The Nagging Thoughts of a First Time Teacher

I have just finished the third week of my printmaking class. Right now, I'm feeling a bit bummed.
There are two real young students in my class ages ten and thirteen. Ten I admit is way too young, but I figured if the parent is okay with their child handling knives then I'll allow it. Thirteen is the minimum age I set for the my class, but I wonder now if that is too young as well.

The main goal I have for this class is to simply have fun. Also, among many other things, I want my students to learn about printmaking and to gain an appreciation of it. I've gotten very flattering complements about this class that have really made me so happy.

For example, one student who happens to ask lots of good questions and a lot of advice told me today that he now understands how to use to line create an image. In the past, his linocuts were basically cutting out an outline. Today, he's using contour line and varying the thickness and quantity of lines to create these flames and skulls with depth. He made his huge leap from his first intro block to this second block.

What's got me down is I feel like my younger students are not enjoying the class as my older students do. Maybe the wood (MDF) is too hard? Maybe the tools are too big? Maybe I'm not giving them enough attention?

I show everyone how to use the tools and print. I treat everyone on the same level. If I see anyone struggle, I help them through advice and demonstration. If someone asks a question, I'll work it out with them.
I'm not going to stop the young students when when I see them place the knife blade perpendicular to the block and twist the tool into the wood. It made me cringe inside, but I know that they should be free to make these creative choices in their work, regardless of the number of teeth a u-gouge may grow.

The ten year old enjoys the hack and tear aspect of cutting wood so I'm not worried about him. He's making a big, horned battle helmet decorated with battle axes and hammers. However, the thirteen year old cuts out most of the details he draws. He takes frequent breaks to relax his wrist, checks the clock a lot, and sighs. I feel stuck!! I've given him advice on cutting several times like: don't force the tool, make small scoops, cut with the shoulder not the wrist, etc. I'm worried my thirteen year old student is not having a good time or worst of all, dislikes printmaking. Well, I have until next Tuesday to think of something to help him out.

Despite some woes, this class has been great. I'm going to offer an extension on my class because many are still working and some want to continue working on more projects. And promise I'll remember to take pictures!!

Gettin' My Teach On!!

Ah, first week of my first time teaching is done. It went from good to even better.
The class is a four week Relief Printmaking class that meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for an hour and a half.
The first day of class, I was so nervous. It put me into some kind of energy high, bouncing everywhere.
The second day, no nervousness here. I was in something of a zen mode. Maybe it was because we were printing. That's when the magic happens.

I'll probably talk about my students like parents talk of their kids: All the time and always so proud of 'em. They really get into their work and want to make good prints. We don't even realize how quickly the hour and a half passes. I casually check the clock and see that class is technically over, but I invite my students to stay late if they wish.

Yesterday, during my printing demo, I showed them the nice paper they use to pull final prints. One asked how much a sheet cost, and I explained it was about $3.30 for a 16 x 20" sheet. I saw jaws drop. So none of them wanted to print their first blocks on the Kitakata paper until they made something they felt was worth it. I thought they had stuff worthy of nice paper.

I'm excited to see what their creativity endeavors them to do. I promise to take pics! I brought my camera last night but totally forgot to snap photos. Oh well, I have 6 more next-times before this class is up.

Class Prep

Getting the materials ready for my printmaking class.
I just built this inking slab!

I plan on stapling some non-slip material onto the back of this board. Also, I learned yesterday that scrap wood is free at hardware stores. There was a pile of these 17 x 22" plywood boards. I should go back and grab a few more for some rough woodcuts.

EDIT: I went back to the hardware store for more of that scrap wood and apparently it wasn't scrap. They chopped these boards to build signs in the store. Also, scrap wood is sold at an 85% discount and the cashier yesterday didn't feel like charging me. I guess yesterday was just lucky.

And a few days ago, I made double pointed knitting needles with bamboo chopsticks!

It's quite easy if you have a woodcarving knife. I coated them in shellac when I finished carving to prevent yarn snags. Next thing I need is a project to try them out. I'm guessing the chopsticks make 3-gauge needles.

