The Woodblock Prints of Alfred Stark: Back Gallery Becomes Bird House

Young Robin | Al Stark

Alfred Stark has been drawing birds and landscapes since he was a child hiking the woods of northern Illinois.

"Recently my wife and I bought our first house. It seems natural that the birds that have been a constant inspiration in the beautiful woods and prairies near our house would find themselves lost in the wondrous surrounding of our new home."

Kingfisher | Al Stark

Our Bird House, on exhibit at The Flying Pig Gallery in Algoma, Wisconsin from August 6^th through September 5^th, showcases Stark's woodblock prints of these birds in this very unusual setting.

Stark received a Bachelor of Fine Art in drawing from Northern Illinois University in 1995. He began to teach himself woodblock printmaking techniques in 2003, using a mix of Eastern and Western techniques.

His woodblock prints have been featured in many regional and national shows; most recently in the 21^st Paper and Clay Mid-Atlantic Art Exhibition in Norfolk, VA, and in the 3^rd Annual Kyoto International Woodprint Association (KIWA) Exhibition in Kyoto, Japan.

Inked Block | Al Stark

Alfred Stark will be on site in the gardens demonstrating the craft of woodblock carving and printmaking on the afternoons of September 2nd through September 5th.  Hope you can make it one of those days to meet Al and experience the printmaking process. 

The Flying Pig Gallery and Greenspace is located at N6975 Hwy 42, 2 miles south of Algoma. The gallery is open daily, 9am-6pm.   Find us on Facebook and click here to visit their blog.

"Koi Climbing The Waterfall"

Koi Climbing Up The Waterfall, originally uploaded by pejnolan.
So much has happened. It is hard to keep up! First, this is the finished product for the "Inspired by Japan" Reliefs for Relief project. This project has been set up by the printmakers of the Baren Forum. The prints will travel to galleries all around the globe and their portfolios will be sold to raise funds for Peace Winds to the people of Japan affected by the tsunami and earthquake.

Original sketch and color idea.

key block

I read a Chinese legend known in Japan as Koi-no-Takinobori. In this story carp swim, against all odds, up a waterfall known as the "Dragon Gate" at the headwaters of China's Yellow River. The gods are very impressed by the feat, and rewarded the carp by turning them into powerful dragons.

The story symbolizes the virtues of courage, effort and perseverance. These herculean virtues are being found today in the hearts of the affected people of Japan in the face of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster of 2011.

I am very proud of this piece since it is my very first true moku hanga print using watercolor as ink.

At Spudnik Press, I learned this technique from Matthew Messer. Although I am still working on the Cave Point Park print from the class, I went ahead and used the technique on my own.

Moku Hanga class in progress at Spudnik Press, Chicago, IL.

Speaking of Spudnik, I just applied for their fall residency program. I'm excited about this opportunity and really hope that I am chosen. The resident will be announced sometime in July and it begins august 1st. I'm so excited because this feels like a good next step to push myself and explore my artwork for fully. There is a stipend for materials, studio space at their facilities and a gallery show with reception upon completion of the residency. So, keep your fingers crossed for me!

This past weekend was the Ellwood House Art Show. There were far fewer booths this year. One reason for this is because of the economy - no one has extra cash for the nice-ities of life. Another reason was that many people were juried out of the show. There is a new director and he wants it to be a fine art and fine craft show. Thank goodness!! Someone with the balls to say no to flea market items. He is going to keep a high standard.

These are my tools on the table with Al Stark's prints in the background. We shared a booth.

Because of the fewer booths, Al and I had more people with time to stop by and talk about the process of printmaking. I loved it! My brother and I shared a booth this year to cut down on costs.  It was a wonderful show with perfect weather! The following day, the Fourth of July, I was so exhausted that I went to bed before dark and missed the fireworks. 

For everyone who read the previous post about my mom, her arms are healing nicely and she no longer needs a brace. She is driving and living at her own place now. Thank you for all your well-wishes for her speedy recovery!

A "naked" frog ready to paint!

I'm painting a fiberglass frog for the "Frogs for a Cause" to benefit the Kishwaukee Community Hospital Wellness Program. You might remember from 2008 when I took part in the "Huskies on Parade" project. The frog is for the same client and they want the look and feel of the frog to be similar to the existing huskie. It is kind of a craftsman / steam punk look.

Lavendar from my garden. Umm... what a relaxing scent!
PS: I think this is my favorite photo all year. 

