New at the Casa – Print Making and the Prepatory Sketch – with James Heumann
Casa de Los Artistas is pleased to announce our first printmaking and sketch workshop presented by visual artist James Heumann.
James Heuman Year of the Firehorse
If you have been to the Casa over the last five years you may have had the pleasure of meeting Jim, who has served as our studio intern in many of the painting workshops over that time. You also undoubtedly have experienced, as Monica and I have, his friendly, helpful and resourceful nature. What you may not have known is that this respectful and modest man, is also an accomplished printmaker.
Having fallen in love with printmaking over 25 years ago, James has been presenting relief printmaking workshops in Alaska and elsewhere in Mexico for twenty years. Printmaking is a wonderful craft, capable of manifesting great and powerful works of art.
We are excited to be offering this workshop at the Casa, not just for printmakers, but making it accessible to all levels of artists working in various media, knowing that the process, from searching out subjects that would translate well in print, to doing preparatory sketches, to creating the image with different media in single and multiple colors, widens an artists vocabulary. It is also a wonderful method to increases ones’ ability to see forms and edit out unnecessary information – essential for the painter as well.
James Heumann, Kingdom of Grass, linoleum print
James Heumann, Wader, linoleum print
Seventy five percent of Jims’ workshop will focus on developing sound relief print making skills for producing single and multi-colored prints. Combined with this will be a daily sketchbook practice aimed at catching and developing images, both for their own sake and as a basis for other visual art works.
This unique Casa workshop combines a week of immersive relief print making and sketching. The printmaking segment will utilize art print linoleum and a portable printing press to develop single and multi-color prints. Presentation topics will include multiple image development and transfer methods, carving techniques, print registration, material and paper selection, single and multi-color prints, as well as safe printing and cleanup practices. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to produce single, multiblock, and reduction block prints with the intention of instilling confidence to address challenges in the print studio.
An understanding and application of sound drawing principles and practices are a critical part of all visual art activities and can result in standalone artworks. Providing a strong foundation for subsequent prints or paintings, the drawing practice is often overlooked. Daily sketching provides the artist with an effective means of capturing new ideas and to maintain and expand their understanding of composition, values, and other critical issues in their artwork. An active sketchbook practice greatly benefits the traveling artist in that it provides the most portable means of recording, processing and understanding the scenes we encounter as we experience new and exciting environments. Giving us more information and time contemplating our subject, sketching while traveling is particularly enriching and rewarding. As we travel our awareness and senses are heightened as we encounter scenes and experiences that are new and decidedly different from our everyday environment.
A glimpse at the workshop and the weeks itinerary:
If you are not staying in P.V. prior, arrange to arrive in on Saturday the 20th of February from noon on, at Puerto Vallarta International Airport, and taxi to Boca by 3pm on, (we will send an email list of other participants out about two weeks prior, if you want to contact each other and meet at the airport to share rides. (we arrange taxis to share back to the airport the following Saturday, cost is about $10. to $45 depending on how many share a taxi, see our FAQ’s for details). When you arrive in Boca, you will be shown to your private room, with balcony and wonderful views, settle in, refresh yourself – breath in the unique environment of the Boca and then, at approximately 6:30 we will meet on the beach, across the river from the Casa, to have a “Welcome Dinner” at Ramones’ Hauchinango (“Red Snapper”) Restaurant, (this is a fishing village after all, though there are many other things on the menu as well, to accommodate all varieties of diets). We will have a short “orientation” as we dine on the beach with our feet in the sand and we become acquainted with one another, watching the sunset over the magnificent Bay of Banderas, waves lapping on the shore just a few yards away. Your 7 night Casa workshop located in the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s gorgeous pacific coast, begins with this orientation welcome dinner on the beach, (all your meals but one are included in your tuition).
