New Works: Etching video January 2012

Off and on for a number of weeks now, I've been working on 4 new etchings.  Here's an 8 minute video of how these plates are printed. This is a 14th Century method for making artworks on paper.  What a grand, time consuming process.  There is nothing quick about creating hand-made prints.

I'm with Mark Lunning, the master printer and owner of Open Press Ltd, Denver.  Mark is inking and printing two color plates with a Chine Colle (colored mulberry paper) added to the process.  The result is a three-color landscape print.  I'll be releasing this and 3 additional etchings very soon.

Want to make your own prints? Contact Mark

Resources: Christie's and Sotheby's auction catalogs

One of the great resources for curious artists are the auction catalogs.  You can view marvelous works by the biggest names and some you have never heard of.  I used to pay hundreds of dollars a year for these catalogs but now I can view them online.  With these online catalogs you can zoom into the images and see them in very high detail. These images are educational and inspiring.  Here is an image from an upcoming auction, the Impressionist / Modern Day Sale at Christies, London on February 8, 2012.

The image is by Alfred Sisley, "Saitn-Mannes," 1885.  This is a blow up of the oil on canvas, 21 1/2 x 28 3/4.  Should you want to take it home, it is expected to bring a price in the range of $600-900,000.

View Alfred's little gem here in greater detail: Christie's Feb 2012 sale, Alfred Sisley

While you are there you can sign up for your choice of upcoming sales at Christies for free - check out Sotheby's too.

For Fun: Flying robots!

Flying Robots Build a Tower Near Paris

You can't make this up, but engineers with very creative minds and skills make cutting/flying edge art. From NPR video:

Resources: Van Gogh documentary

Here is a fabulous film on Van Gogh to preview.  You can stream the entire film on Netflix (their description below.)  It is also available in the Apples store to download as a buy or rental.

Van Gogh: Brush with GeniusMoi, Van Gogh(2009) NR

Providing a rare and exciting opportunity to examine Vincent Van Gogh's artwork up close, this documentary also retraces the artist's footsteps, guiding us through the places that inspired him and his brilliant, vividly colored paintings.

Installations: Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton, Denver 2011

Last year closed out with my learning that the Four Seasons Hotel Denver used two of my large giclees on canvas for one of their Banquet/Meeting rooms. It's a nice honor and it goes nicely with the earlier Ritz-Carlton installation of two large, vertical giclees in the guest rooms here in Denver as well.


2011 was a very good year and December was the best sales month I have ever had.  For all of you that were a part, thank you for the wonderful year and the merry Christmas you provided me!


Installed in The Four Seasons, Denver


Installed in the Ritz-Carlton guest rooms, Denver

Resources: Landscape Painting in Pastels

Deborah Secor is an artist and art writer with much to share.  She has generously offered her new online pastel instruction book for free.  Landscape Painting in Pastels

New Works: The New Year, Etchings

All of last December, I felt the urge to start this art blog and pass on what is happening in the studio and also the interesting things that come my way.

For a couple of weeks in December I was working with the Master Printer, Mark Lunning at Open Press Studios in Denver.  I'm doing 4 new etchings there, each 14 x 14 inches.  It's been ages since I've made etchings - they were just small experiments at the time.  I had forgotten that it takes a very long time to create each image, but I love going into the print studio and spending the day there.  These images are done on two color plates, one color printed on top of the other and if you look closely, you will see embossing from the deeply etched plates.

The project is not finished yet, but I wanted you to get a look at two images from the last proofing session.  I'll get back to you when the suite of four is complete.