At the El Yunque Rainforest last month I was able to cut my wood block for the Baren print exchange. It was a perfect way to demonstrate how woodcuts evolve, making the tourists realize just how complex a relief print can be, so unlike computer generated art today. When I return from my New Mexico stay, I'll be printing this using a lovely beige handmade paper with black ink and gold powder... very elegant for a change!

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El mes pasado en El Bosque Lluvial de El Yunque pude cortar la madera para el intercambio de grabados Baren. Fue el modo perfecto de demostrar como se hacen grabados, haciendo mas sabios a los turistas sobre la manera enrededada de un grabado en relieve, tan diferente del arte generado en la computadora hoy dia. Cuando regreso de mi estancia en Nuevo Mejico, sacare grabados usando un lindo papel hecho a mano color beige con tinta negra y polvo de oro... muy elegante para variar!

The monthly eBay Nibblefest Art Contest is on again. My entry this month is a rather unlovely 'Iguana' watercolor with an acrylic background... I guess it is properly a 'mixed media' piece. I don't expect many bidders, as this month's 'reptile' theme is not your average cup of tea. But he will go to an 'aficionado' of the cold blooded animal world who will happily give him a home.

Nibblefest rules are that each artist put up one piece which follows the theme ('reptile' this month) and be available for auction at the rock bottom starting price of 99 cents. Last month's piece went to a lovely person in Florida...

"Baby Leatherback" ~~ "Bebe Tinglar"
Linocut ~~ 2008
Size/Tamano: 4.5"x4" ~~ 12 cm x 10 cm

The Sierra Club is a sponsor of the Festival del Tinglar in Luquillo at the end of April. It is in celebration of the new ecological nature preserves along the northeast of Puerto Rico where the turtles hatch. Our group from the monthly El Yunque art exhibit will have a booth. I'm not sure art is really a hot seller at this event. There will be a parade (children in turtle costumes), food, and artisans. I wanted to have something for the children... so I came up with this little baby leatherback. In situations like this I have two prices. For adults, they pay full price. If they are accompanied by a child, they only pay $2.00. It always gets some smiles but they also buy.

Purchase here.

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El Sierra Club es patrocinador de la Festival del Tinglar en Luquillo los fines de abril. Se celebra la nueva reserva natural del corredor ecologico del noreste de Puerto Rico donde crian las tortugas. Nuestro grupo de la exhibicion de arte mensual en El Yunque tendra un puesto. No estoy seguro de que el arte sera en demanda en este evento. Habra un desfile (ninos vestidos de tortugas), comida, y artesanos. Queria tener algo para los ninos... por eso hize este tortuga bebe. En casos como estos tengo dos precios. Para los adultos, pagan el precio regular. Si estan acompanados de un nino, pagan solo $2.00. Siempre se rien pero tambien compran.

De venta aqui.

Dolls have never been my thing. The only doll I remember playing with when I was young was Bonny Braids, baby daughter of Dick Tracy and Tess Truehart, given to me by Santa. Most of the time I played outside with my friends.
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A mi nunca me gustaron mucho los munecos. De nina recuerdo jugando con solo uno, Bonny Braids, hijita de los caracteres Dick Tracy y Tess Truehart del Los Angeles Times dijujos dominicales, un regalo de Santa Claus. La mayoria del tiempo jugaba afuera con mis amigos.


So imagine my dilemma when I had to come up with a doll for a recent women's exhibition. How could I relate to this?
Then I recalled I loved drawing paper dolls, especially designing new clothes using crayons, pencils and scissors... and the creative juices started.
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Entonces pueden imaginar mi dilema cuando tenia que presentar un muneco para una exhibicion recien. Como pude relacionarme con esto? De repente recorde que me encantaba jugar con los munecos de papel, especialmente disenandoles ropa nueva con crayolas, lapices, y tijeras... y la creatividad empezo.


