Social Distancing in the Studio

With everyone hunkering down because of the Covid 19 pandemic, the studio is the perfect place to keep busy, in solitude.

I'm currently working on a piece for an upcoming group show at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Ct. Artist members from the Printmakers' Network of Southern New England are challenged to create work based on the writings of Mark Twain. After reading a number of his quotes, one in particular spoke to me on a personal level.

"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."

Seems as though there is so much to be angry about these days: the state of our government, ineffective politicians, an egotistical president and now an uncontrollable pandemic. I need to remind myself to step back from things that are uncontrollable and just breath.

I found an old piece of Solarplate and decided to see if it was still usable. Turned out it worked.

Inkjet positive                   Inked Solarplate                      Proof        

At the moment, I'm approaching this as a one-of-a-kind print collage. The image is based on a shadow photographed along the beach. Waves were added along with some surface bubbles; appropriate since waves, like acid, are capable of damaging erosion.

I carefully cut out the figure and used a hole punch to create voids in some of the bubbles.

I'm not sure if I'll print a monotype plate to add color behind the figure or use a variety of Awagami Japanese papers to fill in the void. Right now I'm kind of liking the papers.