CHICKENS AND DUCK PRINT

Here are a few of the prints, all slightly different from each other based on the paper choices.

CHICKENS AND DUCK

I just finished a linocut that I drew while up in Eureka California the day after my birthday. I sat outside the chicken coop at Brandon's friends David Cobb and Kaitlin's house and did some really quick sketches. As you can imagine, it's a bit like trying to sketch a roller coaster while in motion, as the chickens were as interested in me as I was in them and in perpetual state of movement.

I decided to add a little color to the printing process this time by using a technique referred to as "chine-cole" in which pieces of paper are applied to the inked lino, a bit of glue is brushed on to the added bits and then the actual paper you're printing on is placed on top of that and the wole thing is put through the press. Since I tend to use rather small pieces of paper that conform to the actual images on the lino, it can be a rather tedious process. The great thing abt. this is that you never really know what the printed piece is going to look like because of the types of papers used and the amount of layering you decide upon. It's definitely a hit or miss process and I can tell you firsthand that I have completely given up on other prints trying to use the same technique. Tonight, I'm proud to say, was a success.

(This is just a pic of the prints I did and I'll be scanning and uploading the actual image tomorrow)

ART FROM SAN FRANCISCO

Just a quick pencil/watercolor sketch I did the afternoon Michael and I went to the beach in San Francisco. The view of the bridge was amazing from where we were.

WEST COAST TRIP- PART 2 AND 2.5

I had a slight change of plans with the most recent get-away while in Oakland. Instead of heading directly down to Big Sur on friday, I headed to San Francisco to meet Michael and packed a lunch and headed to a rather desolate beach area with an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.




Later in the evening Brandon joined us and we prepared for a short trip down the coast to Big Sur. Once again, I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of coastal California. As you drive down Highway 1, the view is nothing short of awe inspiring. There are certain points where it is seemingly possible to see the curve of the earth's surface along the along the vast expanse of the horizon.

The first stop on our trip was at the Lobos Point State park where you can walk along a number of trails circling a peninsula that run across everything from petrified sand formations to young redwoods forests opening upon coves of swirling water and cliffs with dozens of birds warming in the sun.









BIG SUR

VISIONS FROM DOWNTOWN OAKLAND

Having never been here before, I had no idea but it just so happens that downtown Oakland has some amazing architecture. Aside from the obvious Spanish inspired influence that most older buildings and homes in the area have, the downtown is replete with all kinds of beautiful buildings.

WEST COAST TRIP - PART 2

I'll be meeting Michael tonight in San Francisco to gather our camping supplies for a short trip to Big Sur. Back on Saturday, so expect some new pics then.

WEST COAST TRIP - PART 1

I arrived in Oakland California Thursday evening, hopped in a rental car and promptly got lost 5 or 6 times on the way to Brandon's with the help of a navigation system. (Ironically, the same navigation system stopped working approximately 1 hour into our trip Friday morning).

ON THE ROAD - BRANDON


Friday morning arrives, we have a quick workout, grab some food and snacks for the road and head north for the 5.5 hour trip to Eureka, a small coastal town where Brandon has friends who own a home that they also run a nonprofit political organization Democracy Unlimited Of Humboldt County out of. It also just so happens that one of the hosts is also a Virgo and was celebrating her birthday with a dozen or so friends the Friday evening we arrived.

Turns out Brandon's friends David and Kaitlan are incredibly kind, warm and welcoming people whonot only welcome us into their home but also make us feel like part of the family, part of the community.

In preparation for the night's festivities we drive Kaitlin north to Arcata where she is part of a co-op farming effort and was planning on picking up her fresh produce and bunch of flowers from the cutting beds. We had no idea that the "cutting beds" were going to be the size of most small Manhattan parks. The woman who oversees the farm got wind that it was my birthday and suggested that I go ahead and cut myself a bunch of flowers.

CUTTING BEDS IN ARCATA







The party was wonderful, 2 delicious cakes, lots of wine and beer and tons of tasty homemade foods.

CHICKS AND DUCKS (Thanks for the delicious eggs ladies)



Saturday, after breakfast made with fresh eggs from the hens as well as the ducks that Kaitin cares for in her backyard, Brandon and I decided to head a little further north to Trinidad in search of the sun and a nice place to draw and grab a bite to eat. The fog apparently had little desire to lift, and we were not prepared for the chilly air so we ended up finding the wonderful little restaurant located in a cove, had lunch, took a quick walk on to the pier and promptly got back into the truck, no drawing today. On the way back to the house we decided to hit a few beaches along the way and discovered that you could drive 3 miles one way and it would be foggy and freezing and at the blink of an eye and 3 miles in the other direction it was 20 degrees warmer and sunny, something that was both intriguing and baffling to both Brandon and myself and a lesson in geography and weather related conditions as well.

PIER IN THE COVE IN TRINIDAD



Sunday morning we shared a quick breakfast and decided to head back to Oakland with specific instructions from David Cobb that we should take a slight detour on the way back and drive through the Avenue Of The Giants. A scenic route of sorts that drives through one of the oldest redwood forests in America. Needless to say,it was an awe inspiring experience with many pit-stops before we finally made it back on to the freeway.

IN MEMORY OF

Photos I shot that eventful morning from the 14th floor of the office I worked in at 5th avenue and 12th street.



Please never forget the tragedy of September 11 and the terror that is a daily occurrence for those less fortunate than yourself.

BIRTHDAY BUG FINAL PRINT

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY BERUBE-BUG

Since September is such a special month, being that so many brilliant people were born this month, I decided to go ahead and create a Birthday Berube-Bug in honor of these individuals. And, since I just happen to be going out of town for my birthday next week for an extended birthday/vacation combo, I decided to get September's bug ready to go before I left. This time around, there wasn't any initial sketch. Just a drawing directly from my head on to the piece of linoleum, a few adjustments and then cut as I see fit, and print. Presto magic. I'll have a few in the mail by Monday for the couple of people who have already sent their September contribution to my monthly creature collection. Any creatures received after Weds. will have to wait until my return around the 23rd in order to be scanned and posted to the blog.

Below are pics from the creating/cutting/printing process. Tomorrow, I'll go ahead and scan the final printed piece after it's dry.

INITIAL SKETCH ON LINOLEUM (SCAN)


CUT LINOLEUM (SCAN)


INKED LINOLEUM (PIC)