Handsome Pepe and his Linocut Portrait

pet portrait, Prints, stonetrigger press

Beautiful Pete with his handsome portrait

Last Fall, I donated a custom pet portrait to the silent auction fundraiser at the Oakland Animal Services, where my friend Audra is instrumental in the care and placement of kittens and cats. I love to donate my carving and printing skills to raise money while making custom portraits for families. This is the beautiful Pepe, age 15 years young and a handsome boy indeed.

Romy, the human companion to Pepe, won the bid, but somehow we did not connect until winter. A phone number or email was wrong, but eventually, we connected. Romy emailed me several sweet photos and Pepe to work from.

77913D75-EA8D-46EE-B56C-D57081669ED5

It usually takes me a month to draw, carve, and print a portrait. But thankfully, Romy was incredibly patient because it took me over four months. Caught up in the COVID-19 epidemic from Brooklyn, and later the Adirondack Mountains where SIP meant I got to stay in the country, yes this was awesome, but I could not return home where my press was.

I carved a bit each day, making extra fine details since I had time. Because I was slow in completing the project, I felt like it better be extra good. Above is a short clip of me carving the 9″ x 5″ block.

Pepe, linocut block in progress

This is the block at about 80% complete. And finally, it was time, after three months, to drive back to Brooklyn where my press was. I had some beautiful Awagami Factory handmade limited edition Gampi paper for printing Pepe waiting for me.

I was so happy how it printed, how the ink laid on the paper. It was awesome to be back in Brooklyn at home and have my press. I made an edition of 14, dried it, signed each print, and packages it up.

I am so thankful to have this opportunity and the extra time to make this linoleum block print of Pete. It was truly an honor.

If you have a printing project in mind or are curious to have a portrait of your pet; dog, cat, turtle, horse, pig, otter, bear, your name it, I would be happy to talk.

Abiquiu Open Studio!

Prints, stonetrigger press

And I am not there…..My favorite time of the year and the best weekend to travel to Abiquiu, NM for open studio. I love opening my studio to the public and sharing all the work I made over the year. But a workplace accident, a steel painting easel got knocked over and, well, I got impaled by it. Thankfully my good friend Dr. Les sewed me up. I will be fine, she did a great job. But more importantly.

For open studio my Raven was selected for the cover of the studio tour map, but somehow I do not have any Ravens available in Abiquiu, I have then in NYC. One cannot plan for everything, but I can make you an offer…..

Hilary_Lorenz_Lg_Raven

The handprinted linoleum block Raven is 30″ tall and 22″ wide. It is printed on Arches Buff Paper in an edition of 15, I only have a few left, so if you want one, now is the time, free shipping! For more information and to buy one – Click here to go to my Etsy Store

So Many Updates

Moth Migration Project, Prints, Small Print Store, stonetrigger press

StoneTrigger Press Abiquiu, NM

I have so much to tell you about. But first, It is Open Studio in Abiquiu, NM October 7 and 8. I am flying back from Brooklyn to participate. Stonetrigger Press will be open, to the public with a huge sale on prints and drawings.

Hilary_Lorenz_StoneTriggerPress_Interior

StoneTrigger Press Abiquiu, NM

I will also have loads of one of a kind journals, but it is only for these two days. For more about the AST, maps, times and artists, you can check the website by clicking here. There are 31 stops but multiple artists at each stop. Make sure to come to stop 4!

Hilary Lorenz Hand Printed One of a Kind Journals

The Studio Tour is from 10am to 5pm. My studio is at 5 Trigger Drive. From 84, take NM554 (The El Rito Road) 1/2 mile, turn right on CR 142, drive 1 mile to Trigger Drive. It is on your left. There will be signs!

Hilary Lorenz photographed by Da Ping Luo at Wave Hill, Bronx, NY 2017

I have two exhibitions happening simultaneously. On September 10th, the exhibition, “Call and Response” Wave Hill, Bronx, NY opened. Wave Hill’s curatorial team invited artists who have shown in the Sunroom over the last ten years to return and present new responses, encompassing an exhilarating reexamination of the site, 50 artists, including myself, created work for the show. The exhibition runs through December 3 and it is amazing!