I am, after all, an artist who works with paper, I have ratty proofs all over the studio, and I tend to wear black a lot to hide my ink stains! So here you have my 'doll' for the doll exhibit at the annual Women's Show in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
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De todos modos soy una artista que trabaja con paper, tengo pruebas de grabados fallados por todo el estudio, y tiendo a llevar el negro mucho para esconder las manchas de tinta. Entonces, aqui tienen a mi 'muneco' para la Exhibicion Annual del Mujer en Humacao, Puerto Rico.

'The Griffin' ~~ 'El grifo'
Woodcut ~~ 2008 ~~ Grabado en madera
Edition/Edicion: 40
Size/Tamano: 5"x6.5" ~~ 12.5 cm x 16.5 cm
Ink/Tinta: Oil-based relief ~~ Oleo para relieve

This print was my entry in a recent 2008 international solstice print exchange, the theme being mythology. It's done with burnt umber ink on white rice paper and then dry gold pigment brushed small areas. This was applied right after pulling the print so the dry gold powder adhered nicely to the tacky ink.

Available here.

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Este grabado fue mi contribucion a un intercambio internacional de grabados del solsticio, el tema siendo mitologia. Fue hecho con una tinta umber bien oscuro en papel (arroz) blanco y entonces puse en ciertas partes un pigmento de oro en polvo con un pincel. Lo aplique inmediatamente despues de sacar el grabado para que el polvo adhere bien a la tinta viscosa.

De venta aqui.

'This Little Pig...' ~~ 'Este cerdito...'
Woodcut ~~ Grabado de madera
2008 ~~ Edition/Edicion: 100
Size/Tamano: 4.5" x4"~~12 cmX10 cm
Paper/Papel: Sumi rice paper
Ink/Tinta: Oil-based relief ~~ Tinta oleo para relieve

This image was created to celebrate the Chinese astrological Year of the Boar (or Pig) in 2007. I was charmed by this little pot-bellied pig and kept thinking of the Mother Goose rhyme mothers sing to their toddlers while enticing them to put on their shoes and socks, tickling their toes ...

This little pig went to market.
This little pig stayed home.
This little pig had roast beef.
This little pig had none.
And this little pig went
'whee, whee, whee' all the way home.

Available here.

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Este imagen fue creado para celebrar el ano astrologico chino del chancho (o cerdo) en 2007. Me encanto este cerdito y me hizo pensar en la rima de la famosa Mother Goose que las madres cantan a sus hijitos mientras ponen los calcetines y zapatos, cosquillando los dedos del pie ...

Este cerdito se fue al mercado.
Este cerdito se quedo en casa.
Este cerdito comio carne asado.
Este cerdito no tenia nada.
Y este cerdito se fue
'ui, ui, ui' todo el viaje a casa.

De venta aqui.

'A Western Chinese New Year'
Linocut ~~ Edition/Edicion: 50
9"x7" ~~ 23 cm x 18 cm

This print was made for a Wet Canvas printmaking exchange. The theme was the Chinese New Year. Being somewhat tired of the more traditional animals, I decided to make a print with a 'southwestern' flavor. Unfortunately, I was unable to find anything in the American Southwest that would work for 'monkey' so borrowed the Central American spider monkey. So the animals are: field mouse (rat), roadrunner (rooster), coyote (dog) javelina (pig), lizard (dragon), rattlesnake (snake), mustang (horse), bighorn sheep (sheep), spider monkey (monkey), longhorn bull (ox) puma (tiger), and jackrabbit (hare).

Available here.

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Este grabado fue hecho para un intercambio de grabados en Wet Canvas. El tema era el Ano Nuevo Chino. Un poco cansada de los animales mas tradicionales, decidi hacer mi grabado con sabor del sudoeste. Desgraciadamente no podia encontrar nada adecuado para 'mono' ... por eso use el mono arana centroamericano. Entonces los animales son: raton (rata), correcamino (gallo), coyote (perro), javelina (jabali), legarto (dragon), serpiente de cascabel (culebra), mustango (caballo), carnero (carnero), mono arana (mono), ganado longhorn (buey), puma (tigre), y liebre grande norteamericano (conejo).

De venta aqui.

