HOLIDAY PRINTS THROUGH THE YEARS

MIMZY JOY - 2010



I started printing up my own Holiday cards in 1995, having been to design school but never taking a printmaking class I decided to teach myself how to print linocuts. I can't quite remember exactly what inspired me to work with linocuts other than the fact that I believed by using this medium I would be forced to work in a less detailed fashion than what I was used to doing with many other mediums including, graphite, pen and ink and acrylics. As you can see with time, I found a way to work around that perceived notion of a"less-detailed" medium.

Not knowing what the proper tools were in order to do an actual linocut, I bought a piece of wood-backed linoleum and when the time came to actually cut the image out, I grabbed what I was used to working with, an xacto-blade and got to work cutting out my first piece. That became the 2-color self-portrait holiday card I created while still living in Boston in 1995.

I continued to work like this until I moved to NYC the following year and just happened to meet Javier Cintron, a brilliant artist in his own right who at the time was working in the printmaking workshop of Bob Blackburn. Through Javier, I discovered that there were proper tools to cut linoleum with and places where they actually had printing presses to print editions out on. I'd sneak in when Javier was monitoring the shop and work on my own projects while observing the rest of the artists. Eventually when I became comfortable enough with the environment, I became a monitor and as part of the job, I was allowed to use the presses during my shifts.

As time passed, I was able to purchase my own medium-sized press and the rest is history. I'm pretty sure at this point I have a few hundred images printed up over the years.

The following prints represent the work I've created as Holiday cards as well as gift tags between 1995 and this week. I look back at the images and I'm amazed at just how personal and revealing they really are. Although the subject matter changes each year, they have all become self-portraits allowing a glimpse into my state of mind at the time of creation.

I hope you enjoy checking the images out and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!

1995 - SELF PORTRAIT


1996


1997


1997 - GIFT TAGS


1998 - NEW YORK'S INFLUENCE (One Of My Favorites Too)


1998


1999 - (A BUSY PRINTMAKING YEAR)








1999 GIFT TAGS


2000


2001 ( A Very Sad Year Here In The City)


2002


2002 - GIFT TAGS


2003 - SANTA CLAWS


2004


2004 GIFT TAGS


2005 - BETHESDA FOUNTAIN / CENTRAL PARK (Image Part of "1-A-DAY" Series)


2006 - ROBOSANTA (Image Part Of "A FACE A DAY" Series)


2007 - HOLIDAY WHIRLING DERVISH

2008 ROBO-SNOWMAN

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2010

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I decided that it would be mutually beneficial to have my friend Joshua Fennell over to carve and print our Holiday linocut cards. This was his first time to ever cut a lino out, and it inspired me to work on an image as well.

As you can see, my dog Mimzy is an amazing subject to have. ;0)


MIMZY - JOY




CUTTING THE GOLIDAY LINO




JOSHUA'S HOLIDAY CARD




JOSHUA AND HIS NEICE, "MIMZY"

MY SEED PACK ART MAKES IT ON "THE HUFFINGTON POST"

MY SUBMISSION TO THE SEED PACK ART COMPETITION

"But Greene and Muller--an ambitious, passionate team--aren't content to simply revive the art of seed-saving and preserve rare regional varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs. They're out to revive and preserve another endangered species while they're at it: artists. So, every year, the Hudson Valley Seed Library, which offers an ever-growing variety of seeds through its online catalog, commissions original artwork for the its Art Pack seed collection, a botanical bonus that makes the packaging as distinctive and worthy of preservation as its contents."

THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:

Please check out THE HUDSON VALLEY SEED LIBRARY for a wonderful selection of original Holiday Gifts.

"C" IS FOR COCK - ALPHABERUBE

INITIAL SKETCH ON LINOLEUM



PRINTED



HAND COLORED POSTCARD

Horticultural Society of New York - Art from the Hudson Valley Seed Library - December 9 - 23, 2010

MUNCHER CUCUMBER SEED PACK ARTWORK



ART PACKS

From Hudson Valley Seed Library::

Our seeds and art are coming to the Horticultural Society of New York

Contemporary Heirlooms:
Art from the Hudson Valley Seed Library
December 9 - 23, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, December 9th, from 6:30 to 8:00pm

The Horticultural Society of New York is pleased to present Contemporary Heirlooms: Art from the Hudson Valley Seed Library as part of its continuing exhibitions program featuring plant-based art.

