QUEST: 1,000 Woodcuts Update

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Maria Arango's
QUEST: 1,000 Woodcuts
November 2006 Update - 242 completed
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Heading into the last festival of the festival season already? Seems like I really meant to write another update as things went along but, as I like to tell people "out there", I have two full-time jobs: making art and selling art. Promoting my art is only a part-time job, which neatly fits in between my other two "shifts." But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Somehow I managed to finish a few more prints, mostly due to the wonderful activity we printmakers call "an exchange." These wonderful ventures happen when a group of printmakers decide to organize a loosely organized exchange of prints. Everyone sends, say 30 prints and everyone gets back a neatly collated and sorted group of 30 prints, one from each of the participants. Something we do for fun, but for me it serves three functions: First, I learn from my fellow printmakers by studying styles and images; Second, I keep motivated by having deadlines and knowing that prints I will send are being scrutinized by my peers; and, Third, I have a huge and growing collection of hand-pulled prints from all over the world!

This year I really have come to terms with who I am and what I do. Between the two "people" mentioned above, the creating loner and the social bug, I am as busy as I want to be and, more to my liking, as busy as I want to make myself. I am now heading into my favorite time of the year, where I become the recluse and create new works, revisit old blocks and think of art only...well, and gardening, hiking and all those other forgotten hobbies. I like what I do and have settled into the contentment of realizing that life is good, if you make it good.

But unlike most people, I don't have to wait until I retire or perhaps better said, I retire every year a little. During the selling spells and all the travels I think about what I want to do next, where I want my art to go and how I can progress or experiment or try something new...perhaps just finally get to the image that has been in my head for months. Retirement is the right time to get it all done, finally. Loosely, I plan on a new series, the "seeds" or seed-people as they've been called; next in line are the Grand Canyon prints, two blocks already carved and wonderful hand-made paper ready for my ink; possibly some puzzle prints in color and some carved blocks that I may or may not print. I never really know until I get in the studio and the winter sun gets my creative brain all warm and flowing. I do know I just ordered a cart-full of cherry and can't wait to get my hands on the beautiful stuff.

I had a great year this year and for that I thank all of you. One more festival and then off to the life of the artist. I need the renewal and the peace of the season to begin anew next year and wish you all the same. Try to retire this year, even for just a few days.

If you missed one or all of my festivals, there is always the web, where you can browse all my works without the wind and the crowds. I will be happy to ship your favorite piece.

December 2006

1, 2 & 3 Tempe Festival of the Arts
Mill Avenue, Downtown
Space 7005 on 7th Street just off Mill
Tempe ARIZONA

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The Quote of Each Day:

Each morning sees some task begun,
Each evening sees it close.
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.

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Maria Arango, Printmaker
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
Follow along!
mariamariarango.com
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