Toad, not frog
Final print, “Jambons (Hams)” 9in x 6in, 5-color lithograph (polyester plate litho). CLICK TO ENLARGE
This year at Frogman’s printmaking workshops I’m taking polyester plate lithography with one of my alltime favorite artists: Katherine Polk and Andy Polk. They are great instructors too!
JULY 9: Today I got the keyline color (black) down in a small edition of 10. With this process, the Polks print the black or dark color keyline first.
Tomorrow we start adding color in transparent layers over the black. Very exciting.
All the other colors are primarily a transparent tint base with just a smidgeon of color added. It’s like painting watercolors or dyes over an ink drawing. The effect is translucent, rich, glowing color. It can be magical.
JULY 11: Here are some of the steps below, in order of printing:
Jabons prints drying on rack, first layer of ink: black.
Color 2: salmon.
Color 3: slightly green cyan.
Color 4: subtle cream-colored overlay (over whole sheet of paper), to sort of antique the image.
Color 5: Golden orange-yellow layer added to hog/platter/ham section of print.
Frogman’s…
…is not just printmaking. They have lectures, artists’ talks, museum/gallery walk, karaoke, bowling, open portfolio…all scheduled on different days/eves. Basically, it’s nonstop printmaking by day and night, with social events most eves.
The other night, after midnight, coming home from bowling, I chanced upon this little critter:
Someone told me this is a Buffo toad.
And here we are, at the bowling alley/bar near the dorm where we stay…. For bowling, your team has to wear a costume. You’re limited to $5 per costume, and so, many folks head to the local thrift shop to find their costumes. We happened upon plastic flower pots and creepy little rubber human heads, which of course gave us the team name of Pot Heads. Green lace and string for capes…
Meet Team Pothead.
And a close-up of our awesome hats:
