Life in the Creative Lane - Monoprints and Corgis

A new day, a new month, a new opportunity to make stuff, eat new food and generally experience life to the fullest. I have alot to be grateful for. This year has been especially hard for me healthwise and I am just beginning to feel normal again. But I don't want to dwell on that. I want to make sure that I open myself to the universe and all that it has to offer. So as I start on this positive new adventure I thought I would share a bit more about the behind the scenes me.

To start off with this is what I normally see as I go up the stairs to my studio. This is Rudy. Rudy is Mr. Laidback, where's the cheese, don't touch my butt with your feet under the covers kind of guy. Unlike his co-conspirator who is not



laidback, runs his life and tries to run ours aka Cleo Barkalotta. I always have company in my studio of either dog or both. The exception being if it is a really


nice day out and Steve is outside. Then they will be outside. Both are wonderful companions taking their dog chores quite seriously.

Both were with me when I had the eureka moment of using freezer paper as a printing plate for monoprints on fabric. Now I am sure someone else has thought of this. But for me it was a sudden inspirational moment. No making up gelatin. No looking for plexiglass or having to have it cut to a specific size. All I had to do is tear off a piece. I can't wait to experiment somemore. I did this just once and as a lark. I do think I will be doing it again. I printed on some vintage linen hankerchiefs that were my great grandfathers.

Here is the plate after a pull. I could wipe the surface off and repaint, ink or do whatever to it to transfer to the fabric.


I should have ironed the hankerchief before laying it down. I didn't! This was an experiment. No desire to be thorough the first time around. The next time definately will iron. The finished product can be seen here.



I really like the brush strokes were picked up on the fabric. A wonderful start to further embellish and alter.