What's New In The Studio?...... Photo Blocks

Here it is mid-May and I am finally doing my first post of 2015! We all get in ruts from time to time, and the best way out of one is to try something new. Earlier in the year, I saw a couple of posts on Pinterest and Facebook of people transferring photos onto wood, and I was rather intrigued. After viewing several YouTube posts, I was both encouraged--it looked fairly easy and I really loved the effect--and discouraged--all of videos said you had to use laser prints and I print inkjet.

Being a stubborn Yankee, being told I CAN'T do something is a powerful motivator, so I decided to ignore the 'experts' and give it a go using some scrap wood and some misprinted photos that I couldn't sell but couldn't bear to throw away. A little experimentation and I was able to come up with a variety of effects that I really liked--no laser printer required.

©2015 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved - Fireside Bowl, Logan Square

photo transfer on wood, 5 3/8 inches x 6 7/8 inches x 3/4 in.

As with a lot of the techniques I employee in my artwork, there is an element of unpredictability that I really love. It's like Fate is your co-creator. There are areas of the photo that don't transfer at all and places where the ink is lighter or darker. The overall effect adds a handmade quality to a photograph, turning something that can be mass produced into something that is one of a kind. The print of the Fireside Bowl was created printing from a print on plain paper. Because the paper wasn't coated and was thinner than photo paper, the ink was prone to fading during the transfer process and uneven coverage in areas where the paper wrinkled or bubbled. This particular piece had a fairly hefty coating of transfer medium, which enhanced the wrinkles and bubbles, which I think adds to the vintage feel of the piece. You can see more of my Fireside Bowl shots and learn their backstory by clicking here

©2015 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved - Bicycles, Logan Square
photo transfer on cradled birch block, 5 inches x 7 inches x 1 in.

The photo of the bicycles was printed on a glossy photo paper, which made for a much more saturated transfer. This piece also had a fairly heavy coat of medium, which resulted in some uneven transfer, but again, I think it adds to the finished piece. As pleased as I was with the results, I wanted to have more control over how evenly I could apply pressure to the photo and the block. I ended up building a small press, which I will post about in the near future.

The photo of the magnolia is one of the most recent pieces and is a culmination of the different techniques. The block was coated with a color shifting interference paint that gives the lightest areas a glow that changes with the angle of the lighting.  For this piece, I used my press. Though there were still some areas of uneven coverage, the results were more consistent than with some of my earlier work. The current collection of photo blocks can be found on my website by clicking here

I've also added two collections of monoprints, but that's a story for the next blog post. Stay tuned!

2013 Glenwood Avenue Art Fest......Only A Week Away!

Thankfully, art has been occupying a healthy portion of my time lately.  I am doing two art fairs this year and the first is only a week away!  The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest is one of my favorite Chicago Street Fairs.  The Art Fest is easily accessible via the CTA Red Line (Morse Stop) and features three separate performance stages plus more than 100 artists and vendors. The Fest is August 17th and 18th and more info can be found here.

The week before is always hectic, finishing and touching up paintings. In addition to original paintings, I will also be offering photographs and cards, including photos featured in previous blog posts:  "I Didn't Find Any Eggs...But I Did Find This Gem!" and "The Baha'i Temple In Wilmette...An Architectural Treasure"

Art Deco Bowling Alley, Logan Square Neighborhood

(c)2013 Eric E. Paige

Baha'i Temple, Wilmette, Illinois

(c)2013 Eric E. Paige

I am rarely without my camera, so be sure to check here and my photography site for new additions.  My recent photo essay of Millennium Park can be found here.

Bridgeway Connecting Millenium Park to the 

Art Institute of Chicago (c)2013 Eric E. Paige

Lurie Garden, Millennium Park

(c)2013 Eric E. Paige

Well, it's back to work for me.  I have five paintings I am working on and hope to have them all completed in time for the Art Fest.