The Nibblefest Art Contest on eBay is held every month. My entry this month is 'El Jardin' ('The Garden') which a lot of you have already seen. Nibblefest rules are that each artist put up one piece which follows the theme ('secret garden' this month) and be available for auction at a starting price of 99 cents. Last month's piece went to an artist friend from WetCanvas.com. I'm hoping this month's entry goes to some as yet unknown printmaker out there...

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Cada mes en eBay hay un concurso llamado 'Nibblefest Art Contest.' La entrada mia para este mes es 'El Jardin' la que muchos la han visto. Las reglas para Nibblefest son las siguientes: la pieza tiene que ser del tema mensual ('jardin secreto' esta mes), ofrecido en subasta con un precio inicial de 99 centavos (US$). La entrada mia del mes pasado fue ganado por una artista amiga mia de WetCanvas.com. Ojala que la entrada de este mes va a un artista de grabados desconocido por alla...

'Hollyhock' ~~ 'Malva Loca'
Oil on panel ~~ Oleo en panel
7" x 5" ~~ 18cm x 12.5cm

On a recent trip to Albuquerque, I took my camera on my morning walk with my mother. Some of you may recall the photograph I posted here last year. I loved the image so much, I decided to do repeat it in oil, with some judicious editting allowed with a brush but not a lens.

This painting will hang in a women's show next week at the Centro de Arte in Humacao. More details later...

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En un viaje recien a Albuquerque, tome mi camera en el paseo matutino con mi madre. Algunos de vosotros quisas requerden el foto que puse aqui el ano pasado. Me encanto tanto el imagen que decidi repetirlo en oleo... claro con redaciones permitido con un pincel pero no con el lente.

Esta pintura colgara en una exhibicion de mujeres la semana entrante en el Centro de Arte en Humacao. Mas detalles mas tarde...

I was very pleased to receive awards in the printmaking category at the recent 9th Annual Juried East End Art Guild exhibition. The show will continue to hang at the Centro de Arte Lito Pena in downtown Humacao (Puerto Rico) through March 15th, 2008. Below are 1st Place 'Bamboo' (monotype), 2nd Place 'Pineapple' (monoprint) and 3rd Place 'Rainforest' (woodcut).

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Estoy tan orgullosa de estar premiada en la categoria de Grabados en la 9a Exhibicion Anual por Jurado del Gremio Artistico del Este. La exhibicion continuara en el Centro de Arte Lito Pena en Humacao (Puerto Rico) hasta el 15 de marzo de 2008. Abajo estan el 1o premio 'Bamboo' (monotypo), el 2do premio 'Pina' (monoprint) y el 3o premio 'Rainforest' (grabado en madera) .

Robert Liberace is a fabulous artist and a wonderful, generous instructor. Last month we had him down here in Puerto Rico for a 5-day figurative painting workshop. It has been years since I've painted seriously in oils, having spent so much time these last few years with my printmaking.

Day One was a morning demo by Rob and an afternoon session where we worked blocking in shadows and trying to forget about the shapes hidden by shadows. Definitely a challenge!


Robert Liberace es un artista fabuloso y un instructor genial y generoso. El mes pasado estaba aqui para una semana de pintura figurativa. Ha sido anos que no pinto en oleo seriamente como estoy haciendo grabados casi exclusivamente esos dias.

Dia Uno teniamos una demonstracion por Rob y por la tarde pintabamos usando el concepto tener las sombras como una sola forma sin pensar en los detalles dentro de esas mismas sombras. Dificil en el maximo!

Day 2 was another demo by Rob and an afternoon session where we got a little more detailed but still thinking in terms of shapes and not details.



Dia Dos tuvimos otra demonstracion por Rob y por la tarde pintabamos con mas detalle pero todavia pensando en terminos de formas y no detalles.






Wednesday was my 'crying' day. Again we had a demo and then got to spend the afternoon with the face... ARRGGG!!! This face was painted and wiped off all afternoon long. I was ready to give away my brushes and get back to my beloved knives. What a frustrating day!!!


