when this one is cut.
I packaged up the wedding invites for Amy and Steve and sent them off with my wife. She was headed home for the bridal shower. Jessica and her sister packed up the four girls and left Isaac and I to fend for ourselves. We are getting along just fine. I had time to update the look of the blog today, and also updated my facebook page. O.K. so maybe I'm not being very productive, but it's been hovering around 100 degrees all week. I'm not scheduling lots of garage or yard work unless it is necessary.

Studio Photograpy

2008-07-14T20:55:00.006-06:00

Those Miller Kids, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

My parents are professional photographers, and for years ran a studio from their home. This made for a very convenient situation when it came to having portraits made of my children, and family. In the last year, my parents chose to change the way their business operated. They no longer have a studio, and only do on-location shoots for dances, sports teams, etc. My son turned 1 in March, and I still hadn't made arrangements to have his photograph made. So today, my wife and I set up a make-do studio in our dining room. We managed to take some nice frames of each of our three children. The rest of the day was spent uploading pics to Snapfish and Wal•mart, and editing photographs.
I also finished up the last of the invitations. I borrowed an automatic folder from our church, and ran the thank you cards though it. It sure made it fast. I folded 200 cards in 10 minutes, and that includes setting up the folder, and returning it to it's previous arrangement.

Wedding Invitations

2008-07-10T23:06:00.002-06:00

Wedding Invitations, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I've been working all week to get 200 invitations ready for my sister-in-law's wedding. She is engaged to a really great guy. I volunteered to print their invitations, so that I could have a chance to use my letterpress for something other than a one or two piece job. With two color invitation, front and back response cards, and folded thank you cards, I have been working my arms off. I have been having a magnificent time learning more and more about my press, and how to set up my registration and printing. I found a very helpful blog from the folks at Dolce Press. I'll get it added to the my blog role soon.

The colors for the wedding are Chocolate and Terra Cotta. It took some time to come up with a color that matched the terra cotta, but I think it turned out wonderfully. There are more pics on my Flickr page. Hopefully I'll have the thank yous finished tomorrow, and post an update then.

I'm still working on my 8x10 lino block that I started in March. It usually seems to take back seat to all of the other jobs and chores that happen during the summer. I have made some progress on my hydraulic jack press. I have most of the wood cut, and have only a few things to do before it is assembled. However, after printing on my letterpress, I don't know that I will ever want to go to the work of hand inking and printing again. We'll see how it shakes out.

LJHS 2009 Tiger board

2008-05-21T10:59:00.002-06:00

LJHS 2009 Tiger board, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

This year's Tiger board looks awesome. We worked from a stencil for the black stripes, but the orange swirls and gold lines were all painted by hand. My junior students did a wonderful job of detailing, and have spent the last couple of weeks bragging about how their tiger will be better than any previous tiger, or future tiger that will grace the parking lot. I tend to agree with them that we will not likely attempt such an undertaking for senior tiger board in the future. This is met with sighs and occasional cursing from the underclassmen. There are more shots of the finished project on my flickr page

LJHS Art Show 2008

2008-05-21T10:54:00.001-06:00

LJHS Art Show 2008, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Finishing up the school year each year we showcase the best of our students work. This is our first year in our new facility, and things went smashingly. I was pretty frazzled by the time it got underway, but the students were excited to see their work displayed.

We also have a Fine Arts Awards night in connection with the show. This was my first year to me dept. chair for the event, so I messed quite a few things up, including not ordering the letterman's letters in time for the ceremony. Fortunately we found enough letters to hand out, and will try to be better prepared for next year.

The show has an added bonus. The students finish their major projects before the last day of school, and clean the room for me. The new room has lots of things to clean. It was wonderful to have 15 or so students every hour pushing brooms, and moving tables. When the show comes down, we begin work on the Tiger Board for next year's seniors. The board hangs on the wall by the student parking lot, and is a source of pride for the senior art students.

Liqcrytech sign La Junta

2008-04-24T14:57:00.001-06:00

Liqcrytech sign La Junta, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

It has been super busy in the studio. This time last month, I had just finished up cutting 150+ mats for a student show at the local junior college. One of my students was a big help. This year, I forgot to have my first semester students fill out all of the paperwork for the show before they left. That meant that I had to spend a late evening trying to get it all done before the deadline.

