1.21.17 So it begins.

Yesterday, Sean Spicer, the new White House Press Secretary, gave his first press briefing which included five "alternative facts" (Kellyanne Conway's term). He answered no questions. So it begins.

1.18.2017 Pierre Bonnard

Pierre Bonnard, 1867-1947
French painter and printmaker. He preferred to work from memory using his drawings as reference. He had six Dachshunds during his life. This one is Poucette, his companion late in his life.

1.16.2017 Barack Obama

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
"Yes, we can!  Yes, we did!" Farewell to one of our most eloquent and elegant presidents. I, for one, will miss you.

1.14.2017 Lisa Degliatoni

Lisa Degliatoni, Art Activist
Passionate supporter of the arts in Evanston, IL, USA. "I don't make things. I make things happen." Host of the Lisa D Show, a podcast that focuses on "creatives who make our world a more connected, interesting and more beautiful place to live." On www.soundcloud.com and www.TheLisaDShow.blogspot.com.

1.13.17 Kyle Martin

Kyle Martin is a plein air painter from Rock Springs, Wisconsin. He's my friend. I met Kyle about seven years ago when I saw him painting along the side of one of the roads near my summer home in La Valle, WI. I'd seen his paintings at the Blue Heron gallery in Reedsburg and immediately liked his impressionistic painting style. He paints landscapes, usually with barns, and still life. He does a great job at capturing the light on his subjects and pushing the saturation of the colors. I drew this portrait of Kyle holding his palette from a photo I took about six years ago.

"Bubbles Floatin"

This is a two-color woodcut I made for my son, Christopher, for his documentary film, "Chasing Bubbles." The film is about a friend of Christopher's, Alex Rust, who quit his job as a trader on the Chicago Board of Trade, taught himself how to sail, bought a boat and sailed around the world in about three years. I never met Alex but he was a huge risk taker. He later died at the age of 28 in India. My image of Alex shows him sailing off into the evening sky on his sailboat, Bubbles, bound for new adventures in a new life. The title of the print, Bubbles Floatin', is taken from a quote from Alex in the movie. Check it out on www.youtube/chasingbubbles.

My mother-in-law likes to make things. She's an avid quilter and has made quilts for Project Linus for years. She also knits caps for the homeless. She made a sport jacket for my son, Christopher, out of one of his boyhood Marimekko bedsheets. Now, she's working on a cross-stiched embroidery for one of her grand-neices. She's quite good at it. Even with a cat on her lap.

Multiple Personality Disorder

Got this idea the other day when I heard someone at Starbucks say "I was one of seven children." 

Gridley Head woodcut with red, yellow and blue

"Gridley Head" woodcut with red, yellow and blue acrylic

This woodcut represents a leap ahead in my printmaking. I tried an experiment that worked and am very happy with the outcome.

I painted red, yellow and blue acrylic paint on a piece of 140 lb. Strathmore water color paper. Then, after the paint was dry, I printed a woodcut of Gridley, my English Bulldog, in black, oil-based ink over it. 

French Bulldog

"French Bulldog"

Acrylic on board

16" x 20"

These little guys were originally bred in France from English Bulldog runts crossed with rat dogs. They are often referred to as a "clown in the cloak of a philosopher." I just like the way they look.

English Bulldog

English Bulldog

Acrylic on board

16 x 20

  First in a series of paintings of dogs. This happens to be my dog, Gridley. I've always loved dogs. Unconditional love and all that. My first dog was a Daschshund. Awful dog. He used to bite my nose. (They're used for hunting Badgers in their burrows. And, Badgers are nasty!) But, I was about ten and probably tormented him. Anyway, glad to be painting again. Stay tuned for more.

Lisa Jarvis 1.15.15

I see Lisa most mornings if I make it to the Winnetka Fitness Center. She works there at the reception desk. She also is an instructor and manager of the Chicago Red Hots, a women's roller derby club In Cicero, IL. Next month, she'll take a polar plunge in Lake Michigan. Yikes!

"Bunny Head" woodcut

"Bunny Head"  woodcut

artist's proof

image size 7.5" x 9.25"

black, oil-based ink 

white, acid-free, Stonehenge paper

B.B. King Woodcut

"B.B. King"

Woodcut, 20" x 20", Black Oil-base Ink on White Stonehenge, acid-free paper.

The first in a new series of woodcuts of musicians.

"Red Badger" woodcut

"Red Badger" woodcut

18" x 15" image size

I also printed this guy in black ink.

The red is for my University of Wisconsin friends.

"Shell Song"

"Shell Song" watercolor, 5" x 7"