Back from HELL WEEK

Those They People in their infinite wisdom have said that writing stimulates your brain more than tapping keys on a computer. So here I sit at my desk writing this blogger entry on paper to be typed afterwards.

Last week was an effing blast. I just returned from the Southern Graphics Council conference which was held in St. Louis, MO this year. For those of you who don't know what SGC is, it is a big printmaking nerdfest. Though, if I were to acurately describe what I did in St. Louis last week, it is better known as Hell Week, Evil Prints' Bad-Ass Alternative Evening Printertainment.

The SGC stuff I saw was...okay. St. Louis Washington Univeristy is a beautiful campus. I attended panel discussions which were boring. I'm not asking for Michael Bay explosions or stupid gimmicks to entertain my reptile brain, but giving a actual speech rather than reading from a paper and also putting some energy into your words really gets me interested in the subject.
I also attended some demos which were okay. It was basically look at this cool shit rather than teach me something. One of the coolest things SGC offered was a presentation by Hung Liu. She is a fantastic artist and I can cross her off my list of artists I wish to see in the flesh.

The other coolest thing SGC offered was the Open Portfolio. I got to see a whole bunch of good and bad work and show off my crazy stuff. Printeresting shows highlights of this event and my Duke of Pipistrelle litho appears on the second portfolio session. A lot of NIU folks made it to Printeresting which is pretty cool. Gotta represent!! My table was busy, I couldn't talk to everyone. I ran out of business cards. I made some print trades, sold a print and met a bunch of cool people at this event. I had an adrenaline high afterwards.

Fred Stonehouse print!



Okay so on to HELL WEEK!
Thursday night, Evil Prints sends a party shuttle to transport us between the studio and the hotel. This converted school bus had a DJ and HUGE speakers at the back. This bus was bumping. Tessa says to me this is how she wants to go to heaven when she dies.

EP was PACKED. The whole back of the printshop was cleaned out and up to host a Printmaking Carnvial with games, the Dumbo See-saw litho press, a wheel of Misfortune. Beer was everywhere. EP is sponsored by PBR. There were so many people, they were running out of beer. It was great seeing all the cool folks again of EP. It was also great seeing all the awesome prints everywhere.

The Awesomest thing of Hell Week was the last night of the conference, The Printbanger's Ball. Dennis McNett created this Viking Battle Ship which was paraded down Manchester St. from EP to the Atomic Cowboy bar. Our parade consisted of two giant idol heads followed by the people pulling the battle ship which John Fronza's metal band Voyage of Slaves wailed from inside and a few marching band drummers kept at the back of the parade. This whole procession was surrounded by a large howling group wearing masks, waving flags and fake weapons. Tessa carried one of the idol heads; I was a flag waver. We walked down the middle of the street, holding up traffic and makin' mayhem. It was pouring rain but I think that made the parade even better even though we couldn't see Fronza's band. Have to protect the electrical equipment!
At Atomic, there was a muddy mosh pit once the battle ship docked.

There was so much happening here at SGC. It was great. I'm so glad to meet up with people, meet new ones and hang out. I got to watch Tessa get a tattoo! I'm excited to see if next year's SGC in New Orleans will be just as good.

Especially good at eating and complaining

I'm drawing another cat. It's something new for this cat exchange. I'm enjoying the doodle I'm working on now, and I think I'm going to take it to the copper plate. I'm just wondering, will this be another idea taken to the next step and then abandoned when I'm ready to print?

I cut a block, sketched out a new block, made a collagraph and now I'm considering an etching. I haven't pulled any prints yet. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining although it is a little frustrating. This struggle is probably a good thing.

I'm drawing a cat that's pretty fucking fat. and looks like a ball of pubes.

I am going to draw more everyday, I think my drawing muscles have atrophied.

A Pattern to Make H.P. Lovecraft Proud

Cthulhu hat! A pattern to make H.P. Lovecraft proud

I created this hat for my sister to accompany her Cthulhu themed xmas gifts! It’s a combo of a beardhead crochet pattern and a cthulhu amigurumi pattern.