While at the show, I was approached by or local director of economic development. A company that had just moved to town needed a sign painted, and wanted to know if students would help with their project. I had envisioned bring the sign back to our studio space, and slowly creating a nice sign. As it turns out, the sign is quite attached in its current location. As a result, the students and I took a day off from school, and set up shop at Liqcrytech.

The night before, I cut out card-stock stencils of all the letters, and the outline of the liquid crystals, We covered the sign in contact paper, and carefully placed the stencils using spray adhesive. The students cut out all the letters and we started painting. It is pretty scary to see things before the stencils come off. We as a group came to the realization that freehand spray-painting was no for everyone. When the moment of truth arrived, we were all very relieved and satisfied with the project. Its not something I would go out and look for, but the students came away believing they could paint any sign. We also had a lot of fun, and a couple dozen donuts.

Taos and Santa Fe

2008-03-24T15:33:00.001-06:00

653_5313, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

For Spring Break, I took my family on a whirlwind tour of the countryside around Santa Fe. We drove down Monday through Taos stopping to make a quick visit at a few galleries. I got to see some Malcolm Furlow and Frank Howell. I had not noticed Howell before. We took the kids swimming that evening in Santa Fe, and hit the sack. I wasn't feeling well, and a good night sleep helped a great deal.
Tuesday we were up early to visit some shops in Santa Fe and see the Miraculous Staircase at Loretto chapel. The kids crashed or swam with my parents after lunch and Jessica and I made a quick visit to Canyon Road.
This wasn't a trip to see everything, only a quick overview. I had never been to the area, and without a guide, we just enjoyed as much as we could, or as much as the kids would let us. I'm sure we'll be back to do a more focused visit, and to see Bandelier National monument.
Wednesday we headed back on the high road stopping at Las Trampas, Chimayo, and Rancho de Taos. We did a little more shopping in Taos before we headed back home through the mountains. What a pretty drive to Trinidad from Taos. I took a few pictures, and enjoyed lots of art. Probably more art than a person can take in. The rest of the week was spent recovering and working at the house. Today was back to the grind with grading and preparation for an upcoming High School show here in La Junta.

CSAP state testing is over. YAAH!

2008-03-14T12:11:00.005-06:00

I've spent the week catching up of reading while proctoring the CSAP, our state assessment in Colorado. I subscribed to Drawing magazine last year, and was not impressed with the price, but the content seemed to be high. I don't always get past looking at the pics when the magazine comes. Usually I'm busy not grading assignments or not working on my own art. Turns out, to be a fantastic grouping of articles describing technique and displaying some technical masters in drawing. I also read all the way through a Ceramics Monthly and a Pottery Making Illustrated. I subscribed to both of them because I know so little about ceramics, and have had to start teaching it this year. I finally ran out of ideas, and needed a more constant source of quality images to inspire my teaching. I found a wonderful article in this month's Ceramics Monthly. An instructor described how he graded his students, and also the critique technique he uses. I have some more studying to do, but I think I will implement this style in all of my upper level classes, and set my entry level classes up with preparatory info. You know it is one thing to make art, and even identify great art, but to teach someone else identify greatness in their own art can be a real challenge. Mark Leuthold and Sarah Wilkins suggest three elements of grading.

Focus - Was the assigned problem solved?
Craftsmanship - Was it well made? Does it appear finished?
Engage the Viewer - Will anyone remember your piece tomorrow?

I have too often confused the last two or the first two. This has made it hard for students to understand what I was expecting of them. I think students also often expect the first point to accomplish the third point. If their project doesn't snap, it must be the fault of the assignment.

I also learned that laser printed decals can survive a kiln firing, and will act as glaze elements. This means that I can transfer my work to plates, vessels, etc. I'm inspired to make stuff now.

Etchings

2008-03-12T14:35:00.002-06:00

Bound (hands), originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Friday brought in an order for etchings to be printed. By Monday, the paper was dry, and ready to sign and post on etsy. I immediately sold two more than had been ordered. What a wonderful start to the week. Since then it has been a steady decline.

My school is giving the yearly standardized tests, and all of the faculty act as proctors. No writing, no computers, no talking, etc. Sitting down for my whole work day and reading has made me feel tired and unwell. Fortunately tomorrow is the last day of testing, and we will have a few students back in class of Friday. The grades will already be calculated, so my students will be starting on their new projects for next quarter. No pressure, and probably very few students.