The Making of a Rock Garden by Hilary Lorenz, 2017, photographed by Da Ping Luo, Wave Hill, Bronx, NY

My work is installed in Wave Hill’s Sunroom Gallery with it’s beautiful arched windows. and incredible light. The piece is hand cast flax pots, filed with laser cut plants and tiny rocks hung to form a 7 x 7 grid of 49 pots. This work is my reflection of the tiny plants in Wave Hill’s Alpine House.

Screen Shot 2017-10-03 at 12.51.58 PM

Next the Moth Migration Project website went live! The MMP is an on-going multi-venue international project that engages communities in both science and art through the crowd-sourcing of handmade paper moths. In the first 6 months I collected, almost 15,000 moths from 24 countries.

Moth Migration Project installation of 4,000 moths at 516Arts in Albuquerque, NM 2017

The premier exhibition is currently on view at 516Arts in Albuquerque, NM. The exhibition opened August 19, 2017 and will run through Nov 11, 2017. This exhibition shows close to 4,000 of the 15,000 moths collected.

View of walls and ceiling of the Moth Migration Project by Hilary Lorenz at 516ART, 2017

View of walls and ceiling of the Moth Migration Project by Hilary Lorenz at 516ART, 2017

This project will continue. I have a commitment letter from the Bundaberg Regional Galleries, Bundaberg, Australia to show the project April to June 2019. This exhibition will focus primary on Australian moths, so I highly encourage all Australian’s of all ages and profession, you do not need to be an artist, to check the instructions and send moths to the project. Click here for Instructions

In addition I have proposals to two Canadian Art Centers and US Galleries. It does not matter where you live, I really want to hear from you. Please consider being a part of this amazing international group. We also have a FB group, click here for the link.

After Open Studio I will get to work on my on a project for next summer. I was selected a 2018 artist for the Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency Program by Parks Canada, US Parks Service and The Yukon Arts Center for my project “Trail Magic.” “Trail Magic” engaged other backpackers along the trail with a barters system I devised based on hand printed cards of hiking equipment. I get to spend time backpacking and making art in both Alaska and British Columbia. I may never come back to Brooklyn.

It is an extraordinary fall with lots of exhibitions, open studio, and projects underway for the next two years. I hope you can join me along the way.

Four Hour Workshop Education Alliance

stonetrigger press

I am writing from North Creek, NY in Adirondack State Park. I am staying at a lovely cabin and meeting my friend Nancy for some hiking and skiing over the next three days. Above is Moxham Mountain. It is a short hike, a little over 5 miles, but known for it’s amazing views. Covered in snow, it will be spectacular. Tomorrow morning Conrad, Homer and I will meet Nancy for our first hike.

But hiking is not why I am writing. I am writing to let you know about a printmaking workshop I am teaching at the Education Alliance on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Right now the class has two people signed up, but we need four to run it. It is Sunday January 15th.

In just four hours from 1pm to 5pm you will create an image, transfer it onto a 5″ x 7″ linoleum block, carve it, and print. Valentine’s Day is coming up. What is better than a handmade Valentine for the lovely people in your life?

This is my first time teaching at the Education Alliance, I really want the class to run. It is $100 and includes all materials, plus you get to keep the carving tool! You will leave the class with 10-15 completed prints!

So do not delay and sign up by clicking here. I promise you it will be fun. And if you make Valentine prints I guarantee the recipients will be extremely happy.

happy_valentine_linouct2

I am on TV!

stonetrigger press, Uncategorized

I was excited to get the email asking if I wanted to be on TV. I would meet NY1’s Roger Clark at 6a.m. to do two live new spots at my exhibition in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The news team would then “package” together a segment that would replay all day.

The interview was great advertising for my second free workshop at the park. It will happen on November 19 from 1 to 3pm. You can click here for the details. Don’t let the “kid” workshop fool you, it is for everyone, 99 Plymouth Street, corner of Washington. It is just south of the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO. It is walking in and out any time.