Specs:

J or K hook
Gauge: not a stickler for gauge as long as it fits your head, you’re good! Bigger head? Add more stitches! Etc. This hat doesn’t fit tight like a beanie.
Yarn: Loops & Threads Country Loom Super Bulky, the color I used is called Solarium but whatever Cthulhuy color you want is cool. Why not pink?
This pattern uses a lot of yarn. I needed a little over a skein to complete this project.

Notes:
Ch2 does not count as a stitch.

Step One, Starting Hat:

Chain 3
Rnd 1: 12dc in second ch from hook, join with sl st to first dc made, ch2
Rnd 2: 2dc in each st around, sl st to first dc made, ch2 (24dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc in first st, 2dc in next st*, repeat, sl st to first dc made, ch2 (36dc)
Rnd 4: *1dc in first 2 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, sl st to first dc made, ch2 (48dc)
Rnd 5: *1dc in first 3 sts, 2 dc in next st*, repeat, sl st to first dc made, ch2 (60 dc)
Rnds 6-9: dc in each st around, sl st to first dc made, ch2
Rnd 10: Hdc in each st around, join with sl st to first hdc made, ch3


Step Two, Back of the Hat:

Rnd 11: Dc in next 39 sts, ch3, turn (40dc)
Rnds 12 & 13: Dc in each st across, ch3, turn (40dc)
Ch6 then sl st into top of ch3 on the opposite side, finish off.

With the hat facing you, you will have the 6ch connecting the hat.
Make sure this strap connecting the ends fits comfortably across your face. Your nose should poke over the strap with the strap resting over your upper lip. Adjust as desired. We will be pinching the sides over the temples which will pull the mask over your nose.

Step Three, Making the Tentacles!

Rnd 14: Starting on the right side (hat facing you, upside-down) join with a sl st to the 10th st to the right of the ch6 strap, ch2 (remember, this one doesn’t count as first hdc), hdc in next 9 sts, hdc in the 6 chs, hdc in next 9 sts, ch2, turn.

Special Stitch, Tentacle Coil:

Chain 12 (or desired length of tentacle), 3 sc in third ch sp from hook, 3 sc en each of next 9 spaces

Rnd 15: Hdc in first 6 sts, *Tentacle Coil, 2 hdc,* repeat until 6 remaining ch sps, hdc in those remaining ch sps

The hat I made has 8 tentacles, but you can add as many tentacles as you deem fit for your hat! I did just one row of tentacles but you can always do multiple rows for greater Cthulhu effect.

I also added a shield of sorts to protect the mouth and nose where the wind may blow between the tentacle coils. That is as follows:
Rnd 16: Hdc in each st across, ch2, turn
Rnd 17-19: Hdc2tog, hdc in each st, hdc2tog in last two sts, ch2, turn
Rnd 20: *Hdc2tog, hdc in next two sts,* repeat to end of row, ch2, turn
Rnd 21: *Hdc2tog, hdc,* repeat to end of row, ch1, turn
Rnd 22: Sc across row and continue working in edge sc in each st around bottom of hat.
Finish, Weave loose ends.



Step Four: Making the Temple Ridges

This cinches the opening in the hat to cover your nose and only expose the eyes. It also has a more menacing look!

With the hat on, slip the bottom of the face opening over your nose and pinch the fabric near your temples. Mark the start and end of each ridge with a stitch marker or paperclip. Remove the hat from your face and sew the ridge into shape. The ridge gets gradually larger as it approaches the face. Weave in loose threads.



Step Five: Making the Wings

Ch 4, turn
1 Sc in each 3 ch sps, ch1, turn
3 Sc, ch 4, turn
3 Sc on chain, 3 hdc on three 3sc from previous row, ch1, turn
4 Sc, ch 5, turn, 4 sc in chain, 4 hdc
4 Sc, ch 6, turn, 5 sc in chain, 4hdc
Ch 3, work approx. 8 dc along top edge of the wing
Sl st into first ch or near first ch
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing

Put on the hat again. Using a mirror or an awesome friend, mark where you’d like the wings to attach to the back of the hat. I attached mine between the 5th and 6th rnd.
Sew the wings onto the hat, weave loose ends.

You’re done! Now you can spread your Cthulhu rampage everywhere you go and stay warm to boot.