The following week is spring break. I'm off to Taos and Santa Fe. I feel very guilty being an art teacher and artist, in this part of the country having never visited these two towns before. My family including my parents will be coming as well. It should be a nice break after a week of sitting listlessly.

New lino block

2008-03-05T08:25:00.002-07:00

3-04-08, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

This is the fruit of all the sketching I've been doing for 365 sketch on Flickr. I have branched out some from my last set of work. I am including more and more factories and water towers. I really like where this drawing has gone. I struggled over the bird for most of last evening. I'll start inking and cutting this image today or tomorrow.

This week has been chalk full of cleaning and restoring. Since I have my type sorted, I have moved on to other areas of the studio/shop to clean and sort. One area that has been torn apart for a couple of months was a kiln that I inherited. Some 8 years ago or so, there had been a melt down making a molten ceramic mess on the floor. Our school had just stopped using the kiln. About this time last year, we caught word that the school would be getting rid of the kiln because it was located in the janitors store room, and was of no use to them. Since I was acquiring a new classroom space, it seemed the perfect time to reclaim the kiln as part of the art department. I chipped the old floor out, and removed the upper layer of kiln bricks, and replaced them with new bricks we had left over from last year's kiln rebuilding. I ended up removing the heating element that was in the floor of the kiln. All the other elements seem to work except one. At some point I'll need to replace that one, but it can wait for now.

Letterpress

2008-02-25T09:31:00.006-07:00

Punctuation, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Last week I registered Bound Staff Press as a private press on Briar Press. A private press is described as one that is used for personal and artistic publishing, but not comercial work. I thought it would just be a matter of filling out some forms online. As it turns out, to be a registered press, one must turn in what is called a propriator's card, or prop car d. This is like a rolodex card with all my information. I have set some type, and even printed a few projects on my proof press, but I hadn't even sorted a great deal of my type. Printing three similar identification cards provided me with the incentive I needed to create a new letterpress block of my logo for Bound Staff Press. Then I had to figure out how to use registration pins etc. on my Craftsmen letterpress. I have so much to learn.

I have a dream of working with my wife to create some poetry (her part) with illustrative artwork and print it on this press. I think we are a long way away from that event. Maybe when our children are a little less demanding of her time. I will dream until... whenever.

Night-Flight-ATC

2008-02-06T08:43:00.001-07:00

Night-Flight-ATC, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I busted out a the blues and started printing. This is a block I cut some 12 years ago with two new blocks layered on top. I am just now taking the risk of adding images from old blocks. I have really enjoyed the result. Sometimes I think I was more competent as a printmaker and drawing artist. I certainly was in a better habit of creating new ideas. Lately even though I have been creating new work like a mad man, The ideas are mostly recycled. I have started sketching again, and I hope this will help. Of course I didn't sketch last night. So much for discipline.

Soaring Valentine

2008-02-05T09:26:00.001-07:00

Soaring-Valentine, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I've been working for a couple of weeks to get this heart print to work somehow. This morning, I finally achieved this little gem. It is a combination of my heart block with an old image called Getting Further Away. I have printed a few backgrounds from this plate, and it seems to layer quite nicely.
I've been having trouble assembling background images. It seems that most of my most successful plates are black line images with very few solid areas. I'm discovering that this layered technique needs more solid areas of color to be beautiful and rich.

Yesterday I spent the morning grading Art History essays. The subject was form vs. function. When did art shift from primarily functional pieces to formal work that only served as beautiful objects. I recieved a few excellent essays, and read a bunch of duds. Very few students wanted to think beyond a right or wrong answer. I guess that is the trend. I was hoping for more from my non-traditional students. One gentleman nailed it. He asserted that any society that bacame wealthy or advanced enough to enjoy leisure would make formal art. Without that advance, the society needs artisans to create functional objects, and not "waste" their time with formal work.

Featured on Etsy

2008-02-01T12:00:00.001-07:00

Forest survey, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

I just got word that this print is featured in The Storque, Etsy's newsletter. Stop by and see, or better yet buy the print. I think that is the only way my day could get better.

