Some History of the prints

A few of the prints have been around for a long time. The oldest plate in the group is "Oceana I.” It was done early in my printmaking history about 30 + years ago. It was done before I owned my own press at San Francisco Graphics Art studio, in about 1977. I also did "Moon Ride" there which was my first encounter with aquatint. A few years later, in the print lab at California College of Arts and Crafts (while it was still in Oakland), I completed "Spectre" on copper, etching and aquatint on two plates.(it was awarded first prize in an art competition).

The plate "Samisen Player" is also old and was originally printed on cotton as and sewn with an Asian print as its backing for a sachet. Later I printed some more on paper and added color to some. They are quite popular. Fortunately, the plate is still fresh and untarnished and able to print several more. They are beautiful in a frame with a mat. The subject is from a Japanese wood block print I have in my collection.

Other prints, I have experimented with by placing textured objects such as pine needles and sandpaper into the ground and running them through the press. Another method that is exciting is sugar lift, which allows the artist to achieve a painted quality in the etching. An example of this is "Bitch, Moan, and Cry", which was done on copper and is my largest print (18 by 24). " Bending Nude." and "Gulls" are also sugar lift.