Alberta Street Collection in color

I have been working feverishly on my printmaking. It is a slow process, but I am slowly building a set of prints. Even though I have really just started this project and have so much more I want to do and adjust, I thought I will set up shop and try to sell a few prints on Last Thursday on Alberta street. Even more importantly, it would be great to see people’s reaction to the work. If you are in Portland, come on over and say hi!

Inside with prose by Devin McCarthy:

It was early September and the blue sky was in its final gasp of summer. We drove slowly up the nervous, narrow road that edged the high cliffs. At the top, beyond Hat Point, we found this place. A forest of skeletal pine trees; thin and black with soot. Lonely markers of the fire earlier in the year. Their bark was strangely soft like paper. One touch and the bark would give; leaving a handprint in the charcoal trunk. The bushes and flowers that had been stifled by the thick branches of the trees were now free to stand alone in the sun. Everything below the trees was alive; nearly overwhelming the small path we followed. As the afternoon waned, the sunlight became angled, brilliant, and crystalline; nearly tangible. Breaking through the remaining branches and the leaves of the high bushes, the light was full of contrast; spotlighting a single flower and then shadowing it. We stood there a long time watching it all; the fierce beauty of the fire’s aftermath and the sunlight that seemed nearly aware of us. It wasn’t until the sun moved to the other side of the mountain that the spell was broken and we began the winding trip back down.

Last September we went to Hells Canyon. The Canyon itself was an awesome view, but the remnants of of a forest fire accompanied with new growth and beautiful, late afternoon light was what caught our eye. I should say…while I was obsessed with the green growth contrasting with the burnt trees, Devin pointed out the light coming at us at one angle of the trail which resulted in the above photo and many others. I am thinking of making these into a book…Maybe…? Here are the rest of my favorites from that day >>

What a Spring…moving to a new place, the possibly had the swine flu, plugging along with work, setup a new blog design…and I am coming out of that embarking on a new project…
I learned a printmaking technique using Solarplates. You literally use UV light to expose a plate with a drawing or photograph (on transparent paper) and it creates an etching into the plate in which you can apply ink and transfer the image to paper. I won an artist residency with Print Arts NW as well – so I am going to focus my artwork to something like I have posted here. In my photography I have been working on urban landscapes and so I will continue that theme here with my printmaking. I will plan to work in color, texture, sky elements, etc. and develop this idea further.

In Portland, “Last Thursday” in the Alberta District is the antithesis of  the art fair and evening open-house gallery offerieng of the Pearl District’s “First Thursday”. Sure there is art at both but Last Thursday is all about cutting loose and walking a bit more on the wild side. I wanted to show a the essence of it in one image…so this is my latest composite photo. View the full version here.

A wonderful sign made of a wire frame and bottles hiding in an alley in Seattle, WA

(Click image to see larger version)

The Oregon State Parks call recreational snow areas, “Sno-Parks” and I have finally had a chance to go to one last weekend. The first 11 shots from this link to Flickr are at the White River Sno-Park (best seen in slide-show mode). I went with a group of friends and we got the most amazing weather. It was so beautiful I thought I really was away in some exotic country on vacation.

I cannot believe it is 2010…
Cheers to hope, love, respect, and peace in the new decade!

Colorado Twilight

Had a great Thanksgiving in Colorado this year. I caught this light with my trusty iPhone camera.