Art | Janet Towbin

May 14 2016

New Work: Circle Swirl

14/05/2016 | Comments: 7 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, drawing, Pattern

I just completed a new drawing called Circle Swirl. It is the first in what I hope will be a small sub-series of my Patterns of Obsession drawings. There are about 3 more preliminary sketches on my studio wall waiting their turn on the drawing board. This Swirl sub-series began with a rather small sketch I did years ago with a Sharpie pen, which I recently photographed. The digital file was then manipulated into several far more complex patterns. The resulting manipulated image was then drawn on paper using graphite pencil, the result of which you see below.

In the next month or two, Circle Swirl will be converted into a laser-cut linocut at Santo Press. It will be printed in several editions with variations of color in an 8″ square format. Additionally, I plan to hand-cut a large linoleum block (16″ square) which will also be printed at Santo Press. Thank God for Brent Bond! He doesn’t know it yet, but I want to use a rainbow roll behind the patterned image similar to the 2 editions we collaborated on in 2015; Leaf Stripes (Dark) & Leaf Stripes (Light) .

As you can see, I’ve got big plans!

Circle Swirl, 2016, graphite on paper, 16″ x 16″ on Stonehenge paper 22″ x 22″

Circle Swirl (detail)

Triangulation Series

04/05/2016 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Printmaking

Here are my newest prints–a series of three in what I am calling the Triangulation Series, printed by Brent Bond at Santo Press. The prints are based on drawings I have been working on for the past decade or so. In this series I have concentrated on bringing color to what are usually black and white drawings. These prints take the drawings to a totally different dimension by adding vivid color. The linocuts are laser engraved which is a very exciting printmaking technique that Brent suggested we try using. It has proven to be a great way to get very sharp and clean lines. Eventually the blocks will be printed as reduction linocuts in three colors each. The prints are in an edition of 20 on 14″ x 11″ paper; image size is 10″ x 8″. They are priced at $100.00 individually or the series of 3 for $250.00.

Pathway Orange

WebMesh Blue

Triangulation Green

Just Published!

15/02/2016 | Comments: 1 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Printmaking

Web Mesh is the first published print in a three-print series Santo Press (Brent Bond) and I are working on this year. It also happens to be the 26th edition we have collaborated on in less than 6 months. That’s got to be a record.

With Web Mesh we tried out some very cool and new (for me, at least) processes; this is a 3-color linocut reduction print with variable crumpled wax-paper offset. The first stage of the linoleum block was laser-cut while the 2 succeeding stages were cut by hand. The final color (in the top area) was printed using the technique of placing hand-crumpled wax paper on the inked linocut, then hand-rolling it with a brayer. The crazed wax paper left it’s crinkled impression in the ink–the inked matrix was then run through the press leaving a lovely and softly textured area of color.

Web Mesh, Print by Janet Towbin, Web Mesh; 2016; variable edition of 30; published by Santo Press; 3-color reduction (laser and hand) linocut with crumpled wax paper offset; 10″ x 8″ image size; 14″ x 11″ paper size.

crumpled wax paper, Crumpled wax paper.

rolling wax paper offset

Brent Bond using a brayer to offset wax paper on matrix.

Web of Cosmic Proportions

19/01/2016 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, drawing

This drawing took me a lot longer to complete than I thought it would. But, it is finally finished! One little triangle led to another and another and another until the whole sheet of paper was covered. There must be thousands of triangles in what I now call Cosmic Web, a “Web Series” drawing of cosmic proportions. It was drawn with a rapidograph pen/India ink on Stonehenge paper, 22″ x 30″.

Cosmic Web Ink drawing by Janet Towbin Cosmic Web; 2016; India ink on paper; 22″ x 30″

Cosmic Web in progress ink drawing by Janet Towbin Cosmic Web (drawing in progress)

Cosmic Web Ink drawing (detail) by Janet Towbin Cosmic Web (detail)

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