26 April 2010

Print Failure

Here's what I said in my recent interview with McClain's:
"I don’t do much pre-proofing. I like the excitement of just doing it as I go along."
Ha! I meant every word of it. But there's a big downside to that approach. When a print fails, it fails in multiples. I now have 15 prints of John Alexander and Thomas Roberts that I hate. I'm not even going to show it to you, that's how much I don't like it. The blocks are good, but the printing has to be done again.

So what I'll show you instead is a picture of the little ranch house we're going to be moving into 11 days from now.

Which is why I won't be reprinting John Alexander and Thomas Roberts for several weeks.

We're excited to be moving, though. We've been in a beautiful turn-of-the-century Victorian condominium for the past 3 years, but it's a 3rd-floor walk-up which for a number of reasons doesn't work for us. Doesn't work for the dog, either, with his slipped disk problem. The new place has a detached one-car garage that we may eventually turn into a studio for me! Sweet.

My next few posts will be about stuff other than my own art making,but rest assured you'll see John Alexander and Thomas Roberts in a few weeks,  and at that point I'll probably even show you the version I hate.

16 comments:

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Nice! I can just about see Ty on the front porch there.

Celia Hart said...

Best wishes for the move Annie. That is a cute little house - I love the porch!

Celia
x

Melody Knight Leary said...

Sorry to hear that John & Thomas didn't live up to your expectations. It's so disappointing to hate a print after you've produced an edition; been here a number of times myself. It's always risky when you plan as you go and let spontaneity be your guide; which is how I like to work. Hopefully after you've been away from the image for a time you might find that you can salvage it. I hope so because I loved the whole concept.

By the way, great little house!!! The detached garage would make a wonderful studio - your own work space away from the main house would be such a private creative haven.

Wishing you the best as you take on the rigors of moving.

Anita Thomhave Simonsen said...

I wish you a good move Annie....the house looks very nice.....and I´m sure you will make a wonderful studio....have a nice and safe trip....

Debra James Percival said...

All the best with the move Annie. I have always thought a studio in a heated garage would be great. In the summer just open the garage door and enjoy the outdoors while printing. My moving advice is: unpack on the rainy days and get out and enjoy the sunshine on the good days. Enjoy life.

Jeff Dean said...

Awww, c'mon! I always feature my best "kerflooeys" on my blog. We promise to laugh WITH you, as we've all been there (many, many MANY times!)

Linda said...

Annie, I work the same way as you - sort of proofing and adjusting as I go.......maybe cutting a new block in there somewhere. Of my last 7 prints I redid the entire edition of 2 of them. One was because I introduced a new color into my palette and hated it. The other was just, to my eye, really, really bad. Glad to know I'm in good company!
Congrats on the new house!

Anonymous said...

That house looks lovely! And potential studio space....bliss!

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your new home!

Annie B said...

Thanks for all the good wishes for the move. Don't worry, I'll show you the "kerflooey" print -- I just need some time alone with it first. It was a hard breakup.

Ellen Shipley said...

Great house! The detatched studio is terrific.

Once you have some distance from your failed print, maybe you can show us why you think it went wrong. There's as much to learn from a failure as a success. 8-]

Patricia Phare-Camp said...

the detached studio will be soooo much easier to deduct in taxes not to mention the effect of it validating a "professional" artist with a dedicated work place where you can mentally clock in and get to the business of making. I envy the fun you'll have in setting up your own art making space!

Maria Pinto said...

all the best for you in the new house!
kisses

Kit said...

Mistakes are all part of it, aren't they? Sometimes I dig my heels in deep, long after I know something is not going to work.

Sweet little ranch style house! Congratulations!

Steve Emery said...

Good luck with the move!

It's awful when a piece fails - particularly when so much time and effort has gone into it. Recently I've begun to have more paintings fail, and need painting over (as in "paint white over the entire surface"...). I've grieved over some, but not for too long because I realize that the failures are a sign that I'm reaching beyond my comfort zone. That's a good thing...

I read your earlier post about viewing other artists' work and careers. Helpful comments!

I don't come by nearly as often as I would like - but I always leave refreshed and inspired by the process of your work, and the thinking and feeling you weave into your prints. Thanks for blogging!

Nicole Raisin Stern said...

Hi Annie,
久しぶりで、あなたのブログを遊ばなかったです。I can imagine Ty's relief to be able to walk in and out one level now... ahhhh! Congratulations on your new place and new work space.
With Love from Kyoto,
Nicole