Monotype/Monoprint 127 day Challenge

 

Starting on January first I began to create monotypes every day. I challenged myself to continue every day until May 7, my birthday. That would be 127 days and quite a few more monotypes than the number of days.  Actually, I completed more than 500 monotypes for the project. And if you are wondering, I did work every day including the days we were away from my studio.

I thought that once I was done I would create a book showing the works. Now I see that I have to rethink this. Now that I have completed photographing and editing the works. I think I’ll take a dozen or so from each month and link them on this page. That way I can see and you can see what I’ve done.

But first, let me explain a bit about my process. I DO NOT use a press. I don’t own one though I wish I did. I create my prints by inking (acrylic paint, Printing inks, and Chinese ink) on a glass plate. I mostly use an 8 x 6-inch plate glass base mounted on a piece of wood. The wood support has two additional pieces of wood, one horizontal and one vertical, to be used as a basic registration tool. That way I can create with different passes.  I print on 9 x 12-inch Bristol, watercolor paper of different weights, hand-made paper when it’s gifted to me, and a linen resume paper that I found at a Fleamarket. I have on occasion also printed on larger paper, usually 14 x 17 inches for which I created a larger plate. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did producing the works. And please let me know what you think.

If you’re interested in collecting one or more please contact me at Donaldkolberg.com

Images of the challenge can be seen at
monoprint-monotype.com/monotypes-127-day-challenge  

Finding a Gallery That's Right for You!

Not all galleries are the same Not only is it a daunting task but it’s confusing when you start out looking at galleries. There are enough questions to stop you in your tracks. Where do I find galleries? How do I know if they take new artists? Is my work right for them If they want my work what do I do? There is a way to successfully contact galleries   You are probably already on the right course for finding galleries that will want your work. In fact, you have a resource in front of you, besides your computer. We'll get to that in a minute. If you look around, you’ll find an art magazine of some kind. It doesn’t need to be current. It doesn’t even need to be in good shape. Inside you’ll find advertisements for artists having exhibitions. Guess what, they list the gallery name. And then there’s the stories. If you looked at the magazine because you liked the work of an artist in it, do a search for their website. On the sites they probably list galleries that represent them. The artists also have lists of galleries where they have shown their work.   A little bit of work goes a long way   So now you’re collecting gallery names. A good start. Take a piece of paper or a pad or if you really want to get started, open your sketch book. It takes a commitment to use your sketch book. So writing in it goes a long way toward your success. My sketch books are filled with artist names, gallery names, cut out images from art magazines, quotes from artists and even a sketch or two.                         Let’s look behind door number #1 You are now ready to knock on the door of galleries, figuratively that is. So, let’s fire up the computer and get started. (Too corny, oh well).  Not having a computer is not an excuse. They have a bunch at the local library. Look up one of the galleries from your list. Take some time to see if your style fits with the artists on the site. Now click on the About page. Scan it for a link that says Submission Guidelines. If it’s not there and the gallery doesn’t specifically say they are not reviewing artist’s work, go to the Contact page and click there. If they are looking for new artists, there should be a link. Don’t be disappointed if they don’t want you. Online art sales in 2018 was well over 4 Billion and the number of art galleries and museums in the U.S. alone is over 49,000. So there are lots of chances. They want me. They want me! Okay so you found a gallery or two that are looking for new artists and the work seems to be a good fit for you. Now What. Remember the post about Never Missing an Art Call Again. If you prepared your files for an art call you are also ready to send the file to a gallery. Create an email and simply state that you feel you would be a good addition to their gallery and remember to attach the file. Also make sure you do what they say. They get tons of emails and you should respect their criteria for contact. If you have questions about this process feel free to contact me. This blog is devoted to open dialogue, interviews and exhibition of emerging and established artists. Please subscribe. It provides up to date information about my current projects, discoveries, book reviews and art information from around the web. You are welcome to join the conversation by contacting me at Don@DonaldKolberg.com Imagination is never still. The marks we make are Verbs!

