Sunset at Regan Beach During the Rim Fire

I havent made any prints since I graduated college in 2011, so when I was approached by a friend of mine to TA for her printmaking class at LTCC this quarter I jumped on the opportunity. Printmakers and painters are age old frenemies. Printmakers work and think backwards, always with the end result in mind. There are a myriad of steps to take to make a print that range from working the surface (in my case wood or MDF), choosing paper, ink, bases, press pressure...the list goes on. For a painter like me, who can easily change a painting in half an hour, to work in a medium that requires so much patience and attention to detail is a stretch. In college I often loathed the printing process until I learned a processes that worked for me, namely monotype, woodcut and dry-point/intaglio copper etching.

PIctured above is a monotyped woodblock print. First I hand-painted the woodblock with printmaking ink, making sure to press the ink into the cuts. I printed this woodblock multiple times without adding more ink to create a more subtle ghost image. Then I washed off the woodblock and rolled-up a deep purplish black, registered my paper, and printed that over my ghost. The result is a pale wash of color underneath with a darker pop on top. Im pretty pleased with the results :) Back to the printshop today to try my hand at some more color variation!

What do you think?

Heres a shot of the woodblock I am hand painting before I print it. 

A detail of the woodblock after I printed it. 

Grellstraße 14

I couldn't sleep last night. I tossed and turned for hours waiting for dawn, watching shadows on my ceiling, thinking about my life, my past, my future. 

Once the sun rose and I felt the day begin, heard the birds sing and the giggles of the children downstairs on their way to kindergarten, the troubles slipped away as usual and I got up with a smile. I love my room and my apartment. Im so happy and blessed to be here in Berlin. What will today bring?  

Off to a good start, with a serious case of Bead-Head ;)

Wet, Hot, American Summer

God, I love Tahoe.

And cute boys.

And good friends.

And Tecate.

And long, hot days on a deep, cool, blue lake.

Farewell

My last day in Germany was spent lunching and relaxing with family in Birndorf.

I love this adorable shed in the backyard. It was built to house the lawnmower and other supplies, but gets cleaned out on occasion and is turned into a bar for garden parties. 

 

Nothing says "Frohe Ostern" like black combat boots. 

This way to the best schnapps in Germany. I couldn't possibly leave the country without a bottle or two. My favorite is their Rosen Bluten Likor made from rose petals. Adding a bit to champagne makes it smell like roses and taste like heaven. 

Netti's homemade creme-puff raspberry cake. 

These past three months have been quite a blessing; a time I wont soon forget. It's all passed too quickly and I hope the coming eight months of work will pass just as fast. Before I know it, I'll be back here in Germany, enjoying coffee and cake with family... 

Until then, I look forward to get back to my studio in California and prepare for my art exhibition in September. 

Stay tuned, next up: Aruba for Baz and Chrissta's wedding!! 

Guten Morgen, Eiken!

My new home :) Plan for today? Take a run, explore the village, study my german books and have dinner ready for the roomies with out burning the place down.