Recently at an art fair, I sat and cut a couple of engravings as people came
and watched. There I was in a busy mall, telling a bunch of fascinated
people all about woodcuts and wood engravings. It surprised me how many
folks *still* don't know what a woodcut is. And I am encouraged and
compelled to update my website with historical facts and fascinating stories
about woodcuts.
http://www.printmakingstudio.com/Studionotes/history.html
Everyone must learn about woodcuts!

The Quotes have been updated with an e-mail from a very interesting and
motivating person:
http://www.printmakingstudio.com/1000woodcuts/updates/robertgenn.html
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In the meantime...
Two more wood engravings are born. With the impending vacation, I had roads
in my head. In fact, I have so many roads in mind that, in this trip, I will
only take pictures of roads and continue to share my love for the landscape
and the unequaled feeling of freedom of the open road. I don't really know
why all these roads must be engravings and why they must be small. I enjoy
holding in my hand a small window to an endless passage--a curious paradox.
http://www.1000woodcuts.com/1000woodcuts/1000.html

Or individually to catch all the details:
http://www.printmakingstudio.com/fullsize/outearly.html
http://www.printmakingstudio.com/fullsize/openingup.html
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Thoughts and Ramblings

Almost the entire time I "worked" for someone else in exchange for that
precious resource we call money, I found myself thinking about taking time
off. Not in my early days, but later, when I really knew that I wanted to be
an artist.
How things change...now that my entire life is work, a different kind of
work, for sure!, I find myself fearing the vacation. I rushed around the
studio proofing and printing the engravings that I had carved, I cleaned, I
put things away after the art fair, I signed and numbered the last set of
prints and I started sketching like a madwoman. You see I wanted to "get
ahead," and leave all my ideas sketched on the table, blocks carved and
ready to print, blocks designed and ready to carve... I dread this vacation!
As much as I love road-trips, I cherish the moment when I will return and
find my work sitting patiently waiting for my eager hands.

One of the most difficult things about being a full-time artist is when to
quit. I mean the studio is right here, even after hours, the desire to make
something new is always here...yet I know and am warned that too much of
something good is still too much. So!
I made myself promise: "no carving while on vacation"
Well, here is my art-tool-kit for this vacation:
<> four art books (okay, okay, six art books if you want to count the small ones...)
<> two sketch books
<> two boxes of Yarka crayons (sepia and gray tones)
<> a tiny paper mould and some paper cuts to recycle into beautiful newly
formed sheets
Since I'm going to Kansas, probably some wheat-stalk paper will be the
result.
Absolutely no carving, I swear!
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What Can I Share This Month?

I was going to spare you the marketing plug this month, but then I thought I
might as well make these engravings available to you, should you wish to
acquire one to look at up close. Same game: 1/2 price, any engraving, if you
come by an art fair this Fall/Winter season again, same deal; just remind me!
http://www.printmakingstudio.com/WoodEngravings/engrave1.html
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Quote of the Day

"Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks
his neck out."
--James B. Conant

Thanks for listening,
Maria