Descending Ashtray

I picked up The Woodcut Artist’s Handbook the other day as a refresher course in woodcut printing. I was especially interested in some advice on how to print at home without a press (I used an etching press in college).

A lot of good information inside, including relative merits of various wood species, as well as the tools involved. Gabe, I think you should try your hand at woodcut - it’s involves carving, wood, and a lot of elements of both drawing and painting. It might be a nice way to make some money, as well, as you can sell prints cheaper, but in higher quantities. Something to think about.

My goal is to make myself a screw-type press this weekend. It’s something I built in my head a long time ago, and I’ve got all the materials in stock to build it - just need a little time, which the long weekend should afford.

Did another version of the RAF 5×5 last night but didn’t have time to post it. Tonight …

A friend handed me a copy of this book called “Letters to a young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke. You should check it out, it is inspiring. Yet again another artist who was born in the 1800’s. Everything that I have been reading lately seems to have been written by people who were alive during the end of the nineteenth century. How much has industry and techonology prevented us from being emotionally aware and creative?

I am re-reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano, a book about the not-so-distant future where society is divided in two: the Engineers (ruling class) and Everyone Else. The Engineers have it all - wealth, power, women … Everyone Else has adequate food, shelter and clothing, thanks to the efficiency the Engineers have wrought with automation. But, Everyone Else is bored, having menial jobs (Army or Demolition crew) with no satisfaction. The irony is, the Engineers are bored too.

It’s like meeting an old friend again (hey, wait a minute) …