How to Pursue Your Dream of a Real Gallery Show

To be successful in contacting a gallery let’s look at some simple tasks Choose artwork Take good pictures Create special files Know your galleries Create a CV Write an Artist statement    You never know when an opportunity will show up so be ready!   Choose artwork: Take some time and choose 10 unframed works that you believe represent a cohesive art style of what you do. Don’t make yourself crazy with trying to work out if they are your true voice. My experience has shown that an artistic voice will change and grow over time. Take Good Pictures: With the improvements to cell phones allow you to get some great low resolution shots that work with a variety of social media sites. But honestly, you’ll need good images of at least 300 DPI. This is a common request from many galleries. Check out this episode of the SavvyPainter.com podcast hosted by Antrese Wood; Fine Art Prints Q&A, with Jake Hawley from Picture Salon. There is lots of great information about taking pictures. Create Special Folders: Establish what I call a Contact folder. On your computer create a sub folder in File Explorer. Create names that look like this; Contact_Landscape Contact_StillLife You can get as specific as you need to with the name. Now that the end of the year approaches, I tend to add a date; 2019Contact_Floral. It also puts the file at the top of my computer list. Numbers come before letters in the file lists. Once these files are created you can fill them with jpegs of your chosen work Know Your Galleries: When I was the art editor for The Woven Tale Press I would pour over art sites and art magazines looking for inspirational and interesting subjects for a large diverse audience. What it also allowed me to do was research galleries that I thought I would like to contact for exhibits or representation. Over the years I developed a strategy that has been very helpful. If you see an artist that is similar in style to your art, click on their website. Find the gallery websites they are in and click the link.  Providing the art you see is within a familiar concept, go to the contact page and see if they have a submission link. There are thousands of galleries so don’t be disappointed if they do not accept new work. Create a CV: This is a basic listing of your background in art and where you have exhibited or been written about. While this is an older post from thepracticalartworld.com it does a good job of addressing new artists with little to no art references   Write an Artist Statement: This is your opportunity to tell the gallery about your excitement in painting. What inspired the work. Was it influenced by some other artist's style. Is it part of a series. What medium did you use. An Artist statement is an overview of your interpretation of your painting. If you are having trouble with this click here for a site that could help By putting this all together, you'll be ready to contact galleries anywhere Watch for future posts where I will go into more detail of each of these subjects Feel free to contact me with questions and comments at Don@DonaldKolberg.com Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Website Art Appreciation Artists Art Lover Imagination is never still. The marks we make are Verbs!

New Works on Paper and Canvas

I am a Painter of Suggestion

I am interested in motion, storytelling, and the sincerity of mark making.  I use the seduction of rhythm and texture to create structures and form. These elements become the basis for emotional bookmarks on the surface of our memories. Because of their fluid nature, our imagination becomes fired by these instances, enhancing a reality we want to know and one we think we’ve seen.

 I am intrigued by the notion that while black is supposed to be the absence of color, its reflective and absorptive surface actually presents a variety of hues. I use different densities of black color derived from hand ground Chinese Ink, carbon, mars and ivory acrylic black and thickened onyx house paint. The resulting matte surfaces and reflections of light mix with the intimacy of the paper to create an endless depth. I mix this with a variety of textures and geometric forms to establish an organic motion. Occasionally I use acrylic reds and golds or gold leaf in the process. The layers in my work are structures and forms of emotions. They are part of our individual consciousness, waiting to be touched and expressed.

"As a painter I explore many different types of mediums and methods in art. Feel free to explore my portfolios" www.donaldkolberg.com

Chinese Ink Painting

These original Chinese Ink Paintings are part of my process for quieting the mind. The past year ended on a tragic and emotionally intense note with the passing of my son. These works are my experiment with creating balance and harmony. I have chosen the depiction of the Red Crown Crane as my subject.

