Deborah Velásquez

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Tests Prints From A Photograph, A Pen, A Print Post

Hand printed test prints from yesterday's post and carving. The bulb onion shape was inspired by an allium-like plant. I created two type of prints. I wanted to do a line print and a shape print. Sort of playing with the positive and negative spaces of my drawings.

Sketches and carved blocks used for printing.

I used this pink rubber block and learned that it is not my favorite to carve on. I found it tough to see my cuts and keep track of my carved lines. When I started to carve on the putty colored blocks it was much easier to see my cut lines. The putty colored block when cut away left a lighter color in removed areas, so this made it much easier to see what you carved. The pink block did not have a difference in color when cut away so it all appeared the same making it hard to see as you worked. I have always preferred the blocks in lighter colors. I find the pink ones distracting to work on.

I find it so interesting that these two hand printed pieces came from the same plant inspirations.

Another hand printed test print created with carved blocks keeping the simple lines of the plant in mind. Now off to work on that curvy stripe inspired by this bulb, onion shape.

This is "Where Art and Beauty Meet Lifestyle"©

Circle Studies and Sketches by Velásquez

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Photograph, A Pen and A Print

At my desk I have a work in progress, I am back to sketching and getting ready to carve. After a very busy few days finishing up some prints I am excited to create something new.

I found my inspiration in a photograph by my friend Lori Moon.

Lori, a fellow blogger, has a series called Shared Messages from the Universe on her blog. Lori is talented photographer and jewelry artisan. She photographs found phrases and words she comes across in her travels in the The City.

As a gardener I enjoy her plant and flower photography especially during these cold months as I wait for Spring. I had such fun sketching this allium-like flower with a beautiful flower pod in a lantern shape. I made loose and tight sketches looking for a direction to start carving in. I will explore the shape and line aspects of this plant, very much like the echinacea flower post, I will do two carvings and print one highlighting line and the other in shape.

To make things less confusing I put an X in spots I plan to cut

I call this my fun and discovery stage. I fell absolutely in love with this bulb, onion shape.

I cut the shape out and played with layout and layering ideas.

I kept seeing a curvy stripe happening, so I am going to explore this and cut a block in a stripe design. It's a must, I get goose bumps looking at the curved stripe possibility.

This is much like the stripe inspiration from my bird carving here, and I like how that turned out. I will work out the design in the next few posts. Stay tuned.

This is "Where Art and Beauty Meet Lifestyle"©

Plant Sketches by Velásquez

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Word Path • Wonder

Wonder Artwork and Flower Tile by Velásquez

Today's Word Path came about in a round about way with bits of conversations here and there with friends on Face book. Words went back and forth and I kept thinking oh, that's a pretty word, oh I like that word and so on. That is how my Word Paths start usually.

A conversation happens or a word catches my eye and it grows into something and I can't get it out of my head. One of my favorite words is wonder and it was part of the conversation and it brought me back to my first blogpost.

Here are some words from my first post....

Wonder, one of my favorite words. I am full of wonder as I move forward in my creative life.

I wonder how things will go as I continue in my journey and progression as an artist.

I wonder what I might I create?

I wonder if my work will bring someone joy?

What I do know is that I love to make art,

I know this what I should be doing.

What I do know is that the word wonder can become wonderful.

Do you ever wonder when you are going to become

who you are meant to be?

Now as I look at my first post it is as if I am looking at my younger self!

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Everyone has a word path. One word leads to another.

Word Paths, a Friday feature showcasing possibilities in written words, creative process and artistic pieces.

My goal is to present three to five words or three to five lines.

I may go to seven words or seven lines but probably not often, only if needed.

I plan to work the Word Paths out artistically and process them to share with you here.

You can go here, to my first post on this project and see how it all started.

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Lots of warm up word sketching. First on butcher paper then on better watercolor paper.
This exercise is very loose and freeing

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Inspired by Conversations with Wind Gypsy and Polished by conversations with Jewel. Thank You. For the Word Path I used two words that I find beauty in, wonder and everlasting.
The wanderers, the seekers, and the artists have the gift of wonder which leads them on their journeys.....ALWAYS.

Here is my word path for today

Everlasting Wonder by Velásquez©2013

Happy Weekend • Wonder • Enjoy the Language of Words

Thank you for stopping by.

This is "Where Art and Beauty Meet Lifestyle"©

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Inspiration, Gifts from friends and Pattern Love to Share

The Victoria and Albert Colour Books

Just had to share these wonderful books which present selections held by the Department of Design, Prints and Drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

I was lucky enough to receive these as a gift from my very good friend, MIss Jane. She is a a fabulous artist and teacher, forever guiding and mentoring.

I am just coming to the end of a fabulous week which started with unpacking from a very successful show. This week has been quite fun in connecting with customers and filling orders and hanging another group of work. Feeling very grateful. I am getting back to making more art with tomorrow's Word Path, really looking forward to that!

I gifted myself some time to spend looking through these pattern design books. These books were first printed in the UK in 1988. I have two box sets.

First Group of V & A Colour Books

Novelty Fabrics, Thirties Floral Fabrics, Japanese Stencils and Design for Shawls.

Second Group of V & A Colour Books

Patters for Textiles, Floral Borders, Tile Paintings, and Patterns for Papers.

The book come four to a box. Boxes have marbleized paper covers.

These Three are my Favorites
These are my favs because of I love printmaking, love the simple and graphic lines of cut paper and of course florals all day long!

A Selection of Covers, Plates and Endpapers

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