The Printer's Edition

If you squint you can make out the
signature and numbering.
Prints by Phillip Hoyle

I finally did it, completed a goal I didn’t even know I entertained. Sometimes I am modest to a fault. Now I have printed a numbered edition of 12 prints of the trees I showed about three weeks ago. I have gone so far as to sign and number them.

Now it’s on to Artist Trading Cards. Two topics are coming up fast: ‘Orange’ and ‘Words and Letters’. The first reminds me of the orange paint a grandson picked for a group of paintings we were doing together. I thought I hated the color until I started working with it and watching him do likewise. I still don’t often grab for the orange but guess I had better do so soon.

On the other hand, Words and Letters seems perfectly suited to my work. I’m making some tiny weavings with pages from books and newspapers in different languages. I will also make several figures using letters as the structure for the designs. I haven’t quite decided whether to do people, animals, plants, or abstracts. Guess we’ll have to wait until next week to see if I have come up with anything.

In the meantime I am sure to play around with many ideas.

Of course, the greatest accomplishment of my week was to file my income taxes on time. I’m pleased.

April 2015

Stilll Printing

Block print by Phillip Hoyle

For quite a few years I've been printing some artwork. i began by making Christmas cards with simple relief prints of words and designs. Then the designs got more complicated with several punk rock angels. Last season I made a print of pine branches and needles in Craftsman style. The other day I finished my most complicated piece yet, one with aspen trees in winter in Chiaroscuro style.

The piece required two block cuts--one for brown, the other for black. I can't say I'm completely satisfied. About half way through the designing and cutting I realized I'd made a very intricate design, too ambitious for a first try! But I stayed with it. And I did learn a lot in the process. I hope to learn even more from the ideas that came from this project.

Long live art and the making of art!

Denver, 2015