Each one measures 8.5 x 11 inches and they are offered at $150.00 each, unframed

Red Crown Crane #1

Red Crown Crane #2

Red Crown Crane #3

For more information contact me at Don@DonaldKolberg.com

And check out my additional work at Donaldkolberg.com

Spring Anniversary Edition of MM&S is Out

Check us out at monoprint-monotype.com

MM&S: Mono Spring 2017

Monoprint-Monotype.com understands the importance of providing a venue for this unique form of art. Our matrix is as open as the imaginations of the artists it supports. To that end we will explore the work of emerging, established and surprising artists from around the world. They will be…

In the Studio with Cathie Crawford

Enjoy a video with MM&S featured artist Cathie Crawford

Monotypes with Barry Ebner

Enjoy a video with one of MM&S's featured artists

Art, Coffee, Tea and blogs

Founded in 2011, The Public Domain Review is an online journal and not-for-profit project dedicated to the exploration of curious and compelling works from the history of art, literature, and ideas.” Focusing on works that have fallen into the Public Domain this site alternates between collections, essays and a curator’s choice to present a treasure trove of information to view, build upon or just use at you like for your own projects.

The essay Harry Clarke’s Looking Glass is Halloween timely with its exploration into the ghoulish tone of this Irish artist. His most popular book Faust which uses many images of the artist face takes on an incredible array of stench and loathing. But don’t let me influence your judgement, check it out along with many other wonderful items on this site.

What happens when a 12,000 lb. steamroller meets up with an inked MDF board covered in linen? The members of Articulate Ink decided to find out. According to Michelle Brownridge, Articulate Ink’s co-director,  “We thought that Culture Days would be a really fantastic opportunity to do an activity like this, engage the public with printmaking in a rather in your face way,” Check out the Barb Pacholik’s coverage of Culture Days in the Leader Post out of Canada for the result.

Articulate Ink was formed in January 2010 by four graduates of the University of Regina Print Media department, It has grown and today is an artist run facility with a passion for printmaking and a consistent dedication to being involved in the community.

Ever wonder what the palette of Gauguin or Whistler looked like. Or maybe you’d like to see Pollock frozen in time as he throws paint, or look over the shoulder of Thomas Hart Benton as he takes a moment to survey the development of one his famous murals. That’s what the work of Joe Fig gives you. He’s an American artist and author best known for his paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs that explore the creative process, the working lives of artists, and the spaces where art is made. As an artist I love to see how other artists work. It helps to calm that crazy feeling of isolation you get as an artist.

 David Hockney says, "I think the first person to draw an animal on a wall would have perhaps been watched by someone. And then, when he'd got the animal down, the person would've grunted or something, and said, 'I've seen something like that.' " This falls in line with his idea that looking and showing are as old as time.

National Public Radio, (NPR) explored Hockney’s ideas in a recent Morning Edition hosted by Susan Stamberg. The text of that show with the 80 year old artist is insightful and surprisingly straight forward. It contains great links to an upcoming documentary and information on the Tate Museum retrospective coming in early 2017. Someone send me airfare and I’ll gladly go and cover the opening.

Art, Coffee, Tea and Blogs

So after a short summer hiatus I'm back on track with my blog giving you links to art stuff around the web that you might not have seen or cared about that is, until now. I was in Chattanooga (stayed at the Cho Cho Hotel, the old train station.) spent time looking at art, talking to artists and all sorts of folk. There are two things I want to mention to you about things you should definitely put on your agenda if you're in that area

First up is The Passage. This permanent art work is a pedestrian link between downtown Chattanooga and the Tennessee River. It marks the beginning of the Trail of Tears. If you don't know, the Trail of Tears refers to the forced removal of the Cherokee tribes from Chattanooga to Oklahoma which took the lives of 4000 Cherokees before the reached their destination.
The visitors guide says about the Passage"...The Passage is a permanent outdoor exhibit, with symbolism of the seven clans of the Cherokee Nation. There is a 'weeping wall' representing the tears shed as the Cherokee were driven from their homes and removed on the Trail of Tears. Seven, six-foot ceramic disks tell the story of the Cherokee Nation from hundreds of years of Native American habitation in the southeast. Seven, 14-foot tall stainless steel sculptures of stickball players will grace the wall facing the river, educating visitors about the game and its importance to Cherokee culture."

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Being originally from the north, we are always on the search for a good Diner. And Chattanooga did not disappoint. This little out of the way place The City Cafe, was on the route of the free electric trolley that ran across downtown. Forgive me for sounding like a food critic but the menu was extensive and was served on vintage, Fiesta ware. The portions, well we ordered one dinner and split it, and the dessert, remember those giant cakes you used to see, I mean the really big ones, well they had them, probably about 40 of them.

