In the studio.

Just more everything again.

Tonight is our presentation in Sheridan... "Jentel Presents." So I was just reviewing my ten little images and thinking about what might come out of my mouth in ten little minutes.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some snapshots of what has been happening in my studio the past three weeks.....

My favorite bone folder, acquired
 at the Pasadena City College flea market.

Many pattern-y drawings from when I first arrived.

I'll talk about this in another post, after I touch up the
floor boards and take some better photos!

Maybe not the best drawings ever, but I can say without hesitation
that I had never made these drawings before.

And that's worth something, right?

Pronto plate. Using both sides.
And then quite possibly making something out of the plates.
We'll see. 

Another plate.
I have worked out a love/hate relationship with pronto plates,
but when it comes down to it, I wish these were all etchings. 

Taking note.

Books.

And more books.
And a library book about Navajo blankets.  

Some little light-switch diversion.

Why, Michelle?

Inexplicable structures in the windowsill.

Little huge thing.

It opens into all these 4" x 1" panoramas. At least that's the plan!

A tiny book that fits in a tiny box.

Okay, next...

In the studio...

I'm all over the place, but it's a good thing right now. Having a number of things to work on, I am always in the mood to work on something. I haven't taken a ton of photos in the studio yet, but here is a little sampling...

Arranging bits of paper on the floor. Taking inventory.

A drying rack full of super subtle printing. Working on reward
prints for my Kickstarter backers, as well as interiors for books.
 Dry faster, ink.

I spent hours today printing this image, which I drew last year.

Many little books are at various points of creation.
See how nice that top cover looks?

...It was totally a clever smudge-disguise. Clever, Michelle.

Complicated.

More than anything, I am excited about these inexplicable, complicated little structures. They are made of Pergamenata, (and a few are real vellum) and are stitched together with upholstery thread. Currently they range in size from 6" to 1". I don't know where I'm going with this, but I'm having flash-backs of my high school foreign language festival construction model days...also the crazy week in grad school where I decided to make a scale model of my thesis show. (that project fizzled out, unfortunately..)

I have also been drawing a lot, but haven't taken any pictures yet. More soon!

Thanks for checking in!

So, then...

I moved out of the printmaking studio yesterday. Bummer. It was really good for me to be working in there these past few weeks. It felt healthy to get out of the house every day, and regular interaction with people is also good for me.

Really.

The gallery opens again soon, so that's good too.

Now I am determined to get my home-studio organized and comfortable to work in. I've lived here in Spruce Pine about seven months, and although I have been working on drawing and books in that time, it has felt hesitant and awkward. My original plan had been to use our sun porch as a studio....(because it has a door and I could keep the cats out) but as it cooled off, ladybugs started moving into that space to die, (or sleep?) and then it became apparent that that space was altogether too cold for year-round use.

So my roommate has been understanding and supportive of my working in the living room...where we have a huge table, and also a separate table where we eat. (we use our dining room as a living room/library. complicated.)

So I think with a few decisive organizational strategies, and some cleverness to keep the cats away from my waxed linen thread....I think it will all work out....

sigh.

So I didn't expect to go all impossible/impractical while working in the printshop, but I had so much fun cutting up prints and arranging them on this big 'ol wall. If only we lived in a world where every wall was easy to pin into.

late-night whim.

expansion.

rearrangement.

potential pink/red bits, over there...

...or not. (and better light.)

final expansion (for kicks) 

and contraction.

the end.

I have a list of things I'm going to try to get done today, so I better get out of my pajamas and get started. Thank you for checking in, and let me know what you think!

Impractical things are just more interesting.

Sad to say, I am almost out of time in the print studio. I'm going to miss going up to campus everyday... I think it's healthy to work away from your living space.  I am fortunate to have plenty of room to work at home, but I have struggled to really feel at home in my home-studio. What?

But try harder, Michelle.

Anyway, I have done a ton of printing, and the material I have accumulated will eventually take on other forms...books, certainly. And I have had so much fun revisiting my impractical tendency to pin little fragments to a big wall, and to each other. What will come of it? I don't know.

Check out my charming and talented studio mates for the past few weeks: Erica, Leslie, and Ele.

Rearrangement of bits.

Rearrangement and expansion. (The red bits have moved on.)

Pins! More Pins!

Something else, something scrappy.

Something else again, something.

Thank you for visiting!

Is 'temporariness' a word?

The snow didn't last long...

Except on these steps...

This grew yesterday. Give me a big wall, and I'll pin things all over it.

I just want to make temporary arrangements. 

Michelle, why does everything you do have to be complicated?

Mmm, translucent (wet) kitakata paper over other paper and etching plate. 

Drying leafy bits.

Inside.

Delightful outside on this snowy Saturday in February. Inside the studio is more confusing than delightful. Experiencing highs and lows, and asking myself lots of questions. Like...

1. Haven't I done this exact same thing before?
2. Is this too precious? (pretty? boring? fussy? pink? brown?)
3. What if I cut apart (whatever)?
4. What if I connect (whatever) to (whatever else)?
5. What if I sew on this?
6. But, WHY am I sewing?
7. Wouldn't this be impossible to photograph?
8. Shouldn't this be huge?
9. But also somehow tiny?
10. Shouldn't I try to do something I've never ever done before? 

...which is usually followed again by question number one.

My work has always had some cyclical elements to it, so I guess it makes sense that I am running around in circles in my brain....I am reminded of the three-legged screaming thing....

Again.

Okay. Pictures.

boring.

eh.

yeah.

had to do this; I think I still like it...

...maybe. temporary arrangement. pinned bits.

inevitable.

predictable.

Penland's printmaking studio.

Penland's printmaking studio.

Thank you for taking a look.