NEW TOTES

Hand Silkscreened Tote Bags : Brooklyn Edition

FOR SALE at two of my favorite Brooklyn boutiques called Cog & Pearl and Homebody Boutique. (Kitties not included).

For store info visit : cogandpearl.com and www.homebodyboutique.com

More designs to come ...

BELLYSIDE

Solar Plate Etching + Chine Colle :

Playing with variations of ink color and handmade japanese tissue paper.

BALANCE

This is another print that documents a specific occasion and moment(s) in time. In this case, it is a wedding celebration. It is an archival digital print on Hahnemuhle German Etching paper layered with two Solar Plate Etchings printed with bone black oil based ink. The color prints are photographs that were taken while driving over the bridge to St. Simon's Island in Georgia where the couple married. The Solar Plate Etching is inspired by photographic images of the couples first dance. The symbolism here is about the balance in a relationship : structure, support, and logic .vs. intuition, freedom and mystery.

Note: the two middle photographs are of the etched polymer plate.

HAYSTACK RESIDENCY

I was super fortunate to receive a work-study full scholarship to Haystack Mountain School of Craft (on Deer Isle, ME) to participate in a Surface Design Workshop led by Fraser Taylor of SAIC.  It was a wonderful experience to be surrounded by creative focused energy for 2 weeks without the distractions of everyday life.  Amazing meals were prepared, studios open 24 hours a day, mossy walking trails along the ocean, library resources, a staff of all artists of different disciplines, slide shows and presentations, 70 students from all over the world ... all making for a rich experience of creative growth.  I was definitely influenced by the natural surroundings when making my own work.  Above is a collage of some of the experiments I worked on during my stay.  The hand cut stencils that created the screenprint on muslin are reminiscent of barnacles, bones or sea life.  These were screenprinted individually in variations of white. The prints on paper are "x-rays" of the sea life shapes, created by the pigment residue left on the screen.  These prints were more spontaneous, not knowing what the output of the one swipe of the screen would be.  I also experimented with discharge printing on fabric, using found moss to use as a stamp while making the screen.  Since there was a press to be used in the Book Arts Studio, I printed a solar plate I made in NY, combining it with a process learned at Haystack called Dye Transfer, using sodium alginate to push the dyes through the screen.  The experience was all about exploration and discovery.  For more info about Haystack, visit www.haystack-mtn.org/

SARIS, JEWELS AND HANDS

This is a portrait I took at a wedding as the professional photographer was setting up a posed family shot.  I printed this on Metallic paper to enhance the saturated colors and touches of gold.

Tasmanian Print Exchange

I was invited by Artist/Professor Hilary Lorenz to participate in a print exchange between 11 New Yorkers and 11 residents of Tasmania.  We each had to make an edition of 22 prints, 5x7 format, any technique.  Above is my "Untitled" 3 color silkscreen edition.  I will in return receive 22 different prints from individual artists.

BRANDING

"rockonwitchabadself (or ROWBS, for short) t-shirts are intelligent, whimsical, edgy designs that encourage and applaud individuality by winking at staid, stereotypical gender roles. These one of a kind, hand-silkscreened tops celebrate the absurd with reciprocal messages that are open to interpretation, invite a dialogue and engage and empower your favorite fe/male!"

In the summer of 2007 I decided to start a t-shirt line called "rockonwitchabadself", which was an awesome learning experience. I did everything from writing a business plan to executing the designs to creating promotional materials to branding the product to selling at outdoor markets.

These are just a few of the graphics I created in branding the t-shirt line.

You can see more on-line promotional material at www.myspace.com/jliseo
AND purchase the t's in my online shop at www.rowbs.etsy.com