The exhibition showcases for the first time in New York City original artworks commissioned by the Hudson Valley Seed Library for their unique Art Pack seed collection. Each season, the Seed Library looks for a diverse range of artists to interpret the herbs, flowers and vegetables from their catalog for the designs of their seed packets. The focus this year was on the heirloom varieties currently available through the Seed Library. All sixteen artworks from the 2011 collection will be on view. Drawing from a range of different styles, materials, and experience, Contemporary Heirlooms includes works in a variety of mediums, including collage, encaustics, oil, ink, watercolor and digital art by a diverse selection of artists.

The Art Packs were established to celebrate the beauty of heirloom gardening in New York. The collection is part of a long tradition of art in the Hudson Valley, stretching back to the Hudson River School in the 19th Century. In addition to being a vital region for food production, the region continues to be home to many artists. The diversity of the artwork and artists chosen is meant to reflect the genetic and cultural diversity of the varieties offered by the Seed Library and is emblematic of the region.
Founded in 2007 by Ken Greene and Doug Muller, and based in Accord, NY, the Hudson Valley Seed Library aims to create an accessible and affordable source of regionally-adapted seeds that is maintained by a community of caring farmers and gardeners. The Seed Library is member-driven and led by a simple principle: the 700 members receive seeds each spring and then are encouraged to return the seeds from the mature plants in the fall. Sold to the public, the 130 heirloom seeds varieties are divided into two categories: the "Library Packs", which include seeds grown locally by the Library members; and the "Garden Packs", which are seeds bought from wholesalers. By 2014, the Seed Library hopes that they will be able to exclusively sell locally grown seed.

The art from the Seed Library collection has been exhibited in various locations throughout the Hudson Valley, including: Kingston Museum of Contemporary Art, Kingston; Roos Arts, Rosendale; Kaaterskill Fine Arts Gallery, Hunter; and the Gardiner Library, Gardiner. The Hudson Valley Seed Library has been featured in Martha Stewart Living and Margaret Roach's blog, A Way to Garden. Most recently, The New York Times ran a feature article and profile on the Seed Library and their mission to grow, save and share New York's heirloom varieties.

A Preview Party, hosted by Great Performances & Katchkie Farm, will be held on Thursday, December 9th, from 5:00 to 6:30pm. Signed limited print editions of the original artworks will be for sale during the opening and throughout the exhibition, along with seed packs and framed Art Packs.

The Horticultural Society of New York is the premier resource center for all things horticultural in New York City. Through a broad array of unique educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs, resources and exhibitions, The Hort brings together plant and gardening experts and enthusiasts to share knowledge, exchange information, and take part in activities that enhance environmental and cultural life in New York. The exhibition program combines an innovative curatorial approach with a unique gallery space to showcase emerging and established artists in all media who are inspired by the natural world.
The Gallery at The Horticultural Society of New York is free and open to the public Monday to Friday, from 12 to 6pm. For further information, please visit www.hsny.org or contact Chris Murtha at 212-757-0915 x121 or cmurtha@hsny.org.
For more information about the Hudson Valley Seed Library, please contact Ken Greene at 845-626-4910 or ken@seedlibrary.org.

MUNCHER CUCUMBER SEED PACK

The seed packet I illustrated for HUDSON VALLEY SEED LIBRARY is now available for sale. It makes a wonderful holiday stocking stuffer or gift if thats your sort of thing.

The technique used to create this image is an acrylic paints colored linocut.

FROM THE SITE - " Gardeners may think there is nothing green to do in the winter, but winter is when we release our new Art Packs. Pack Art 2011 is a winter garden of art that will get seedy people dreaming about next season. Dreaming is an essential part of gardening in the Northeast. Our dreams are where we hold the flavors, smells, and beauty of our garden bounty during the bleak winter.

This year’s artists were selected from a pool of over 70 submissions. They come from all over the Hudson Valley and New York City. Each artist interpreted one variety of herb, flower, or vegetable from the Seed Library’s catalog. Mediums include collage, encaustics, oil, watercolor, digital, paper cutting, and ink. Artist range from up-and-coming to world renowned. The diversity of the artwork reflects the many stories behind each variety and the genetic wonder that makes each plant unique.

Signed, limited edition giclee prints of the original artworks will be for sale during the opening along with Art Packs filled with seeds and framed seed packs.

