Recent pinhole

This photo was taken with the Zero Image pinhole camera. I took it in the Tide Flats area of Tacoma. I especially love the glowing amber color that can be seen inside the pipes.

Collection of unknowns

I have a huge collection of old photos from my great-aunt and great-grandfather that I periodically dip into. Recently, I've been trying to scan them with the idea that I would put the scanned photographs into deep storage or use them in art projects. There are many photos of people that appear to have no connection to my family at all. There is usually no identifying information on the back. Not even a date. Even if the people in these photos did, at one point, have a connection to my family, there is really no one left to identify the people who could be former acquaintances, lovers, co-workers, etc. The pictures I am talking about are those that have none of my relatives (that I can identify) in them. The unknowns who were photographed with an obvious relative could possibly be identified by my father (that's another aspect of the project - getting people identified and stories told). What to do with all the photos of unknowns? I could at least post some of them here.

Who are these unknowns? Are they actors? Dinner theater performers? Circus performers? Costume party guests? Who knows, but it looks as though they were having fun.

Dried picture of fern

Here is the final, dried photo from yesterday. The ends are still a bit curled but they'll settle down with more flattening. 

Inkodye on paper

The past couple of days I have been printing using Inkodye to print some botanicals from my garden. Yesterday, I printed on fabric. Today I decided to try printing on paper. When I researched it briefly online, most of the comments didn't sound too positive about using paper (you have to wash your print in very hot, soapy water with agitation). I wanted to try it anyhow so I got out some Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper, picked a few plants and went to work. 

I have to say, I had virtually no problems using paper. The color faded a bit during the washing process but it wasn't too bad. I'm pretty pleased with the end results. Here are a few shots of the progression:

The freshly coated paper at the start of the printing process. It was really sunny today so it immediately began to change color. 

This is the print right before washing. Notice the color change to dark violet. 

The final image as it's drying. I would show the dried version but the print is under a heavy book right now, flattening. I'll try to post a final version of it once it lays flat. 

I'm really enjoying this process, at least for contact printing objects. I'm not overly pleased with my results from enlarged negatives yet. I think I need to use very contrasty negatives to get something I will like. 

New website

Well, I've finally created my Steaming Fork website. I've had the domain name for many many years and have put off building the site for just as many. I started to build it in HTML and CSS but decided that it was far more important for me to work on my artwork than it was for me to futz around with coding (not that coding is bad...it was a matter of what was the most expedient method for me to get the site up and running).

Please check it out and let me know what you think (steamingfork.com). I've used SquareSpace to host the site, and their templates are very easy to use so I plan on keeping the site fresh and up-to-date.

Cabinet of Lost Teeth

I have been taking an online class through Coursera & U Penn called Introduction to the Elements of Art. It's been interesting. Though I would probably call it "Introduction to the Elements of Modern Art" or something like that. The different themes/mediums we've been exploring have been collage, mail art, environmental art, photography, and collections.

You can opt to watch the lectures, read the handouts and take a quiz for each unit in order to get a basic certificate of completion. If you do at least two of the art assignments you'll get a studio certificate (something like that...I'm taking it primarily for fun). If you do the art assignments, you are obligated to peer review at least two other students' works. Fine. But that also means you get peer reviewed. The peer reviews I've received have been primarily good. However, last week I received a scathing review for my piece (it was an environmental piece). Initially, I was surprised at how sharp the criticism was. I thought, "Well, the hell with it. I've done my minimum. I don't need abuse." Then, after thinking about it for a while, I realized the person was right. I hadn't done a good job on the piece. Frankly, it sucked and he/she was correct. I may not have liked the way the message was delivered, but it was accurate. So, I decided to redeem myself and make something that I could be proud of.

This week, we were to "(create) a unique cabinet of curiosities that displays your personal interpretation of collecting." My cabinet was dedicated to lost teeth.

I created all the teeth with polymer clay, which I cured and then glue-gunned into the box (I gave myself a wicked couple burns with the glue-gun). I then added tags that were written with pen and ink. Here is my artist's statement for the piece:

Teeth are an extremely important element in survival. Without teeth, we cannot eat solid foods, we cannot speak properly, and our lives are shortened. Dental records are a way that bodies are identified. We appreciate a smile with beautiful teeth. Our age can be determined by our teeth. Although we care for them on a daily basis, we rarely think about them until they cause us pain.

This collection is an homage to the humble tooth. In the specimens, I have tried to conceptualize the possible ways they came to be separated from their owners. By examining the tooth on its own, we begin to appreciate how important this seemingly minor piece of our bodies is. Though it may be a small part of ourselves as living beings, without our teeth our lives would be lesser and shorter things.

I'm much happier with this piece. I feel as though I've redeemed myself and deserve my certificate.

A couple of encaustics

I have every intention of writing more frequently here. However, tonight I will just post a couple encaustics that I have neglected to show. They are both ATC (Artist Trading Card) size and both have color transfers of odd insect eggs on them.

This first one is actually now in the wall next to our front door. We had an unused switch box there that was the perfect dimensions to house this piece.

This piece still needs a home. I'm thinking I'd like it to also be installed in a wall since it looks so cool to have a piece of art that appears to be built into the house.