Miercoles era mi dia de 'lagrimas'. Otra vez una demo y luego pasabamos la tarde con la cara... PUCHICA!!! Esta cara fue pintada y quitada toda la tarde. Estaba con deseos de regalar mis pinceles y regresar a mis navajas queridas de grabado. Que dia tan frustrante!!!

The last two days there was no demo. Instead we had the same model and did an intensive study. Rob painted along with us so I spent most of my time wandering between my easel and his, absorbing his 'how' of doing and trying to incorporate it into my piece.


Los dos ultimos dias no habia una demo. En cambio tuvimos al mismo model y hicimos un estudio intensivo. Rob pintaba al lado de nosotros... entonces pase la mayoria del tiempo andando entre mi caballete y el suyo, absorbiendo el 'como' de hacerlo de Rob y tratando de incorporarlo en la pieza mia.

Gustave Baumann has long been one of my favorite printmakers. While in Santa Fe early this month I took advantage of a modest exhibition of his work at the New Mexico Museum of Art. It was thrilling to see his plates, prints, and marionettes. Though I was disappointed that it was a small showing (only one room), it is well worth the visit the next time you are in Santa Fe. It will run through September 2010.

I had planned to spend time walking our famous Canyon Road later that day, enjoying all the galleries, but the wind was bitter, too cold for one unaccustomed to northern winter weather. Perhaps the next time...

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Gustave Baumann ha sido uno de mis artistas predilectos por much tiempo. Mientras estuve en Santa Fe este mes tenia la oportunidad de ver una exhibicion pequena de sus obras en el Museo de Arte de Nuevo Mejico. Fue tremendo ver las placas, grabados, y marionetas. Aunque senti frustracion por el tamano de la exhibicion (solo una sala) vale la pena verla la proxima vez que visiten a Santa Fe. Durara hasta el septiembre de 2010.

Tenia buenas intenciones de caminar por el famoso Canyon Road gozandome de todas las galerias pero el viento era feroz, demasiado frio para gente como yo no acostumbrada a la temporada de invierno del norte. Quizas la proxima vez...

I revisited my models, the Canadian geese that live through the winter at the Rio Grande Nature Center. Driving around in the North Valley of Albuquerque and the adjoining village of Corrales, you can see huge flocks of these birds settled in fields full of the remains of hay and alfalfa. They will be here until spring when they head north again to Canada... very handsome birds which I will need to use for another woodcut.

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Visite mis modelos, los Gansos Canadienses, que viven durante el invierno alrededor del Centro de Naturaleza del Rio Grande. Andando por el Valle del Norte de Albuquerque y el pueblito contiguo de Corrales se ve bandadas enormes de estos pajaros poblando el campo lleno de los restos de heno y alfalfa. Quedaran aqui hasta la primavera cuando regresaran al norte a Canada... unos pajaros hermosos los cuales tendre que usar una vez mas como modelos para otro grabado en madera.

I spent December and the first part of January in my home state of New Mexico. Though I had planned to do some art, somehow family pleasantly got in the way. Living so far away, these visits are a welcome renewal of my connections.

Here is the church on the plaza in Albuquerque's Old Town, San Felipe de Neri Church. Founded in 1793, it is the oldest surviving building in the city.

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Pase todo diciembre y el primer parte de enero en mi estado de Nuevo Mexico. Aunque pense en hacer algo de arte, de una manera o otra asuntos placenteros de familia me destraian. Viviendo tan alejada, esas visitas renuevan mis conecciones.

Aqui les tiene la iglesia en la plaza del parte historico de Albuquerque, la Iglesia de San Felipe de Neri. Fundada en 1793, es el edificio mas viejo en el ciudad que nos queda.

This is the first time I've entered a print in eBay's monthly Nibblefest Art Contest. It seemed like a fun thing to do and I already have two bids... a nice way to get a linocut for a bargain price... A good artist friend, Lynette Clay, was the lucky bidder.

