Printsy Thursday #8.

Boxes are piling up for the "big move" next Wednesday - and It's not Thursday - but I am excited to post about this week's choice for Printsy Thursday anyway (I'm not changing the name)!!

I found Mariann Johansen-Ellis' Etsy shop a couple of months ago on Etsy and was so inspired by her work. The truly lovely and whimsical images can only make you smile. I feel as if her characters are very much alive and enjoying themselves in their fantasy land.

I have a sister in-law due with a new baby in a couple of weeks and my own little sister is having a baby next spring - so I have been looking for little lovelies that might be welcome additions to their new nurseries. How could you loose with any of these beautiful etchings.

Mariann has a website as well called "Art can be fun" which features her smaller pieces and another site which features her larger paintings and etchings - don't miss them as you will be wowed by her amazing quality and number of pieces. I am attaching a link - here - that shows her etching process from utube. I think for anyone who has not tried to etch - or just wants to know how much work really goes into printmaking in general - it's a perfect tutorial. I certainly learned a lot about how the colors are applied ( which was a bit mysterious to me).

So enjoy and remember "Art can be fun!!"

Printsy Thursday #7.

How lovely to be home finally to post about this week's Printsy Thursday artist(s).
I may have paint on my hands and dust in my hair (what a fun day at the new house... will this saga never end? - can we just move in yet...) - yet I digress.

This week's spotlight is on Lapwing Printworks run by the team of Jon and Sarah located in "the east of England". I think they just wrote that for us Yanks on Etsy as on their blog we get the true local - Norwich!

I knew I liked their work right away, especially when I saw how they mix fine art printing ( wonderful camera woodcut above ) and surface pattern ( check out their beautiful wrapping paper). Both artists bring wonderful talent and variety to their collection.

Here is a gem - a woodcut of a north Norfolk sea view - I love to see what environments enspire. They just make you want to visit!


I also love this "Winter Squash" lino - especially when the layers of color are revealed in an additional pic.

Thanks for looking - and don't forget to check out other Printsy artists interviewed on the Printsy blog.

Printsy Thursday #6.

Ok - It has been two weeks since my last Printsy Thursday post - and I do feel a little bad - because there are so many wonderful Printsy artists that need to be shown!

My favorite Printsy artist this week is Jennifer of LittleBirdDesigns. How great are these images of household appliances( and the ever elusive cupcake)? They look like they could just start speaking to you. I sometimes feel that my appliances are my friends - when they are working away while I take a sip of my tea... The best is when you can get two working at the same time (oven and washing machine for example). It's the only way I can delegate these days ...

So when I saw Jennifer's work - it really hit a cord with me. Needless to say her images of Scottish fishing villages are right up my alley too - check out this wonderful town. Looks familliar - and really captures the essence of the character of those small towns!

So thanks for looking and if you love your washer as much as I do - pick up a print for the laundry room to let it know!

Printsy Thursday #5

Thanks for checking in again on Printsy Thursday! I just had to make this weeks post - even though it is my B-day - and I have had a full dinner and lots of tasty wine etc, etc.. But it is 10:30 and that is when I start my Thursday post.

I found this week's focus on Etsy, or was it through her blog? In any case, I love the work of Kristin Loganbill. She is a printmaker with two Etsy shops. The first,Moon Tea Artwork, showcases lovely block printed textiles( a true favorite of mine), and her second, Lilyaimes, ( my Printsy focus) "showcases artwork on a monthly theme" - as I am quoting her shop banner.


She has started with Spring - and the focus of rebirth is interesting as she has given new life to what would have ultimately been thrown away . The base for her prints are countertop samples. Each measuring 6" x 9" , a little snippet of the patterns of nature. Lined up next to one another they remind me of a cartooned script , each showing a small scene, part of the big picture.


Thanks Kristin - for letting me show your work!

Printsy Thursday #4.

After a lovely day at the pool with the kiddies – I am happy to sit down and present the 4th in the Printsy Thursday series. (Don’t count weeks – because I have missed a couple due to misc.)

I have been lurking on the Printsy Flickr group to see many wonderful works by the new members of the Printsy Team. I, of course, have added 0 images to the group. Adding my work is just not that interesting to me – I already know MY work. I like to look at all of the OTHERS instead.


So out of this lurking, I am happy to present Loaded Hips Press. Shannon Buck, who heads up the press, had a great website where she describes her process (with a real focus on the hand crafted process – in leu of computers and printers) and shows her great variety work. I highly recommend the tarot reading option as a nice uplift (at least my reading was uplifting – thanks!)


There is a real literary essence in both her writings as well as her artwork. I understand my writing limitations, and after reading Shannon’s blog - yearn for the ability to describe life with the ease as she does. Even on her Etsy site, Shannon elegantly describes each image in a way that opens a window for the viewer into the story behind each work.

Printsy Thursday #3.

Ahhh.. . So happy to be posting the 3rd in the series - Printsy Thursday. This week I would like to introduce Alishagould. One of the newest members of the Printsy Team, Alisha is a screen printer. I love screen printing because it is so smooth. Unlike lino-prints or woodblock - (which I love too for other reasons) - the silkscreen allows the artist to apply a thin layer of ink onto the paper without much texture. You can usually achieve fine, razor sharp lines. In this way, Alisha can convey the gossemer quality of this ship's sail (shown above - Titled "Set Sail").


I really like her imagery and use of color. Perfect for anyone, really (I wouldn't mind one - especially the "Boardwalk Arcade")!

Think of Dad for Father's Day too.

Printsy Thursday #2.

So, I guess that part of my Printsy Thursday routine will be trying to make the post before the day is actually over. I’m not totally disorganized – just time challenged!

Today’s lovely artist Lu of Lusummers is (as is required) part of the Printsy Street Team! (If you haven’t heard of Printsy - more information Here).

I wanted to showcase Lu’s work as I find her use of layered texture combined with printing methods to be very compelling. There is history described in her work. Even the simple graphic designs printed on text – make me think of Egyptian hieroglyphs - perhaps the larger printed motif really is the expression of all of the written words beneath.

And even in the stitched and collage pieces feel as if they are describing a series of events– like a summer vacation – or special day - all stitched up together in one overall memory. Enjoy!

Printsy Thursday #1.

This is the first of the series “Printsy Thursday”. It is a way for me to show off wonderful printmakers that have a shop onEtsy – and are also members of the new Street Team - Printsy. Begun by She Rides The Lion and M Lee Fine Art - this Etsy Street Team is very fledgling – only 3 weeks young. The mediums used by all members are not so new, however, and represent a variety of traditional printmaking techniques – intaglio, linocuts, woodcuts, silkscreen, lithograph and monotype (no digital prints of original artwork). You can read more about Printsy on the blog and see members’ images on the Flickr group page.



So for the first Printsy Thursday #1 I am showing the work of Kate at Nydampress. I thought I would start the series with a Linocut artist as I am a bit biased. Nydampress was one of the first shops I found to “heart” last fall when I found Etsy and her direct imagery inspired me to break out my old lino tools to give it a try. (Thank you !)
I really enjoy seeing the detail of the blocks, usually shown in the second photo and the way the image seems effortlessly captured.





Have a great day!