The Hare - Collagraph Print by Andrea Lauren

"The Hare" collagraph print was created at the same time as "Two Foxes."  The process for preparing the plate, a 9 x 12 size, involved a wealth of materials: cardboard for the deep embossed focus areas, glues and gesso medium for building up a secondary layer, and some textural paints with a variety of embedded materials for an additional effect on the ground portion of the print.  Paint was applied with an old toothbrush for the tricky nooks, stipple brushes, brayers, and paint brushes.  As with many collagraph prints, a variety of relief and intaglio applications and removals of ink results in the final print.  This short edition of four prints also features some hand-coloring with gouache to bring out the main elements.  This will be showing at the group show in a couple weeks as we as a few available in my shop in the upcoming days. 

Two Foxes Illustration by Andrea Lauren

This year I've been very fortunate to have access to a printmaking studio here on the UWS.  I've been spending most days in the studio experimenting with different forms of printmaking: Etching, Collagraph, Relief Printing, Aquatint, and Stone Lithography.  One of my favorite types has been collagraphs.  This 9 x 12 piece combines a collagraph plate with gouache hand-painting in a small edition of four pieces.  This will be one of 12 new works for a group show in Brooklyn next month.

Phonograph in the Forest - Linoleum Block Print by Andrea Lauren

Here's my familiar fox couple enjoying being serenaded by their phonograph.

Moggy's Minuet Illustrated Linocut Print by Andrea Lauren

Another in this series of linocut prints -- this one is titled "Moggy's Minuet."  At the very beginning of my artistic journey I created an image very similar to this and it has come back around in a different form.  If I found myself playing piano in the same setting as this cat, I would have to play something in Ravel's beautiful style.  Original Print Shop.

Landscape Drypoint with chine-colle

I've been experimenting with a few different printmaking techniques and creating a couple different series of print themes.  These two depict some scenery from England and use engraving and a few chine-colle accents to add color and texture.  The ethereal music of Frederick Delius always reminds me of the misty, verdant, historical settings of England.

Goodbye 2012

As the sun sets on 2012 I find myself looking back on an amazing year.   More than ever, I am excited about what has happened and what's to come in 2013.  Reflection is a part of the growing process that I don't spend nearly enough time on, so I am excited to take it all in and start 2013 with a renewed sense of adventure.  Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013. 

Painting Studio

My painting class wrapped up on Wednesday night with a lovely open studio get together.  It was fun to see all the works up on the walls but bittersweet that it was our last meeting.  I finished up these two paintings in the previous week and they were the ones that people told me they liked best, which seems fitting.  I'm really excited about the direction my painting has gone throughout this class and can't wait to make more art next year.

Lithography Class by Andrea Lauren

I've been taking a Lithography class for the past few months.  The class wraps up next week and I've been trying to squeeze as much time in the studio as I can before the end.  It's been an interesting and sometimes trying experience, but a valuable one nonetheless.  I'll be scanning my pieces soon, but until then, here are a few snapshots of the studio space.

Painting

I shared a few of my new paintings a while back and have been experimenting further with colors and designs.    Here a few pieces that I've finished up in painting class.  The first was an assignment to paint a portrait of a chair.   The second is an abstract landscape inspired by an aerial photograph of Dover and the third is for an assignment to find 10 colors on a leaf.

Arctic Fox

Despite the tropical weather we've had lately in NYC, I've been looking forward to winter and created this Arctic Fox piece last week.   Arctic landscapes are always synonymous with the works of Sibelius.  Like many others, Symphony No. 2 is one of my favorite Sibelius works.