The Car Excuse

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Alexia

I know, I know. I haven’t been good about posting lately. It has been a pretty crazy month. I have been working like a mad woman, and on top of everything I totaled my wonderful 10 year old VW GTI. As a result of my first ever accident, I had to find a new car.

I am now proud to introduce my brand new Ford Fiesta!

It is so bright and happy that it is sure to keep me smiling through the long grey NW winters. And now that the drama of finding a car is over, it is time to get back to the business of making good art!!

I have one block ready to print and I am in the middle of carving another one. So I should have more stuff to post very soon. And I promise to be good about posting again!

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Nouveau Treasury!

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Alexia

My “Nouveau Peacock” Print was just added to a lovely treasury by Christy Rogers from sabiwabi on Etsy, and I wanted to share!

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Neil Gaiman Graduation Address

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Alexia

I should have posted this a month ago, but better late than never. Writer Neil Gaiman addressed the graduating class at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia last month. His speech is inspiring and worth listening to. My favorite line: “Make good art.” Enjoy.

Neil Gaiman Addresses the University of the Arts Class of 2012 from The University of the Arts (Phl) on Vimeo.

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Time Lapse Video of Zodiac

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Alexia

This video has been a long time in the making, only because I kept getting distracted. But here it is, finally! It is a time-lapse of the carving process for my “Zodiac” print. The video focuses on the tools and process of relief printmaking.

For more information on this print or to see more of my work, please visit my website: www.porcuprints.com. You can buy this “Zodiac” print (and other prints) at my Etsy Store: porcuprints.etsy.com

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NEW- Direct Checkout on Etsy!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Alexia

I have just implemented Direct Checkout on Etsy, so buyers can now pay directly with a credit card rather than having to use Paypal! Hopefully this will make it easier for buyers (and for me as the seller) to complete transactions.

For more information on how Direct Checkout works, check out Etsy’s FAQ’s.

So come on over to my Etsy Store and try it out!

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New Block- Carving in Process

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Alexia

Currently I am carving a fun block inspired by Star Trek. You will have to wait until I finish for a full picture, but here is a part of the block that is finished:

Check back soon for more pictures!

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Inspirational Photos of the Week

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Alexia

This weekend Doug and I visited Mount Saint Helens. It was a truly breathtaking experience. The beauty of the mountain and the still visible destruction from the 1980 eruption are awe inspiring.

I was really struck by how, over 30 years later, plants and animals are still struggling to reintroduce themselves into the blast zone. I took the photo below to express this impression visually. Here you see a bush trying to gain a foothold in earth destroyed by the mountain, under whose shadow it grows.

And finally, an artsy photo of wood from a tree felled by the eruption.

I hope these photos inspire you all too.

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Kelsey Restoration Update: Roller Hooks

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Alexia

Recently Doug and I finished making new roller hooks for the Kelsey press. The old hooks were both bent out of shape, and visibly worn down inside the hook area. Yet again I find that I forgot to take making-of photos for this step, but I hope finished product photos will do.

In the picture above, the top hook is the old one, and the bottom is one of the new hooks. As you can see, there is a slight bow to the old shaft and the hook is misshapen. The detail photo below shows the wear on the old hooks (on the right) much more clearly:

We used the same diameter gauge steel as the original hooks, and we measured and bent each hook to match the old ones. We used a wire bender to create the hook bend and a manual threading die to thread the top of the shaft.

I eventually want to get new springs and nuts, but for now, I am just going to use the original ones with the new hooks.

Now, all that is left is to make a base for the press and get the pressure adjusted correctly! (Although I am sure I will find something else that needs to be done before the end!)

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New MOO Cards!

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Alexia

First, let me apologize for not posting for so long. Second, this post is about the new business cards I just received in the mail! Moo is a fabulous mail-order card company that turns out some great products. Their greatest selling point: their ability to print as many full-color images as you want on the back of your custom cards!

My most recent purchase was for Moo Mini-cards. These cards are half the size of a standard business card. They are great for showing off your portfolio, your products or your business.

One of the best things about Moo is the packaging. Your purchase shows up in a cute little box that says “Your Moo Cards are Inside* (*open them quick!”). With such packaging, it is hard not to follow this command.

It feels so exciting when you finally open the box and see all your cards laid out on the table! I chose 4 images to print on the back of my cards. But the cool thing about Moo is that if I had wanted to, I could have gotten a different image on every card. It is like a mini portfolio in your pocket!

The last thing I want to mention about Moo’s cards is how hefty the paper is. They feel twice as thick as any other business card I have ever handled. It really makes a statement to hand one of these babies over.

To check out Moo and their products, go to http://us.moo.com/

 

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Gail Vance and her amazing enamel jewelry

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Alexia

Gail Vance, my wonderful mother, has recently changed careers. While her first was in law, her second is as an amazing jewelry maker and enamel artist. Gail Vance is a name to watch out for in the Alexandria, VA/Washington D.C. area.

She draws much of her inspiration from the art nouveau and deco periods, as can be seen in the shapes she choses to work into her designs. She began working with beads and wire years ago, but has moved on to incorporating enamel into her pieces. Her wirework can be seen in the chain in the above piece.

 

The set above is another of her wonderful pieces. She adds texture and three-dimensionality into the metal before she even begins working the enamel into the design. When she finally does, the enamel highlights the shape and gives the piece even more depth. This interplay of color and texture creates a movement and flow in her jewelry that is not often seen.

Gail has recently been included in her first public exhibition, The Torpedo Factory’s Art League 2012 Student/Faculty Art Show.

To see a picture of Gail’s piece in the show (and other works from the exhibition) click the link below:

http://www.theartleague.org/blog/2012/02/23/the-2012-studentfaculty-show/

 

I am a very lucky person to have come from such a creative and talented family!

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