Scots Wha Hae!

Dear Jane,

This letter's for you because ya asked for the duurrrty details!

First I visited my aunts in NYC. Now this was a week long trip so everything kinda blurs together. They keep 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 chickens and 2 (cross your fingers they survived winter) beehives right in downtown Brooklyn. My Aunt Bj is a professional singer and a wonderful cook. My Aunt Wende is a consultant for a media group and teaches too.


NYC was COVERED in snow! They have nowhere to put it. The streets were lined on both sides with huge mounds and somewhere in those mounds were cars.

Every morning I got up early with my Aunts and helped walk the dogs. A few times we picked up Lupa, a neighbor's miniature eskimo dog who Bj walks twice a week. A few times we went to Prospect Park to let the dogs off the leash and chase balls. Buddy, the golden retriver got into a scuffle or two at our Prospect Park adventures because he's a little protective about his ball. Though when Miss Tender Buttons is there, the two have fun and he shares. Ellie is such a focused dog, she could run and chase her ball all day. My Aunt connected this idea for me: squeak toys sound just like freaked out, dying squirrels. Ellie has a knack for killing squirrels.

Again, so much went on during this trip that it's real hard to remember exactly what I did which day. It was a real blast. The three of us had dinner at the Ale House, mmmm burgers and beer. Doesn't get much better than that!

The first full day, I helped Bj prepare the Robbie Burns day meal. She made Cullen Skink with Finnan Haddie which is a smoked fish chowder soup. Then the main course was a lamb pot pie with lemon zested kale and mashed potatoes with crunchy cabbage. There was supposed to be haggis, complete with bagpiper procession, but the haggis was not ready. Lucky the bag piper was there! He looked so perfect! Down to the braided beard. And he played the bagpipe so well.

Then the party got started. Robert Burns is a famous Scottish bard and poet. Alud Lang Syne is a Burns song we're all familiar with. This is a party thrown to celebrate his birthday. We had ten different single malt whiskies from the Islays (EYE-la)s of Scotland for tasting. Key word: tasting.

We started with lighter, tangier whisky to heavier, smokier whisky. BUT! people were having too much fun and drinking got heavy. We hostesses and a few other guests took it easy but at the end things got crazy. 3 people had to spend the night. I had to hide from an art collector/singer/couldabeen football player/francophone/actually a bartender dude who was hitting on me. The Bagpiper escorted the guy home with some resistance saying, Kim and I have a thing going on here! Nope, not gonna go home with ya.

Next morning, the thermostat broke. An upstairs tenant informed Wende that the house was cold. That meant Bj and I got to go to a fresh market by Prospect Park, the bank and then go to a Lowes --BY F'N SCOOTER! Man, seeing the city in the passenger seat of a scooter was so fun. We installed the new thermostat easily enough and then ate delicious leftover pizza and apple cider doughnuts, mmmmmm!

Same day? Next day? My Aunts went out to visit a friend who is very sick. They left me to wander the Museum Mile in Manhattan. I went to the Whitney Museum and saw some very cool work by artist Charles LeDray. I also went to the Guggenheim, but they were in the middle of some show installation so I could only tour two areas. I enjoyed the architecture more than the art on display.

Went to the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) to see Alan Rickman in John Gabriel Borkman, a chilly wintery play. The three of us loved the dresses that the women wore, especially the patterns the dresses pushed in the snow as the women walked about the stage. It was a very long play but the time passed by just fine. The BAM theatre is very cool on the inside. It looks very old with the plaster and paint peeling off the walls but here's the theatre, PACKED with people! Wende got us great seats.

We later went to the movie theatre side of BAM and saw True Grit together. There's a scene near the end that involve snakes. Now in the theatre, some member of the audience was terrified of snakes and flipped the hell out during that scene. Oh it was so funny. They cried in terror again when the girl character gets bit. This is why I like going to movie theatres, hahahahaaa!

