Little Owl Children's Fair

How could I say no to this adorable poster for The Little Owl Children's Fair ??!! 

 

Emmy MacMillan, has run the Design Owl Fair for the past few years and this is the first time she has put together this one dedicated to little ones. Local crafters "big & small' are selling their handmade products and I will be teaming up with Jen Paquet of Feather & Bone Photography to do a Book Making Demo for kids/teens… so come down & support your local crafters! There are also other demos going on throughout the day. We're up at 12:30pm !! 

 

Here's a sneak peek at our demo -> 

For our demo, we'll have the kids sew a simple pamphlet stitch book that they can turn into a photo album or journal… and those colourful covers were made by Jen & I, using the ancient technique of Paper Marbling. 
 

  

MORE KIDS PROGRAMS: 'PD' or 'Pre-Digital' Days 


If you are not able to make it down on Saturday >>> Check out our PD or 'Pre-Digital' Class on Paper Marbling. Jen and I will be running the workshop Friday May-16 (the last PD Day of the year!!) The AM session is for 8-12 years old and the PM class for 13-16 years. Everyone will be able to try their hand at paper marbling and then just like the demo, bookmaking!

* Also watch out for our Kids Summer Program Schedule to be announced VERY soon !!!
 

As in the past, our classes for kids/teens focus on analogue technology; from toy cameras to printmaking - you'll kids will love working with their hands to make books, processing film even trying out the etching press !! The children's programs are especially important to me, as I see first hand how my daughter thrives from working alongside her parents and participating with other adults at the studio. Creating Art allows for kids to practice visualization, problem solving skills and they get to feel the pride that comes from completing a task with their own hands. Plus you usually get to get messy along the way!! 

Let us know if you are interested in learning more about  -> NOTIFY ME ! 

* the PD Day: "Paper Marbling + Book Making Workshop is already open for registration! 


In the meantime, circle Saturday April-26, 2014 on your calendars & join us at the
Little Owl Children's Fair in Fernwood. 

 

Diana 

 

Project Semetko: A Long Distance Relationship

Long distance relationships can work!

Craig lives in LA, I live in Victoria... so there's been many many MANY texts, emails and Skype calls between us…It was a bit rocky at the beginning, especially working under a tight deadline (and a few technical glitches, on my end) but, I had faith it would work and now I'm packing. My only wish I could be hand-delivering these gravure prints to Craig this week in LA !! Hope he is as happy as I am ;) 

It was a big honour to be asked to print one image from Craig Semetko's new body of work INDIA UNPOSED as a polymer gravure print ! This gravure print will be included as part of the special collector's edition of the book being released this week. Craig has put together one hundred L.E copies available as a cloth bound book, encased in a custom clam shell case with two original prints from the series. The trade edition will be available soon too.
 


If you do not know what a photopolymer gravure print is…let me give you a brief description.

Unlike traditional gravure copperplate etchings, polymer gravure does not use any acids or grounds to etch the surface of the plate. A polymer plate is exposed to UV and water to create the etched plate. But then, just as you do with a copper plate, the polymer plate is inked and put through an etching press to create a print. I like the polymer process as it is considered nontoxic but the results are truly remarkable. 

This image was printed on the Hahnemühle "Copperplate Etching" paper. The plate is hand inked, with a custom blend created specifically for Craig's image, and wiped before it is run under the heavy drum of the etching press. This process is repeated for every print, making each of the 100 prints slightly different or unique! 
 


If you are in Los Angeles the exhibition UNPOSED AND UNSEEN opens Thursday, April-17 at the new Leica Gallery - Los Angeles, until May-25, 2014. There will be copies on hand to view (and buy!). Then Craig's schedule continues to build as he is part of Paris Photo LA and then I hear he is off to Germany as part of the ingural gallery exhibition at the new Leica Factory.  

Congrats Craig....it's been great working with you!
- here's to a successful opening, wish there wasn't as many miles between us !!

Diana  

 *VIEW MORE WORK FROM CRAIG 


If you have question on photo polymer gravure - please contact the studio 
* And I'll write more on the process in a future post !

Saturday in the studio....

Great day learning how to make our first case bound books ....thanks to our small but enthusiastic group (due to the flu :(  

There were some bright looking books that came out in the end. I think we all need to work on nipping our corners in a bit more but not bad for everyone's first book ! * And big thanks to our little co-teacher, Molly B (great hat, by the way...)  

LEARN HOW TO MAKE A HARD COVER BOOK 
with Quinton Gordon - Sat April-12 

gosh, I love making books !!! 

 !! have a great weekend everyone !!