To see my short interview you can click here.

It was loads of fun to be interviewed by Roger, he was amazing and make it easy. I didn’t tell him that I don’t own a TV. I never have.

Two Weeks to Brooklyn Bridge Park

Prints, Small Print Store, stonetrigger press

Hand drawn rocks by Hilary Lorenz

On October 1 I begin installing a new artwork at 99 Plymouth Street in Brooklyn Bridge Park across the street from Smack Mellon. Commissioned by the park in early spring I have been drawing, carving and printing birds that inhabit the park. This past month I began work on their habitat, first with the rocks that surround the marsh then I will make the grass. The piece will be big, there is a 12 and 24 foot wall in one area, and a second 20 foot and 12 foot wall in anther. I always get nervous that I do not have enough printed and cut paper, but I should also know that by now I always do.

I planned my schedule carefully for this piece. I spent March through July carving the linoleum block birds. In August I made multiple drawings. And the plan for September was to spend 30 days printing my heart out on my big, 33″ x 72″ press at LIU Brooklyn where I am a tenured professor. All went well until September 1. Dr. Kimberly Kline, president of LIU locked out faculty during contract negotiations. I had 48 hours to get my blocks, paper, ink and completed artworks out of my LIU studio. I managed to do that along with a small press. My bike, flat files and 20 years of artwork are still there and I cannot access them. Yes, the lockout is horrible and I technically went from a full tenured professor to unemployed and uninsured in about 48 hours. But as they say, “opportunity comes from adversity” and it is true. A friend offered me space in his studio, another friend use of his press. And while his press is smaller than some of my blocks I can do a great deal of work. Instead of printing some of the large piece I will hand draw them them onsite. This is certainly offering me the opportunity of new ways of creating my artwork. It is also showing me that no matter what happens with these negotiations, I will be just fine, but I worry deeply about my students. I have to pass through a whole lot of anxiety, fear and anger to get to the other side and it is not pretty. But working from home and at least making drawings, and txting with my students, everything feels right.

Linoleum block hand colored Seagulls by Hilary Lorenz for BBP.

Updates and Important Information

LMCC Process Space, north shore animal rescue, Prints, Small Print Store, stonetrigger press, Uncategorized

Conrad_linocut_drying_flying
For those of you that frequent my Etsy Store. I will close the shop from June 29 to July 15 while I am traveling.. Before I go I am offering Summer20 coupon, a 20% discount on all orders over $40 from today until June 28th. All orders will ship by 29th. Just type in “Summer20.”

Also, Mr. C, Conrad has his own benefit print. After making 16 vet visits in 4 weeks, the always smiling Conrad got his own 7″ x 5″ print, a super deal at only $10 to help offset the cost of his bandage changes. Surprise a friend and make them smile with a smiling Labrador in a cone hand printed linocut. All details are on my Etsy Stonetrigger Press Page.

My four month Governors Island residency is coming to a close. As part of my participation in Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Process Space artist residency program, I’m pleased to invite you to learn more about my latest project “Migration” a series of linocut printed and hand colored birds at LMCC’s Governors Island Open Studios. This is a preview for a later and 10x larger more sophisticated installation at Brooklyn Bridge Park, in October. Open Studio is free and open to all on June 25th from 1 to 4pm only. Click here for FB invite.

There is an hourly ferry from Manhattan and one from Pier 6 in Brooklyn. Plan ahead it will be crowded on the ferry!!!!! https://govisland.com/info/ferry

Lastly I will leave for my studio in Abiquiu, New Mexico on June 29th and stay until July 29th. From there I will drive to Cape Cod, Massachusetts for a three week artist residency at the C-Scape Beach Shack on the National Seashore. and return to NYC on September 1.
Conrad_park

Smokey, from Start to Finish

Small Print Store, stonetrigger press

I am working on a super fun project creating a portrait of Smokey a beautiful Weimaraner rescue pup who lives in Michigan. I photographically detailed the entire process for you to see, but especially for Smokey’s human companions. I know this girl is very special.