"Grove Series" in progress. (c)2013 Eric E. Paige

If you can't make this fair (or even if you can), I will also be exhibiting at The Edgewater Fall Art Fair on September 28th and 29th. Details here. You can also view my painting website.

Have a great day!

The Baha'i Temple in Wilmette......An Archtitectural Treasure

A short post tonight. I have had a little writer's block the past couple of days. April is one of my favorite months in Illinois, as Spring seems to finally give Winter the boot.  I belong to a bicycling club that each April has an annual brunch, followed by a ride out to The Chicago Botanic Garden.  Last year I went to the brunch but was unable to ride (my bicycle was making a rubbing sound and no matter what adjustments I made to the brakes, the problem persisted).   The weather was on the cold and windy side, so a few others had decided not to ride, but we did decide to walk down to The Baha'i Temple, which is just down the road from the hosts of our brunch.

Baha'i Temple (c) 2013 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

It turned out that the congregation was celebrating the centennial of the groundbreaking for the Temple, so we had access to their property across the street, a beautiful spot on the shore of Lake Michigan that was formerly the studio of the Temple's architect, Louis Bourgeois.  They had a tent set up with an exhibit about the landscape plan and were even serving tea and cookies, a much appreciated treat on a cold day!

This building, across the street from the Temple,
is normally not open to the public.
(c) 2012  Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

Lake front view from the Baha'i Temple property
(c) 2012 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

The Temple is covered with elegant carvings of symbols from various world religions and is surrounded by beautiful gardens with fountains.  The Illinois Tourism Office calls it one of the 'Seven Wonders of Illinois'.  You can learn more about the temple by clicking here.

Baha'i Temple Detail (c) 2012 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

You can enjoy the rest of my photos of The Baha'i Temple and its grounds, including some rarely seen views of the property across the street, by following this link.

The Yoga Geese Are Gone ......And Other Signs of Spring.

People here in Chicago have been a bit thermometer obsessed lately. The calendar says it's Spring, but the thermometer makes one wonder. The unseasonably cold temperatures have been even more discouraging as we remember the spate of 80 degree days we had last Spring. However, despite the fact that I am still wearing my heavy, winter coat, there are signs that Spring is here.

A few weeks ago I happened upon a small group of geese, which I nicknamed the 'Yoga Geese' because one of them was standing on one leg, reminding me of the 'Tree Pose' in yoga. I have to say, I was impressed with the goose's ability to maintain the pose, especially in the midst of falling snow!

Tree Pose
(c) 2012 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

The following week it looked like the other geese had gotten into the act, doing variations of 'Cobra', 'Downward Dog', and poses that I couldn't even identify, let alone attempt.

Cobra
(c) 2013 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

Yoga Goose
(c) 2013 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

Downward Dog
(c) 2013 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

Last week, I couldn't wait to see what poses my avian friends would be practicing, but they were no longer on the ground. They were flying high over head as part of a much larger flock. The Spring Migration had begun, and this week there was not a goose to be seen on the ground or in the sky.

There are other signs of Spring as well. If you look around, the buds are swelling on some of the trees and the other day I saw a squirrel digging up part of it's winter stash (and boy did I get glared at -- don't worry Mr. Squirrel, despite my love for unusual foods, acorns are not on my list!). The sun is rising a little earlier and setting a little later each day. If geese, squirrels, and longer days aren't enough to convince you, here is a picture I took on the first day of Spring. These hardy flowers knew, despite temps below freezing, Spring had arrived, and it was their time to blossom.

Crocuses
(c) 2013 Eric E. Paige, All Rights Reserved

It can be hard to get into the 'Spring of things' with the weather being so cold, but if bird, squirrels, and crocuses can do it, then so can we! If your still having trouble, I have uploaded some of my favorite photos from last year's protracted summer to my photography gallery. Go to www.EricEPaige.com, select 'Works' and then click the link in the Photography Gallery (plenty of summery artwork in the painting galleries, too!)