A little success

2008-02-01T08:42:00.001-07:00

I've been working this week to bring to fruition 6 new ATC sized blocks. Between hospital visits with my son, and the everyday schedule of life, I was moving pretty slowly. I finally printed some images yesterday, but was very displeased with the results. I was about to call it quits and go home for the day when I tried this combo. Made my whole evening. Even got some ice cream with my wife just for fun. Today, I'm going to try layering some older prints with my new blocks. I anticipate a little struggle at first. If I arrive at some success, I'll post about it this afternoon.

This print is available on Etsy this morning.

Sketch 365

2008-01-30T08:03:00.001-07:00

I was invited to join a group called 365 Sketch. Seems like a great motivation for me. I always feel guilty for requiring my students to sketch weekly, but not sketching much myself this year. I have noticed that if I am sketching, I am more productive. The rhythm of a daily requirement will also be good for me. I need a reminder to be disciplined about things like sketching. The daily grind of work and family easily wears me out to the point that I don't want to sketch in the evenings. I am going to try to have a morning routine. Upload my sketch and any new prints to Flickr, update my blog, and add a print to Etsy. I find it very easy to write this down, but I'm sure that I will have trouble accomplishing it every morning. These are the sketches I uploaded this morning to get started. I drew them Sunday during the sermon. Sometimes I just get the itch, and have to get my ideas down immediately. Maybe I'm a little paranoid, but I fear that I will lose the ideas if I don't act right away. I surely don't want to waste an opportunity to milk out a little more creativity.

Day 1 sketch, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

Today will probably not be too productive other than my posting a sketch and a new print on Etsy. My youngest didn't sleep last night, so neither did I. Time for a Mt. Dew and a little planning for the day.

Let's trade

2008-01-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been working feverishly on producing multi-color prints. Since my workshop, I've carved 5 more blocks, and printed dozens of ATCs and some larger prints. Some of the images were much more successful than others. That is one of the prices paid for layering images without a structured plan. I've also had some happy accidents that have worked out well. I am now advertising trades as part of my Etsy shop. Not all of the cards are show quality, so they haven't all made it to Etsy.

It is quite pleasurable to take risks with my printing, and just see what happens. Of course I try to think ahead a little, but really I spend most of my time trying to think what would look good over what I've already printed, or I try to figure out how to rescue something I inadvertently destroyed. It really forces me to be creative at a point in the process that I have not typically afforded myself that luxury.

If you want to trade, show me what you've got.

Forest survey

2008-01-25T09:39:00.001-07:00

Last weekend's workshop was just the kick start that I needed. Yesterday I experimented with layering up some of the blocks that I have inteded to use for multi-block prints. This is the best example. I am having so much fun. I was worried that I wouldn't make much art this semester, but now I have some momentum. I'd like to make some larger blocks that I can use portions of in small prints.

Single Birdhouse-ATC

2008-01-24T10:13:00.001-07:00

Single Birdhouse-ATC, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

After the workshop this weekend, I've been inspired to get some work done. I also have had orders on etsy to keep up with. Not a bad way to spring back into productivity. I've been a little dry since I took on teaching an online Art History class. It has been very draining.
This is a little birdhouse I carved and printed last night. I really like working in this small format, it allows me to work simply, and quickly and make a great number of pieces. This one is already posted on etsy.

Linocut workshop

2008-01-21T15:33:00.001-07:00

Linocut Workshop, originally uploaded by Bound Staff Press.

This weekend I taught a small printmaking workshop at Somewhere on San Juan studio space. We had a great time making multi-colored ATC size prints. About half of us had cut linoleum before. The rest took to it quickly. It had snowed the night before, and my lino blocks were cold, so we all sat on our upcoming blocks to get them to temperature before we started carving. We cut blocks till a few fingers bled.

Pamphlet books

2008-01-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

I am teaching Crafts I this semester. So far the kids are loving it. We started by designing a stamp that could be fixed to all of our projects for the year. We completed our second project today. A single section pamphlet fold book. We took a day to sew the binding, then decorated the cover using xylene toner transfer. The kids were very successful with their first attempts at both processes. I also made a cover, but have not sewn my book together yet. Mine is the little VW Hebmüler. I think it will get some colored pencil or acrylic additions. The blue covered book is also mine, and served as the example for what the finished project should look like. Tomorrow we will begin a Japanese stab binding. We will have very simple covers and only a few pages for our first binding.