I start with a collection of photographs provided by Smokey’s family. I blow some up so that I can see detail, making copies both light and dark to see texture. Then I start the drawing onto a 7″ x 5″ linoleum block

This is the block before I carved it. I draw in a range of lines to use as a guide, but eventually my carving tool becomes my “drawing” tool.

I use a variety of carving tools to bring out the details of the drawing. I carve away everything that I want to appear white.

While I am carving, I also pencil in lines, and brush over the surface so that it is easier to see what is cut and what is left.

Once I am ready to print, I mix up oil based ink until I get the color I want.

I use a brayer to apply ink to the linoleum block, making sure to cover the surface evenly.

Once the block is inked up, I carefully place it on the press bed.

A sheet of paper is carefully placed on top the linoleum block. I have a “template” in place that is my guidelines for placement

I use this handle to crank the press bed under the rollers thus applying pressure to the block and transferring the ink to the paper.

Here is the print side by side with the block on the press bed.

Here is where it gets really interesting. I wanted to put a jacket on Smokey, so I took the first print, cut it up so that I would have a pattern of the jacket. I then reversed it, since everything in printmaking is mirror image and used it as a stencil to block out the ink. Meaning, I would ink the block, put this paper over where the jacket should be and print it. This will leave an open spot for me to put the jacket.

This is the block with stencil on the left, and the print on the right.

This is a second pattern I used to cut the Awagami Japanese hemp paper for the jacket.

I am sizing up the paper cut jacket before I adhere it to the print

And here is Smokey in her fine green jacket.

And in her fancy red jacket. I think she is looking especially fine.

Paper used: Awagami Factory, Japan, handmade Shiramine Select, 110g
Collage paper: Awagami Factory, Japan, Shin Inbe, color hemp paepr
Ink: Speedball Oil based ink
Press: Takach
I use a variety of carving tools from Switzerland, Japan, and the Czech Republic.
If you read this far, and you want a portrait made of your pet, you can order one through my Etsy Store, at StonetriggerPress.

Day 8, 30 Paintings 30 Days

30 paintings in 30 days, stonetrigger press

Gull wing grey. That is what I will be painting for the next two to three days. It might not be the watercolor plan that I began the month with, but I have 67.5 feet x 4feet of display cases that need to be painted to create the illusion of a light fog.

Once the fog in dried I will begin a new wilderness landscape construction. Here is the card for the show.

I did finish a 5″ x 7″ watercolor last night, actually I did it two days ago but I simply did not want to be on the computer last night to get it posted, and that was a wonderful thing. It was the first night that I slept relatively decent. No computer = good sleep!
day_8_watercolor

Lastly, here is a strangle little treat, a photograph of the old shipping container lifts, late at night after dark, that I encountered during our dog walk. I really love these things and I love walking along the water at night.
night_gowanus

Have a great weekend!

Day 3, 30 day painting challenge

30 paintings in 30 days, stonetrigger press

Magic Kingdom available on my Stonetrigger Press Etsy Store.

What a day! After a wonderful morning with friends playing with our dogs in the park, going to Chinatown for dim sum and stopping into my favorite massage place, our bellies are full, our knots kneaded out, and our hearts full from laughing. I then came home and quickly knew I am in a magic place ready to paint my ideal hiking spot.

I would start in the lower right hand corner by my signature, walk the ridge of green until it ended. I would then traverse over to the white notch just above there and climb that ridge line up into the craggy rocks of the first peak. After having a lunch break on the peak I would continue across to the right, to the lower portion of the darkest green of the middle crag and climb up to the top. From there I would spend the afternoon watching the water until the sun set.

Detail_Magic_Kingdom_watercolor_Lorenz

I think to think about climbing around in my drawings. I often do that when I am making them. But it is now late in the day and the dogs have to go back out, so I will keep this brief.

Yesterday’s drawing is already sold, but this one is available on my Etsy Store for $20, to whomever get’s there first.

I will see you back here tomorrow with another new piece.

framed_Lorenz_Watercolor_Magic_Kingdom

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