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Es la primera vez que ofrezco un grabado en el concurso mensual Nibblefest de eBay. Me parecia un buen idea y, hasta ahora, tengo dos ofertas... modo bueno de conseguir un grabado en linoleo a precio de ganga! Una amiga, Lynette Clay, que tambien es artista lo gano.

'Canadian Goose' / 'Ganso Canadiense'
Woodcut / Grabado de madera
Artist's Proof / Prueba de artista
6" x 4" / 15cm x 10cm

Early last spring I took photographs of Canadian geese at Tingley Beach park in Albuquerque. I knew I wanted to do a woodcut but couldn't think of how to use it. The WetCanvas.com Printmaking Forum had a Christmas card print exchange and I finally came up with an idea. Using the old 'Christmas is Coming' song as text, I printed on holiday wrapping tissue, cropped it and pasted it onto heavy card stock. Below are some of them ...

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En la primavera pasado tome fotos de gansos canadienses en el parque Tingley Beach en Albuquerque. Sabia que queria hacer un grabado en madera pero no podia imaginar como incorporarlo. El foro de grabado de WetCanvas.com tenia un intercambio de grabados Navidenos y al fin tenia un idea. Usando el viejo canto ingles 'Christmas is Coming' ('Viene Navidad'), use papel de seda navideno para imprentar, luego lo corte y pegue en papel cartulino. Aqui estan algunos ...

"La Garita de San Juan" 1/1
Monotype - Ghost woodcut with watercolor /
Monotipo - Grabado de madera 'ghost' con acuarela

For sale here/De venta aqui

'Coqui' 1/1
Monotype with woodcut frog/
Monotipo con grabado de madera de coqui
Size: 3"x5" / Tamano: 8cm x 13 cm

The coqui is a little Puerto Rican frog which sings as soon as the sun goes down or whenever it begins to rain. Thousands sing at night and most visitors mistake their chirping for tropical bird calls.

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El Coqui es un sapo chiquito de Puerto Rico que que canta al nochecer or cuando empieza a llover. Miles cantan por la noche y muchos visitantes a la isla piensan que el el canto de pajaros tropicales.

To purchase/Para comprar

'Fall' ~~~ 'Otono'
Woodcut ~~~ Grabado en madera
Image size 6"x8" ~~~ Tamano 15cm X 20cm
Ink/tinta: Daniel Smith oil relief ink
Paper/papel: Natural mulberry


Four Oceans Press is sponsoring a Fall theme print exchange. In planning the image, thoughts of falling leaves, Harvest moons, and geese flying south for the winter all came to mind... helped in no small part by our recent Vermont foliage vacation.

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Four Oceans Press esta patrocinando un intercambio de grabados con el tema del otono. En planear la imagen los pensamientos de la caida de las hojas, plenilunas, y gansos volando hacia el sur para el invierno surgieron a mi mente ... ayudado seguramente por nuestra vacacion reciente a Vermont para el follaje.

I am over the moon!!! I recently entered several of my prints in the only yearly juried show here in Puerto Rico and seven were accepted!!! Because the competition is pretty much the more traditional paintings (oils, watercolors, pastels) and sculpture, I'd not entered my prints before, feeling they may not hold up well. It turns out that all three jurors are artist professors at the Universidad Sagrado Corazon which has a very strong printmaking program and are very receptive to printmaking! Two woodcuts, one linocut, two monotypes, and two monoprints ... now to frame them appropriately for the show in February 2008.

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Estoy sumamente feliz!!! Recientamente entre varios grabados mios en la exhibicion anual jurada, la unica de este tipo en Puerto Rico, y siete grabados fueron elegidos! A causa de que la competicion usual es de pinturas (oleos, acuarelas, pastel) y escultura, nunca presente mis grabados antes, pensando que no valdrian. Resulta de que los jueces son artistas profesoras en la Universidad Sagrado Corazon, la cual tiene un programa de arte de grabados muy intensivo. Las tres fueron muy receptivas al grabado! Dos grabados de madera, un linocut, dos monotipos y dos monoprints ... ahora a enmarcarlos bien para la exhibicion en enero de 2008.