Coffee or tea is available at 7:30 each morning at the Casa where you can relax on the dining balcony and watch the tropical birds and witness the fishing village wake up and come to life. Breakfasts (approx. 8:30 to 9 – 9:15am) and Lunch (1pm.) and Dinners (6:30pm), are prepared by our wonderful Mexican Chef Ruby and her assistant. These meals are all served on the main floor of the Casa in the large dinning / living area and consists of a variety of healthful and delicious lacto-ovo vegetarian fare. Always available are, coffee, tea, fresh fruits and juices, cereals, granola, peanut butter, jelly, cheese and milk. These are complimented by such things as pancakes with maple syrup (we are from Massachusetts) fresh breads and cheeses as well as traditional gourmet Mexican dishes like Chiliquilles or Huevos Rancheros, Enchiladas, Empanadas con Mole… Please let us know if you have any specific dietary restrictions.
Participants will receive 30+ hours of printmaking and drawing instruction in the Casa studio with its’ 180º view of the, Mountains to the east, across the front is the River Horcornes with boats and the village on the other side and the sea to the west. From approximately 9:30am till – 1pm we will work in the studio or sketch in plein air. Another gourmet meal is prepared and served by the Casa chef Ruby and her assistant at approx. 1pm and after lunch is siesta till approximately 3 -3:30pm. This is your time, – work in the studio if you like or engage yourself in one of the myriad of additional activities available to you at the Casa. You can relax on the beautiful beach, sketch and photograph as you stroll through the charming village, take a siesta, view the artwork in the Casa Galleries, go hiking, walking, sea kayaking, shopping in the small shops and cafés, or pick up a good book and relax on your patio.
Afternoon sessions continue after siesta. We will meet in the studio and will run to approximately 6pm. There will also be a number of excursions planned during the week as well. There will be a visit to the award winning Puerto Vallarta Botanical gardens for sketching, photography and a wonderful lunch. There will also be an optional afternoon self guided visit to Puerto Vallarta, (this evening is the one meal you are on your own). Weather permitting, there will be a boat trip to explore the gorgeous coastline, with opportunities for seeing whales and other sea life. We stop at the nearby coastal village of Quimixto, where we have a wonderful picnic on a secluded beach, sketch and enjoy the water.
All field trips are optional depending on student preference.
- Art Supplies: This printmaking and sketch workshop will provide carving blocks, transfer materials, brayers, ink, a wide range of printmaking paper and related printmaking materials and participants are not required to bring large amounts of equipment. With this in mind participants are encouraged to pack lightly and do not have to bring huge amounts of art supplies to have a successful art experience. Participants should bring the following:
- Relief Print Block Carving Tools: The typical set of relief print carving tools includes a skewed knife, multiple u-gouges and v-gouges, and a bull-nose chisel. A five to six tool carving set is sufficient for this workshop although some participants may wish to bring some additional tools. If you need to purchase carving tools, several excellent brands include:
- Power Grip (Woodcraft.com),
- Flexcut Beginners Palm Set (flexcut.com), and
- All of the tool sets marketed by McClain’s Printmaking Supply (www.imcclains.com).
- Visual Aids: Many printmakers benefit by using visual aids during the carving process and participants are encouraged to bring a headband magnifier, good reading glasses, or other visual aids they find helpful.
- Sketch Kits: Our daily sketch practice will include landscape and still life sketching. Participants are encouraged to bring sketchbook(s), drawing materials, and a portable watercolor kit. My go to sketch kit includes the following:
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- Strathmore wire bound Toned Tan sketchbook. I use the 9” x 12” size for my daily sketching but also use a smaller version for days when I’m traveling extra light.
- Drawing tools, including 6B drawing pencils, white charcoal markers, a variety of Faber-Castel Pitt Artist pens, pencil sharpeners, and erasers.
- Watercolor pan set and several good quality paint brushes: I currently carry pan set of Derwent Inktense watercolor paints to add color to my sketches.
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- Relief Print Block Carving Tools: The typical set of relief print carving tools includes a skewed knife, multiple u-gouges and v-gouges, and a bull-nose chisel. A five to six tool carving set is sufficient for this workshop although some participants may wish to bring some additional tools. If you need to purchase carving tools, several excellent brands include:
Experience the Magic this winter in the tropics at the Casa during