lost and found

My paints. In my studio, under something (big surprise there). So this afternoon, I went to work experimenting. On Monday, after the car ate my homework I took the substitute plate to class. That assignment had been to make a plate with fabric. I used silk, linen, ribbon, batting, and shelf liner (does rubber count as fabric?) What a pain, trying to get the stuff to stick. Instead of doing something abstract, I decided to see if I could do a familiar scene. I hated this print so much that I threw it in the trash. Then the teacher insisted I rescue it and overprint it with black. I still hate it, but not quite as much. Nevertheless, I added some layers to the plate today: silver tape, drywall tape, sequin waste. and printed a few more. I like this one the best. It's on gray paper and I think all that stuff I added gives it more texture and depth. But my friend Mona, who is a printmaker and teaches at Pratt, thought the first one was stronger. I have already begun to remove some of the additional stuff from this plate and will print again tomorrow. Honestly, surface design is easier. But I love the challenge of learning to work with new tools. On another subject, the local newspaper is doing a story on me because I have artwork in the show at the Carol Simon Cancer Center. They're sending a photographer tomorrow morning who wants to take a picture of quilts on my wall. So I have to get up early and find a wall to hang something because none of my work hangs in the house, except in the guest room. Never a dull...