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Showing posts with the label Leo and Lang

Paper Moon, Leo and Lang

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“Paper Moon”, from my Leo and Lang series, is a limited edition linocut print for sale in my studio ( #15 ) on the VIVA Spring Art Studio Tour, May 7-8 and 14-15, 2022.  Once upon a time, before cameras were common and digital imagery had replaced film, everyone’s local fair or carnival featured set photography booths where a photo portrait might be taken to document the day, a friendship, or love, paper moons were a standard set. The song Paper Moon was written in 1932 and had already been recorded by many artists when in 1973 Peter Bogdanovich gave it new life by using it as theme music and naming his movie, based on Joe David’s novel Addie Pray and starring Ryan O’Neal, Tatum O’Neal and Madeline Kahn, Paper Moon. The film has since become a classic and words to the song indelible. “It is only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea But it wouldn’t be make-believe if you believed in me.” Given the time and place I’ve imagined my characters Leo and Lang born into, they must have p

Paper Moon

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I'm at work carving my Paper Moon Linoleum block of Love Puppets- Leo and Lang . Once upon a time, before cameras were common and digital imagery had replaced film, everyone’s local fair or carnival featured set photography where a photo portrait might be taken to document the day, a friendship or love. Paper moons were a standard set. The song Paper Moon was written in 1932 and had already been recorded by many artists when in 1973 Peter Bogdanovich gave it new life by using it as background music and naming his movie, starring Ryan O’Neal, Tatum O’Neal and Madeline Kahn, Paper Moon.   The film has since become a classic and words to the song indelible.      “It is only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea      But it wouldn’t be make believe if you believed in me...” Given the time and place I’ve imagined my characters Leo and Lang born to, they must have sat in a paper moon and acknowledged their own true love.        “It's a Barnum and Bailey world, Just as phon

Leo and Lang, "Dream Catchers"

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I've been hand printing "Dream Catchers" a lino-cut from my Leo and Lang story.  I made this low tech registration block from a 3/4" melamine panel that Suzanne Moore, #scarletpaints33, contributed to make this simple print process possible.  Thanks Suzanne! Leo and Lang are the imaginary same sex characters, as marionettes, who live their love and lives in this ongoing series.  "Dream Catchers" is hand printed with Caligo Ink on Somerset Satin Paper.  Image size, 8.5 in. x 6.75 in.

Leo and Lang, "Twin Sons, Different Mothers"

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I've been printing my Leo and Lang etching , "Twin Sons, Different Mothers" at Quartermaster Press Studio. I'm so delighted by the polymer plate made by Intaglio Editions from my drawing. The prints from this plate are a small edition in dark gray and a second small edition in carbon black, both on Hahnemühle Copperplate paper. My story of Leo and Lang begins, somewhere in the Netherlands, high atop a chimney. It's a defining moment in a series of images that explore same sex relationship and an imagined history.

Intaglio Editions

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The print making plate above was created from my ink drawing "Twin Sons, Different Mothers" by Intaglio Editions of Boulder Colorado.   I could not be more happy with this fine art plate and sincerely thank and recommend Intaglio Editions . Technically, this polymer plate is a photogravure etching.  The process is capable of reproducing every gradation of tone in a photograph.  Here it has captured the finest of lines. I've been thinking of and making drawings about romantic relationships and an imaginary same sex couple, "Leo and Lang", (born at the turn of the last century), for the past several years.  In trying to find the right medium to tell their story I've so far explored Lino Cut, Image On Polymer, Transfer Print and Watercolor.  All of those techniques have their advantages, but when it comes to making an edition from my drawn images, Intaglio Editions and this plate making process is the best!

Bench Hook for Leo and Lang Linocuts

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Easter weekend I made these bench hooks for safely carving linoleum blocks like this one of "Leo and Lang", from my Love Puppet series.  the smaller bench hook is great for 4 x 6 in. blocks and with the larger one i can cut 8x10 in., 10x12 in. and in between!

Save the Last Dance for Me, the Red Shoes Show at VCA

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Save the Last Dance for Me Once upon a time “Red Shoes” were linked to status, wealth and power.  The cost of red dyes like cochineal, and madder , used to die cloth and leather, made them affordable only to the rich. Popes, Emperors and Kings wore red shoes to symbolize a divine right to rule.  By the late 18th century red shoes had become a sign of aspirational fashion for men and for women. When author Hans Christen Anderson published “The Red Shoes” in 1845 he linked Christian themes of sin, pride, disobedience and redemption to a Danish folk tale and red shoes took on a darker meaning.  His protagonist Karen and by extension women who wore red shoes, became cultural transgressors of the acceptable feminine norm.  Red shoes were recast as symbols of passion, as uncontrollable urges and in Anderson’s version, red shoes possessed a will of their own…to dance. The only way Karen could stop dancing was by having her feet and shoes removed by axe.   Since Anderson’s characterization,

Leo and Lang - QMP at Tacoma Art Museum

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Below are my new Leo and Lang images inspired by Karen Gantz's print in the Tacoma Art Museum collection.  Here is a link to Karen's "Puppet" . Quartermaster Press  studio will exhibit work in it's latest show- Pressing Forward , at the Tacoma Art Museum's Cheney class room July 11- September 27, 2018.  Each QMP member artist selected work from the permanent collection and created a new generation of prints in response to subject, image and/or print process.  What an exciting challenge! Brian Fisher,  "Love Puppets" and" The Dating Game", intaglio prints from the "Leo and Lang" series. The Intaglio prints I created in response to Karen Gantz's print, “Puppet", (which I read as role play), have become a personal print series exploring relationship and role play within relationship. "Love Puppets” and “The Dating Game” are visual moments in the tale of Leo and Lang, twin sons of different mothers who f