I haven't had much time outdoors, I've been so busy! I'm wasting my summer months working! I am looking forward to going up to Door County next week for Plum Bottom Pottery's Open House on Thursday, July 14th. I have some new work to show Chad and am thrilled to be demonstrating my printmaking techniques. When I'm not helping to set up for the party, I'll be ambling through the backwoods and preserves of Door County taking some awesome reference photos.

Spudnik Press and the Moku Hanga Adventures

I've already taken two classes. The first time, my husband came with to make sure we knew the directions and to find out what kinds of neighborhoods I would be walking around in. The train ride is nice, then it's just a few blocks of walking to reach the L's Green Line. I get off at the first stop and walk about 10 blocks.

Spudnik Press is located in an old factory building that is orange brick. I have to buzz to enter the building. The hallways are stark white: modern, crisp, and clean; but once you enter the press room and work area, it is like walking back in time. There are vintage presses, old wood floors and heavy wooden beams from the floor to the tall, open ceilings. There are small containers everywhere filled with wonderful things such as wood type, inks, glass bottles. It is small, but neatly organized. There are books and a computer to access for ideas and freshly printed artwork hangs on the walls.

The first class was an eye-opener. Having been primarily self-taught with the help of my brother who is also self-taught woodblock printmakers, I neglected to know some of the very basics like what is the best type of paper to use or how to angle the cuts just right when carving. That is exactly why I took the class and I am so very glad I worked up my courage to go. Apparently the papers I have been using are way too thin to work for moku hanga. The instructor, Matthew Messer, was surprised I could even print with kitakata and sekishu.  The heavy kozo paper he showed us was excellent and will make much better prints!

The second class, I took the trip into the city by myself. I was a bit nervous because of some of the things I had seen on the street the previous week. Things like an empty bottle of vodka with underwear next to it or buildings with bars over the entrances. The neighborhood is really old. Look at the red doors in the photos above. They are tall and thin. They must have been built in the late 1800's. The building they are fit into have weathered every one of those years they look it.  The textures of peeling paint and rust, the smell of the traffic, the smog from the city, hearing people yell in the distance… I know I don't belong there. I wasn't made for city life.

But then I go into another world inside Spudnik Press. For four hours I am amongst others who enjoy art and learning. 

Matt brought roasted barely tea last week. It was sweet, cool, and refreshing. It reminded me of Honey Smacks cereal. In Japan it is called, mugicha (麦茶^?). I'll have to make some myself or purchase some at Mitsua, the Japanese market in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights.

Lastly, I should mention that by the end of the class we will each have a four-color moku-hanga print. Mine will be an 8" h x 6" w  Cave Point Park in Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin - one of my favorite places to be.

Frances Gearhart (1869 - 1959)

I was just speaking with a friend about how much I love the crispness of the water-soluble Graphic Chemical ink while at the same time admiring the transparent, watercolor-like washes that Akua Kolors provide. I wanted to find a way to combine both looks. That conversation was a week ago, and wallah(!) another friend from my local art league gave me the story of Frances Gearhart.

See where the dark outlines are used in the foreground as outline and as shadow in the back treeline. In the farthest distance the line has been removed. The broken line work showing the reflection from the mid-ground rocks adds energy while the reflection in the foreground is flat black making the creek lazily wind 'round the stones. Also, the green gradient of the creek is perfect to show perspective. 

Ms. Gearhart was from Southern California and lived with her two printmaking sisters each of which taught in the Los Angeles public school system. They studied with other artists such as Charles H. Woodbury, Henry R. Poore and Arthur Wesley Dow. In their home they held regular gatherings for the Print Makers Society of California.

The brushstrokes in the lake are so delicate and contrast nicely against the dark, stark foreground. I like the directional cut paths at the base of the center tree.

Her success came starting in 1919 when she joined and showed with the Print Makers of Los Angeles. In 1920 the Print Makers Society of California commissioned her to make a print and in 1923. She had her first solo exhibition in Los Angeles. After that, she showed nationally in places like the Brooklyn Museum and the Smithsonian.

What can I say? Magnificent! The texture, the patterns, the shapes and colors... just wow!

Although all three sisters were contemporaries, each had their own unique take to the artwork both in subject matter and technique. But, despite these differences, they collaborated on a children's book titled, "Let's Play" which was started in 1923. The prints were created, but the manuscript remained unfinished. Today the book is held by Princeton's University Library. Forty years later, in 2009, the book was finally published.

Here are some links if you are intersted in learning more about this artist:

Frances Gearhart.com
Los Angeles Times: Behold Frances Gearhart
Art and the Aesthete, Frances Gearhart