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I know you're probably saying "Hey where are those great links you always have?" Okay so here are a few;

Here is a listing of exhibitions from MOMA covering from 1929 to the present

http://moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/history 

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And while we're on the subject of museums Thepoke.co.uk  a totally irreverent website, has put together an off beat group of photos showing you how to enjoy your next museum trip. But don't let the kids see it

http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2015/09/18/15-ways-to-enhance-a-cultural-trip-to-a-museum/http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2015/09/18/15-ways-to-enhance-a-cultural-trip-to-a-museum/

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That's it for now  but remember, as always

Imagination is never still. The marks we make are verbs.

Monotype Landscape Ink Washes

There are times as a monotype artists that I fight the wall, the blank page and the empty canvas. And like other artists, sometimes it all seems to be just beyond our fingertips. And then something catches our eye; a bit of news, a painting, something someone says or in my case, a video. I came across the video Lotus Flowers: Explore the Plexiglass Monoprint Techniques in CBP with Henry Li  ( https://youtu.be/H0wL5pKLzOk ).

There was something about the ease of work in his Monotypes, the serenity and at the same time the decisive moves that created images, though fraught with accidental characteristics, still had a sense of structure and control. I had to try it. So I grabbed some paper that I found at a flea market. It’s 9 ½ x 11 buff linen resume paper with a deckle edge on two sides. It was heavy enough for the monotype process. So I set to work exploring ink washes.  I used a spray bottle to add moisture to the area for the sky and watched it blur and run and incredible designs. Then I used an eyedropper to run a horizon line. What I created was a series of India ink wash landscape monotypes that I printed off of a glass sheet. Sometimes by using thin and thick layers of ink on the glass I was able to manipulate clouds and ground to create depth.

There were many happy accidents and some not so happy along the way. I've posted what I believe are successful artworks on Monoprint-Monotype.com and on my facebook page Monoprint-Monotype at http://bit.ly/2csaLIR Even the pressure I placed on the paper created differences in the resulting image. My next step will be to try acrylics in washes as well as printing inks. Though I think I’m going to stick with just the black.

   

  

 See more of these monotypes at http://bit.ly/2d99byp

Art, Coffee, Tea and Blogs

Creating art, looking at art, watching shows about art and artists fills a good portion of my day. Hopefully you have something that fills your day with joy. Here are some great links for artists and art lovers. I hope you enjoy them.

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Hyperallergic, an incredible art blog, says..."New York City has over 1,000 monuments across the five boroughs, and the new NYC Public Art Map and Guide plots them on an interactive map. The digital interface, recently launched by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is searchable by zip code and address, and includes both permanent and temporary installations." So here's a link to the site: http://bit.ly/2aLQ8Za

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While we're still in the the television dull drums I thought I'd provide a link to Widewalls.ch and their listing of some great art movies (even though they didn't mention Mr. Turner) Here's the link http://www.widewalls.ch/art-history-movies/

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The Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ran a story on an unbelievable flea market find and what the couple did!! Here's the link http://bit.ly/2aOcCao

 A long-lost 500-year-old engraving by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Durer has been found on sale for a few euros in a French flea market.

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And this interesting art tool is just to much fun not to mention. www.drawlucy  Its a new Camera Lucida. ( I have no financial interest)

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So there you have it. If there's something you want to know about you can reach me at dkolberg@thewoventalepress.net. Until then:

Imagination is never still. The marks we make are verbs

Art, Coffee, Tea and Blogs

August is a hot month. DUH, anyway I tend to get distracted easily when the heat goes up and often find myself redesigning my studio. And cleaning it up. It gives me a chance to look at some of the stuff I'm working on along side finished work. It also has become a time when I wander the internet even more than usual. So if you're a regular reader you should enjoy the next group of stuff.