The next day, I went out to explore Manhattan on my own. Bj was going to meet me at a place called Porchetta for lunch. And lost I got! I thought I was heading north but in lower manhattan, below Houston I believe, the streets and avenues are not numbered. I ended up walking south through Chinatown almost to the trade towers when I figured out my internal compass. I could've hopped onto a subway train to get to Porchetta real quick but I wanted to walk, man!! So I walked 40 min in the correct direction and found the restaurant.

I had some extra time and hung out at Washington Sq. Park and Tompkins Sq. Park. Talked to a random stranger about my hat, people liked my hat, and the weather. I can see how people would think, in the above photo, that it looks like this snowman is climbing a tree, but I'm very content with my first thought of a snowman flying into a tree.

 

Went to Porchetta and talked to the dude behind the counter while I waited for Bj. I forgot what we talked about...prolly weather related. Told him I was visiting from Chicago, talked about the weather there. Some of the museums and galleries too. My Aunt and I shared a porchetta plate and some lasagna. Oh OH! The porchetta is sooo good. The meat is juicy, tender and flavorful and the crunchy skin is so rich!

My mouth is watering. Where can I get porchetta in Chicago??

The lasagna was so good, rich and cheesey. Bj was worried we couldn't finish the two plates of food, HAH.

After that, the two of us walked over to the Tenament Museum. We took the Getting By Tour. We toured two apartments, one from the 1870's and the other from the 1930's. Lucky us, we got a private tour!! It was so awesome. So the Tenament was built in the 1860's when NYC had a budding immigrant population. The tenanment back then didn't have electricity, water, gas or heat! There were outhouses behind the building with a faucet nearby. The story of the 1870's tenant was great, I'm not gonna give it away!
When we learned about the 1930's tenant, the building had water, electricity and gas for heat.
It was a great tour because our guide asked us questions about what the families did back then. We also discussed the cycle of problems (a big one being discrimination) and the gov't increasing role in immigration.

If you ever go to NYC you have to have to have to have to go to the Tenament Museum!
That evening, we met up with Wende to see the movie, The Illusionist. Same animator who did The Triplets of Belville. If you haven't seen Illusionist, it's real good. Kinda sad, but good! If you haven't seen Triplets, GO SEE IT NAO! both of 'em!

Um, what day is it? OH well! Went to Pratt to check out their printshop. I tried getting a guided tour but I didn't want to wait two hours, BLAH! Good thing I don't look like a Pedobear, I just walked right into the buildings and looked around. Their printshop is in a basement underneath some sciencey buildings. There's a dank basementy coolishness about this shop, but I must be spoiled by the high ceilings at NIU's shop.

Then took a trip to Manhattan to the International Center of Photography. They had a real cool show of the Mexican Suitcase. I loved this photo: Spanish soldiers discussing things and there's a bear near them checking things out, not bothering anybody. I spent a long time there, so much cool stuff to see.
I walked over to the Lower East Side Printshop which isn't actually in lower east manhattan. Used to be! Couldn't actually tour the place but I got to peak in to the windows and ask the secretary about residencies and internships. Tried to find some other printshops but ran out of time and had to head back home.

I believe this was the evening that I went to Bj's choir rehearsal. I forgot the name of the church we went to but they had yellow ribbons with names of the soldier who have died in the current wars attached and hanging from the bars of the fence surrounding the church. There are a lot of ribbons.
The choir rehearsal was very cool. I sat out of sight and listened, doodled. It was really nice, and it was also interesting to hear the conductor bring it all together.

The next day I did what I was looking forward to doing ALL WEEK! Touring the galleries of Chelsea, Manhattan.

Two pieces from the awesome show at IPCNY. A must in Chelsea for any printmaker.

This played the notes of a heartbeat.

 

This piece is one of many made with money. I thought of Curtis. I think I had to dash out of there and didn't grab info on the artist, boo.

 

I had good reason to dash because I had to get ready to see an opera! Wende, the culture vulture got us tickets to see Nixon in China. Wende had seen this opera many years ago, and this is the first time Nixon is played at the Metropolitan Opera. Good reminiscing for her. It's a very talky play and it had funny moments too! I especially liked the ballet dancing.

 

Good trip! As I said, I did so much I'm having a hard time getting every day and detail straight. It was a great, great time, and one thing is certain: I have to come back again!

 

-Kim