Learning Something New

I’ve been taking a screenprinting class through UW-Continuing Studies. I have learned so much, not least of which is the fact that I have a LOT more to learn. Here is my first poster print, featuring charmingly questionable registration.  It is a 19×26″ poster and I had no idea what I was taking on in choosing such a large size. I’m going to need to build up my arm muscles a bit to wield such a squeegee without effort. Might bring it down to 11×17″ for my next in my State Park series. Until my power yoga and free weight effort starts making a difference anyway.

I created and separated the design in Illustrator. It is based on photos I took while camping at this park Memorial Day of this year. Currently looking for studio space and supplies to build a few items I need to set up my own screenprinting space – only two more weeks of school space. Thankfully I have some very handy family members that are willing to help me with power tools!

My Paintings on Display

Five of my oil paintings are hanging at the Madison Squash Workshop through the end of October. This is the first time I’ve displayed my art since I was a college student. Um, yeah that’s been over 10 years ago now… so I’m overdue! My mother and I have also joined Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Association so I look forward to sharing our work over the year ahead.

Here’s the artist statement that accompanies my painting at the Squash Workshop:

I have been a visual artist as long as I can remember, as a child of a painter I considered it a birthright and eagerly took to the paintbrush. In the past I have been preferred people as a subject but have lately been drawn to include the urban and rural landscapes that we humans inhabit. This is undoubtedly a product of my idyllic country childhood meshing with a decade of urban living.

The careful handling of sharp objects.

Lynn Van Airsdale is a Madison area Acupuncturist. I had the pleasure of working with her to create her new logo and website. Lynn felt strongly about having a star in her logo to represent the five elements. I pondered how to make a star, used for varying purposes, specific to acupuncture. I e-mailed Lynn and asked her what she thought on composing the star with the needles themselves. She liked it! She brought some over and I laid them out (very carefully!) and photographed them at my kitchen table. The logo was born. I look forward to seeing her soon for an acupuncture session of my own. I’m going to let her handle the needles this time!

Grün – where has my umlaut gone?

Oh, how I love this image from a German Company that makes logos and interior decor out of grass! I guess Mother Nature already has the exterior part…well, covered. And of course, as a Grunniwaldt, I have an extra affection for it. There was a time I thought of changing my re-interpreted name (via Ellis Island, perhaps?) back to the authentic Grünwald. Then I thought about those occasions in which I’d need to spell my name for people. Likely I’d end up explaining what keys one would have to hold down to produce it on a American keyboard, after determining if they are working on a mac or pc. Nope, I don’t think America is very umlaut-friendly in that respect. Ah, well. Lovely logo!!!

Facebook Photo from 1935

Kris & I attended a photography exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum and we came upon this photo, taken in the 1930s.

And I said “If they had facebook back then, that definitely would have been her profile pic.” Lady behind us tells us she was thinking the same thing