Cheryl, the Slow Learner--Part Two

Okay, so I finally admitted that my aching hands just couldn't take the jewelry making. But, remember, I'm still looking for my "passion." So what do I do? I decide to go back to my roots--my mom is an award-winning, abstract artist (you can see her work here). I set up an easel in the living room and I fill sketchbooks. That works for a time. But I can only make one copy at a time. Solution? Printmaking!

I throw myself into printmaking. But do I use the easier-to-carve linoleum? Of course not! I want to see those little curliques that come from carving wood! I loved playing with those pretty wood shavings as a little girl. Making little piles of them--gluing them on paper to make pictures--decorating dolls and stuffed animals with them--well, you get the idea.

I take my drawings, transfer them to wood blocks, and away I go--carving, carving, carving away the "white area." After a while I do figure out that it's tiring work carving the wood and my hands are not entirely pleased. So we head over to the woodworking store (otherwise known as Matt's candy store) and buy some really nice ergonomic carving tools. Beautiful tools. Sharp as razors. The set even comes with bandaids packaged in an easy-to-use plastic fliptop container--nope, I'm not kidding.

Printmaking is fun! Drawing, carving, inking the block, and running the block through a press. Cool stuff. But was it a passion? Not really. I could go days, even weeks, without missing it. But I did enjoy it and I liked the prints I made.

Here's one of our youngest daughter as a preschooler.

And I love flowers. This one is of a cranesbill geranium--I watercolored the petals blue.

And beebalm also with watercolored petals.

Lastly, this is a print I called "Baby Talk." Sorry the photo is rather small.

Eventually though, I realize that my hands just can't keep up with the carving and the press begins to gather dust. What next? I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

Warmly,

Cheryl