photography by Janet Towbin

Jun 29 2019

Gardenia Riot

29/06/2019 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, drawing, Inspiration, Pattern, Photography, Printmaking

Gardenias are incredibly beautiful, delicate and fragrant flowers. We have three large plants in separate pots on our patio. They flowered beyond our wildest dreams this year–we were completely overwhelmed with white blossoms and their heady perfume. Of course, I’ve been photographing them a lot–but this spring I was so taken with them that I simply had to use them as subject matter for some drawings and prints.

Wishing you could smell the amazing fragrance!

Most people know I can’t do things halfway (yes–I am just a little obsessive)–and right now I’ve got 5 new print editions based on my gardenia photos and drawings. There will be a few more print editions and maybe even a painting or two. Here is a look at a small portion of the work I’ve been making. There are dozens more computer-generated ideas, color studies and patterns.

*Gardenia Stripe Mirrored;* ink on paper; 2019. This drawing will soon find it’s way onto the press as a photopolymer print with a split fountain color background.

And now for the prints…they are based on the first simple line drawing of the gardenia above. Future prints will be based on the second drawing with the two different stripe widths. The 5 editions (below) were all printed by Brent Bond of Santo Press this past month. Brent selected the colors for Gardenia Riot Pulse and all I can say is WOW!

*Gardenia Riot Lace;* 2019; photopolymer relief; image size 12 x 9.5 inches on paper 16.5 x 13.5 inches; edition of 10; printed by Santo Press; $150.00.

*Gardenia Riot Pulse;* 2019; photopolymer relief with split fountain; image size 12 x 9.5 inches on paper 16.5 x 13.5 inches; edition of 10; printed by Santo Press; $150.00.

*Hot Gardenia Riot;* 2019; photopolymer relief with split-fountain ground; image size 12 x 9.5 inches on paper 16.5 x 13.5 inches; edition of 10; printed by Santo Press, $200.00.

*Gardenia Riot Blue;* 2019; photopolymer relief with flat background bleed print; image size 12 x 19.5 inches; edition of 50; printed by Santo Press. A.P.s available for $100.00

*Gardenia;* 2019; laser-cut linoleum block with photopolymer relief; image size 9 x 9 inches on paper 13.5 x 13 inches; edition of 10; printed by Santo Press; $150.00.

Drawing Inspiration From Kids

23/01/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: JT | In: Art, Inspiration, Photography

I love seeing art made by children…and I love finding inspiration where I least expect it. Like on a cement wall in a hidden courtyard.

There is something incredibly joyful, playful and wild in these exuberant chalk marks made by children. They appeared this week on a long cement wall outside the print studio at the Mesa Art Center. Cy Twombly’s work immediately came to mind and now my fingers are itching to draw something wild and big with total abandon. I think I might have to grab some chunky sidewalk chalk and let my inner child loose.

Mesa Wall Drawing 2 3085 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3085; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

Mesa Wall Drawing 3 3079 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3079; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

Mesa Wall Drawing 4 3070 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3070; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

Mesa Wall Drawing 5 3059 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3059; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

Mesa Wall Drawing 1 3089 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3089; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

Mesa Wall Drawing 6 3057 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3057; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

Mesa Wall Drawing 7 3050 Mesa Wall Chalk Drawing 3050; 2014; Digital Photography by Janet Towbin

From Ordinary to Wow!

20/01/2014 | Comments: 2 | Posted by: JT | In: How To's, Inspiration, Photography

I can’t help but think Photoshop is one of the most incredible creative tools available to any artist/photographer today.

Case in point: a humdrum and rather ordinary photograph of a mum was easily transformed into a dramatic B&W image in a matter of minutes. It still amazes me how much this technique changed and improved the original image.

Using a simple technique with the Curves Adjustment Layer tool I was able to get a Solarized (or Sabattier) effect that totally knocked me out. There are a lot of tutorials online if you want to try this technique. Careful though…you might get hooked.

Be aware that it doesn’t work with all photos, but when it does the results are amazing. Images with strong contrasts work best. I happen to prefer solarized images in B&W, but color images are pretty cool solarized, too.

A special thanks to photography friend Jim Hulme who got me interested in solarization with his lovely photo of Naked Tulips.

Here is the original photo of the mum appearing in all it’s ordinariness:

Ordinary Mum photography by Janet Towbin

And here is the Photoshopped mum converted into a dramatic diva.

Solarized Mum photography by Janet Towbin

Are you impressed? I sure am!

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Gardenia Riot

Drawing Inspiration From Kids

From Ordinary to Wow!