MICHAEL GRAVES EXHIBIT - THE PAST AS PROLOGUE

The Michael Graves Exhibition at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ celebrates 50 years of Mr. Graves' architectural work and design. The show is complete and takes us through his beginning years as a young architectural student who had won the prestigious Prix de Roma award.  With this fellowship he travelled through Greece, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain recording the great classical monuments in his sketchbook.  Of particular note, are the large, ink &

wash cathedral drawings on the first floor.  The classical influence is evident in the rooms containing his building designs from Disney to the redesign of the Newark Museum and its addition.  Even though I became obsessed with Michael Graves' classical,  geometric  design interior of the dining area in the Newark Museum, I love his functional pieces.  The second floor of the exhibit details his home design and furniture, dinnerware and working drawings.    His beautiful, Alessi silver tea service is featured, along with his complete desk set (like a small city within itself),  and the charming  teapot with whistling bird.   The exhibit will be on view until April 2015, it is inspirational and extensive.  The working drawings are important to see, all hand-generated, not computer!

Ancestors' Day

DANDELIONS ON GOLD - Silkscreen Fabric

BLUE FAIRY - Repeat Pattern in Kona Cotton

FLYING FISH FABRIC IN KONA COTTON

HOME OF ANNA SEWELL, GREAT YARMOUTH, ENGLAND

ELIZABETHAN DRESS

COMPUTER CASE, Fleece lined.

Computer case, fleece lined with zipper closure.  Decorated with antique crocheted lace and sequins.

RED BANK Border Fabric in Combed Cotton

BROWN VELVET HANDBAG

Antique brown velvet handbag with gold cording and mirrored embellishment front and back.  Gold slipper satin interior with button closure.

LITTLE FOX HANDBAG

Illustrated handbag with combed cotton front panel and dark green upholstery fabric reverse.  Gold satin slipper interior, pearl button closure.

LITTLE DRAGON- Silky Faille & Combed Cotton

VIOLETS EVERYWHERE SPRING HANDBAG

SUNFLOWER FABRIC IN SILKY FAILLE

ALOHA SILKSCREEN IN KONA COTTON

THE NEW FAMILY TREE - SILKSCREEN METHOD WITH RUBYLITH

I  decided that I needed a newer family tree with more spaces in which to write important information and update the look a bit.   The paper size is a full sheet of Lenox Printmaking Paper, 100 per cent
rag, 30" x 40".
The silkscreen frame was made slightly under that size with heavy duty wood stretchers.  I stretched the polymesh over the frame and stapled the material along the edge of the wood.  The front of the screen was taped to keep the ink from seeping under when I am printing.  For this particular image, I used rubylith stencil over my original drawing and carefully cut with an xacto knife.  After finishing my rubylith, it was time to prepare my photo emulsion and prepare the screen.  I use Speedball photo emulsion with sensitizer.  This must be mixed in the dark and applied in a thin, smooth coat using the squeegee, also done in the dark.  I have a chest of drawers in the studio where I place each screen to dry, they are in the dark and it usually takes 24 hours for them to dry completely.  The next day I am ready to expose my image on the screen.  I use an overhead photo flood light and use a chart and timer for proper exposure times.  I place the rubylith stencil on top of the photo emulsion frame and expose it for the correct time, usually between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the size of the frame.
After the image has been exposed, I put the frame into a black garbage bag and take it to the sink to wash the image out.  Using warm water, I work quickly to wash the emulsion off of the screen.  Now it can be put into the light to dry, flat side down.  When the screen is dry, I fill in the light  (dust) screen filler so that they will not print.   Now it is time to ink the screen and print.  Since I am printing such a large surface, I will use mix my background color with an Speedball Extender Medium, it will thicken up the ink and make it smooth.  I put my full sheet of paper under the large silkscreen press and place a line of ink on the  of the screen and pull it through with my large squeegee.  The paper is hung to dry, usually 24 hours depending on the humidity.  The final printing of the tree image is done the next day.  The screen is placed on top of the paper with the background color, the ink is applied in a full line at the top and pulled through to the bottom, with steady pressure.  The final print is hung to dry and ready to be matted.

  Now that the screen is made, multiples of the same image can be created from it. 

CAREGIVERS' DAY OFF

Fred and I finally got away for a Saturday, driving west into the rainy spring afternoon.  We did some healthy grocery shopping at Terhune's Orchard and General Store.  Fred brought apple cider and apples and I found some parsnips, tomatoes,  and greenhouse lettuce, very fresh and farm grown.  We sat on the front porch with the cat and drank tea while viewing the newly pruned vineyard.  We then toured the art gallery behind the winery, admiring the local artists' work and the beautiful l50 year old barn structure.  Our next stop was the Green Expo in Lawrence --in the Armory which also has a interesting Field Artillery Museum.  Some of the Army vehicles are housed in the old stables, which date from 1900.  Our last stop was for late lunch at La Piazza in Allentown, very relaxing with no interruptions.  Can't wait until the next getaway!

AUDUBON PARK FOUNTAIN, NEW ORLEANS, LA

Tapestry in cotton canvas

IRISH SODA BREAD

My artist friend, Liz Ryan bakes Irish Soda Bread every St. Paddy's Day season.  I know it is a finely tuned recipe that has progressed over the years and  has become the most delicious breakfast bread that I look forward to.  Liz also creates beautiful Irish landscape watercolors, inspired by her trips to that country and her love of Irish music and folktales.   Yesterday we got together at our favorite sushi place and got lost in talk about the long winter and new ideas.  I have always celebrated the holiday and took part in the music, food, partying and stories.  I always felt  I was a bit Irish on the day, until finding out just recently that I actually do  have an Irish ancestor.  His name was Gustavus Brooke, a Tragedian, born on April 25, 1818 in Dublin, Ireland. 

INFOAGE ART FESTIVAL-MARCH 15-CAMP EVANS- BIRD SILKSCREEN PRINTS & TSHIRTS - MOTOCAT

INFOAGE ART FESTIVAL - MARCH 15 - CAMP EVANS - MARCONI HOTEL - Silkscreen Birds & T-Shirts, The Greenman

INFOAGE ART FESTIVAL

BIRDS OF CAMP EVANS - Original Silkscreen Prints by Cheryl Briard - Saturday, March 15, 2014 10 AM - 5 PM - Marconi Hotel, Wall, NJ

SNOWY OWL IN KONA COTTON

D. LION IN KONA COTTON

FANTASY FABRIC IN KONA COTTON

RED BANK IN LINEN COTTON FABRIC

ODE TO SPRING - #2

a href='http://www.spoonflower.com/explore/2775037' title = 'springtime_in_blackwood by cherb on Spoonflower - custom fabric'>

CANVAS UPHOLSTERY FABRIC - Ode to Spring

TWELFTH NIGHT

Tonight is Twelfth Night and traditionally the end of the Christmas Season.  It is a time for the last party and also the day we take the decorations and Christmas tree down.  Everything will be packed away in the barn and the house readied for 2014.