2011 Pack Artists: Links to more information about each artist can be found in the description of each variety in our Holiday Catalog."

MIMZY IN REPOSE - Final Print

MIMZY IN REPOSE - Sketch and Inked Lino

Alright, so I haven't posted here in a while. Sorry Mom.
July was mostly a month to forget, August so far is asking for the same treatment.

I actually have done some artwork during my absence. One piece, I have been sworn to secrecy regarding showing the actual finished artwork. I can however let you know that the artwork was created for a seed company named Hudson Valley Seed Library that 2 wonderful guys created on their farm in upstate NY. If you're in our region or know someone in this growing region, you should check out their site. They have a catalog of seeds available including their "Art Packs" which I have been so graciously asked to illustrate the packet for the "Muncher" cucumber variety. Once I'm given the go ahead to promote it, I will be posting my final illustration.

Until then, the newest sketch and inked lino of what I've titled, "Mimzy In Repose". Something she does quite often and like a true professional. I'll post the final print tomorrow when it's dry.

Enjoy.

SKETCH ON LINOLEUM



INKED LINOLEUM

BUY A BERUBE MAILART SUBSCRIPTION

My Brilliant and Talented MailArt comrade Jennifer Kosharek just added me to her roster of MailArtists on her Etsy account offering a years worth of MailArt postcards.

Please check it out HERE

MISSING NOVEMBER BERUBE-BUG or "The Bug that almost wasn't"

There are some pieces of artwork that just beg to never be finished. For all intensive purposes, my November 2009 Berube-Bug should have been one of those pieces.

If I was a few years younger, had less patience, or wasn't such a stubborn fool, this piece of linoleum would have ended up tossed out of the window as late as last night when I committed to finally printing it after starting it almost 6 months ago.

Based on a trip to Virginia for Thanksgiving, the image was a culmination of watching hours of bloody video games with no less than 5 military in laws and friends as well as spotting Turkey Vultures for the first time in my life flying over the farm fields along the drive to and from Virginia.

I started the piece as soon as I got back from the trip, instantly having problems with coming up with the image I wanted. The initial drawing, (PIC #1 below), was what I initially came up with. That image sat on my desk until I finally gave up in December. I believe in January, I decided to give it a go again, this time by not finishing the initial drawing and starting out with a new, relatively different concept.

Somewhere between January and May, the piece was drawn, redrawn, redrawn again and then cut, little by little until I actually finished cutting it last night while I was printing it. One of the problems with putting one of these pieces on hold is that, there's a lack of continuance, the things I would normally discover and fix as I'm working on the piece become forgotten. So, as a result of that, I did my test print and realized that some of it wasn't working. At this point, I figured, I've waited this long, don't kill it now, try to fix it and call it done.

Having said that, I'm not completely pleased with it, but feel that a lot of my perceived questioning will be fixed with some color added to the image.

Live and learn. Glad that's done.

ORIGINAL CONCEPT (Drawing on linoleum)




2ND CONCEPT (Drawing on linoleum)




CUT LINOLEUM




FINAL PRINT

"A" Is For AARDVARK

Well, after a many month dry spell, I've finally printed up a new piece. Decided to start another alphabet series, this time printing up postcard sized images so that I can double the fun by sending them out to my mailart friends.

SKETCH ON LINOLEUM



CUT LINOLEUM



INKED LINOLEUM



FINAL PRINT

POSTCARD SIGNAGE

One of the local dollar stores tossed out a perfectly good card rack the other day,(just 2 days before our art party). I snatched that bad boy up, brought it upstairs and when the snow was done melting off of it, I cleaned it up and made this pretty little sign for it and filled it up with postcards for our art party.

NOT VERY PRETTY

I've had sinisitus for the last week as the result of a bad chest cold that took me out of commision for the last couple weeks in January.

As a result of this and my general dislike of Winter, I've been unable to sit and focus on being creative and wanting at the same time to get back to drawing and illustrating by means of pen/ink, graphite pencils and washes.

So, this is what I got for my first try. And it isn't very pretty, but it is how I've been feeling. ;0)

FINAL BERUBE-BUG FOR THE "BERUBE-BUG" MAILART CALL

I've decided that this will be my final Berube-Bug as part of my ongoing Berube-Bug mailart call. Having missed November, it became apparent that I can no longer guarantee a new bug each and every month.