Near and far: My work on the East and West Coasts

My recent artist book, you + i, on display with a few of the other books in MIMB III at this year's SGCI conference in San Francisco.  Photo credit: Lari R. Gibbons

Photo credit: Lari R. Gibbons

I wasn't at this year's Southern Graphics Council International conference, one of the major printmaking conferences in the U.S., but my artwork made it to San Francisco!

My recent artist book, you + i,  is one of 100 books in the Monumental Ideas in Miniature Books III traveling exhibition and was on display in San Francisco for the duration of the conference.

I started the book last July at Penland School of Crafts and finally finished the entire edition of 25 about two months ago. It was a labor of love that morphed and changed in every step of creation and it was also the first artist book I created using my new-ish letterpress. I am happy with the final result and also happy that it is complete.

An illustration by Thomas Thorspecken, an Orlando-based artist, of last month's Artists' Critique & Conversation at the Art & History Museums-Maitland (I'm the person on the right in a blue shirt taking notes). Photo credit: Thomas Thorspecken

During the time that MIMB III was in San Francisco, I was a participant at the Art & History Museums-Maitland's bi-monthly Artists' Critique and Conversation. Several artists showed their work for discussion by A&H Curator of Art, Rebecca Sexton-Larson, and Miami-based gallery owner, Mindy Solomon. Both panelists had excellent insights on all aspects of creating, selling and getting artwork out into the world, and I appreciated the honest feedback that Rebecca and Mindy gave to all of the participating artists. The critique helped me to pare down, sort and separate what I was trying to achieve in my work and also gave me the necessary reminder that I am on the right track in setting and reaching my artistic goals.

Thomas Thorspecken, an Orlando-based artist, attended the event and did a write up reviewing the night. You can often spot him at various events, tucked somewhere in the back, creating an illustration that captures the scene. He currently has a retrospective of his illustrations at Snap! Space inside the historic Cameo Theater near downtown Orlando and his website is fun to follow as he regularly posts new illustrations of "The City Beautiful". I always feel a sense of pride about Orlando when looking at his work and I hope those that don't live here see it too!

Since February and March were busy months for me in the art community, I'm looking forward to focused time back in the studio to start some new projects and problem solve some current ones. Wish me luck!