On Tattoos

Before I left Saskatoon in the summer, I designed a few tattoos for friends. Tattoo design isn’t something I commonly do, but every once in a while when I have a close friend who offers to compensate me (in whatever kind and particular way they can), I work up a design. I particularly like this one: a sketch of Sheila’s spectacular and very energetic dog, Spencer. Sheila is a phenomenal cook, so she treated us to one of the most fabulous home-made brunches I’ve ever had, and then the dog park, where we waded in the river and played with puppies, and I sat in the sand and drew from life.

Here’s the resulting choice drawing:

And here’s the tattoo Sheila got on her forearm:

The tattoo artist did a great job of preserving the sketchiness of the drawing (which is exactly what Sheila wanted, and quite novel to me!) I’m very pleased. Now that it’s all healed, I had a chance to take a picture of it when I was back for X-Mas holidays.

New Somethings

My workspace is small right now. Printmaking is a laborious process, which is a given (and likely one of the reasons many people do it– we like the work of it). But it’s also a space-intensive process. Laying things out to dry, soaking paper, rolling out ink. I can’t wait to have a chance to check out some of Toronto’s wonderful accessible printmaking studios.

For now, though, amidst homework and exploring, commuting and hosting, I have time for small projects. I’m still at work on two comics projects, but for the in-between times, there are little ink drawings.

“Crank”
Ink on Watercolour Paper
Alison Roth Cooley
2011

“Site”
Ink on Watercolour Paper
Alison Roth Cooley
2011

“Radiophonic”
Ink on Watercolour Paper
Alison Roth Cooley
2011

“Knaw”
Ink on Watercolour Paper
Alison Roth Cooley
2011

New Old Artwork

When I was home in October, I had a chance to take some (admittedly not quite as high-quality as I’d hoped) pictures of some of my work from the summer. Images of these prints are up in the gallery section as well. 

Shrine #3- No Edition
Linocut and Monotype
Alison Cooley
2011

Bird/House – Artist’s Proof
Linocut and Drawing
Alison Cooley
2011

Nest – Edition of 8 (4 remaining)
Drypoint Etching
Alison Cooley
2011

Today also marks the one year anniversary of the release of the collaborative chapbook, “wreckoning,” which I got the chance to do with the lovely Leah Horlick through Saskatoon-based Jackpine Press. Unfortunately, since the book was a limited edition, hand-printed and bound one, there are no longer any copies available through Jackpine (something I’m only a little sad to report). 

Digging around on my computer, I realized I do have some decent images of the book. It’s hard to do the thing justice, quite truthfully. But here goes. Happy wreckoning, friends!

 

Moving. Redifining.

In September I made a big move to Toronto. I’d been accepted as a graduate student in Art History at York University, and was half itching to move and half firmly rooted in my prairie home. But I packed up all my things and set up shop in a beautiful apartment with several lovely roommates who all come from Saskatchewan in their own rights.

Since I moved here, I haven’t been able to concentrate on my artistic practice. Reading and writing and trying to come up with brilliant things to say in discussions occupy most of my time. It’s hard to find the hours to dedicate to making things. I’m starting to struggle with what, exactly, my relationship to making things (of any kind) can be in this new, intensive setting. Especially without the foundation of the amazing arts community I was so lucky to be a part of in Saskatoon. I’ve had to at once become more choosy about what I can dedicate the time and effort to do, and become more open to opportunities that present themselves (even if they’re not EXACTLY what I’m looking for.)

In the absence of a real camera, I try to document my new life on Instagram, taking rough, pretty pictures of things I make and do every day. As it turns out, I’ve been getting by, finding times to do the things I need…

Working away slowly at comics in bed…

Getting comfortable in my own working space…

Wandering the city, taking in its surprises…

Its tributes…

Its exhibitions…

And finding time for drawing.

Technology!

I’m fully moved back into my parents’ spare room for the next month, and have finally settled in enough to have some space and time to work on creative projects. I also went out shopping last week for a fairly generous graduation present from my parents– the iPhone 4. Never having owned an i-Anything, I am still equal parts wary of it and unable to put it down. The Instagram app, though, is proving to be excellent for in-progress shots and sneak peaks of things I am working on. A few below:

(the very beginning doodles of a tattoo design)

(the cover page of a short comic I’m working on)

(the first cuts on a woodblock I’m in the process of printing)

One of my perennial problems is finishing things, so you can hold me to updates on these projects– I can promise they will happen.

Updates!

It’s been about a month since the Waterfront Craft Art Festival… and I have been noticeably absent from the interwebs! But while in production-mode, I thankfully took a whole bunch of photos of all the work that was coming together for the sale. I moved at the very end of June, and am gearing up for yet another big move soon (off to Toronto and grad school!) so projects have sort of been kept to a minimum lately. Rather belatedly, some shots of what went on in the studio in June:

Shown above: my temporary takeover of the attic. Each of the prints is backed with foam-core or mat-board and packaged in archival quality plastic for protection.

The most recent work-bee also included a little foray into drypoint! It’s been a while since I attempted one, but the results were more or less positive, so hopefully I can do some more while I still have studio access!

Blustery Day

I’ve been house-sitting and the weather has been pretty dismal and unpredictable. I’ve set up a makeshift kitchen-table workspace, complete with kitties climbing all over it. This morning I’m spending some time on printmaking projects and enjoying the comforts of hot chocolate and Louis Theroux documentaries while the wind picks up outside. Among these images are a few new explorations, into papercutting and back into etching (which I haven’t done since I took my last printmaking class!) And while I’m not superstitious, I’ve got my fingers crossed a little bit for the results of these.