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This is a list of gadgets that I think I'll put on my holiday gift list. Feel free to choose one for me.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/27bgGc/:1pU!aV22@:EtDv$$Xn/www.impulsebuy.org/9-gadgets-can-fit-pocket

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Ever wonder how to make the PERFECT cup of coffee. These guys think they've got it mastered.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/AqbSy2/:QC0S+y2R:G9xdeILf/www.epicurious.com/ariclesguides/howtocook/primers/coffeebasics

 

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I have no financial connection to Golden. They are one of the many acrylics I use. What I have found interesting enough to blog about is their on line color mixing chart. Sometimes you just need a little nudge  for a color when you're in the middle of working and this does it.

http://www.goldenpaints.com/mixer

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That will do it for me and remember you can reach me at dkolberg@thewoventalepress.net

Imagination is never still. The marks we make are VERBS

Art, Coffee, Tea and Blogs

I found some fun stuff this past week and thought I'd pass it on. The first one is going out to all you bloggers that are trying to make money writing. Its a list of 50 blogs that actually pay for writers work. Guest blogging has always been a source of exposure so have at it!!!

http://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/44-blogs-that-pay-50-for-guest-posts/

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Now on to the crazy world of art.

Dr Felix Rey was the physician who treated Van Gogh following his private performance piece, ear today gone tomorrow. New sketches unearthed in an archive in California show the drawings from that exam.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36772253

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This one I found to be incredibly interesting. Image artificial DNA used to track original art. Now I know most of us aren't in the league where we would worry about forgery but there is a growing theft of artwork on line. The DNA process alone, which seems to be not outrageously expensive, would be a great business investment if nothing else. Or just enjoy an interesting read.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-these-four-technologies-may-finally-put-an-end-to-art-forgery

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I know you want more but that's it for now. So remember

Imagination is never still. The marks we make are Verbs

Art, Coffee, Tea and Blogs

Cork Printmakers and Center for Contemporary Printmaking

It was exciting to find an incredible printmaking exhibition while touring through Connecticut. We met with a member of the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Debbie Gioelle who was gracious enough to take time from her own work to explain the show and give us insight into the center itself. I’ve listed the artists and the catalog site but it is worth going to the Cork website to see all other artists involved at Cork Printmaking.

Curator Sarah Kelleher

PRESENT is an exhibition featuring thirty prints by fifteen artist members of Cork Printmakers, which will be displayed at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A, from 5th June until the 28 August 2016. Selected Artists include: Johnny Bugler, Debbie Godsell, Séan Hanrahan, Catherine Hehir, Marianne Keating, Jo Kelley, Eileen Kennedy, Deirdre McKenna, Peter McMorris, Noelle Noonan, Shane O’ Driscoll, Killian O’ Dwyer, Kate O’ Shea, The Project Twins, and Laura Wade. This exhibition was curated by Sarah Kelleher, who is a Ph.D. candidate in the History of Art Department at University College Cork and a Government of Ireland Scholar.

The catalog for the event can be viewed at; https://issuu.com/corkprintmakers/docs/present_exhibition_catalog

Art, Coffee, Tea and Blogs

So here we are at he end of the month and coincidentally the end of my 4 word title. Nice how that worked out. But lets move on to Blogs. A general topic that I will use to introduce a few quirky site that I believe you will enjoy. And by the by that's one of my cartoons on top.

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Doodle!!!

We founded Doodlers Anonymous in 2008 to celebrate the addiction—our incessant need to draw, sketch, and doodle, be it with a pencil in a sketchbook, a marker on a napkin, a pen on a torn receipt, a Sharpie on concrete.

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                            AncientArtists

There is a quote from Alice Neel

“You should keep on painting no matter how difficult it is, because this is all part of the experience, and the more experience you have, the better it is…unless it kills you, and then you know you have gone too far.” I like that!!

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Lines and Colors

Lines and Colors is a blog about painting, drawing, sketching, illustration, comics, cartoons, webcomics, art history, concept art, gallery art, digital art, artist tools and techniques, motion graphics, animation, sci-fi and fantasy illustration, paleo art, storyboards, matte painting, 3d graphics and anything else I find visually interesting. If it has lines and/or colors, it's fair game.

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Quirky

Geek by day and lifestyle writer by night. An eye for designer bargains, travel addict counting 50+ countries, DIY + foodie! Bringing you stories of travel, fashion and lifestyle from Edinburgh/London and other lovely places, both within the UK and overseas.

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The sites are random so don't blame me if you're disappointed. Or better yet let me know what you want to see. So there.

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as always

Imagination is never still. The Marks we make are Verb