Solo Exhibition at Museo de Arte Mazatlan

Would Frida like it? - I wonder as she looks out into the room from my T-shirt.

With some students who visited the exhibition

Working at Taller Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca

Yesterday, I went on a search for a printshop that I could work in while here in Oaxaca. I first went to the Instituto de Artes Graficas, an amazing space with old printing presses poised in corners as sculpture. But no working presses. They do, however, have an incredible art library - thousands of volumes in English and Spanish - up to date with the latest art volumes.  I spent a little time browsing the shelves. I'll be back there for sure!


I asked the attendant if he knew of a working graphics workshop and he steered me to Taller Rufino Tamayo.
A couple of blocks away, I found the TRT workshop. They have facilities for etching, lithography, silkscreen, woodblock, and more. The director, Luis, said I could work anytime in the mornings because the workshop isn't used til around 4pm when they have classes. No charge, he said, just donate some supplies. I returned this morning, and made my first print! Met a few more printmakers - Rene who takes care of the shop, showed me some of his work. I'm excited about working here and meeting more artists.

Highlights from the December Workshop

Maria is ready to draw into her plate after rolling it up with a flat of color.

Bunny layed out rich luscious colors of ink on the palette and rolled them onto her plate with brayers.

There is something magical about pulling the paper up from the plate after running it through the press.

Geraldine and Maria working on their plates in the sunlit studio.

John is carefully wiping areas of ink away using the subtractive technique.

Geraldine pulled a nice print, one of a series she created that incorporated drypoint and monotype.

In the garden patio below, Alistair has created a fabulous Asian prawn lunch for us.

A week of monotype printmaking in Mazatlan. Geraldine from Vancouver, Maria from England (originally from Mazatlan) and Bunny and John, both expats who live in Mazatlan.
Fun was had by all!
The next workshop is scheduled for the week of Jan. 3.

A group from Monterey Peninsula College Fine Art Print Club comes to Mazatlan

Robynn Smith, Printmaking Instructor at Monterey Peninsula College, California, brought a group of artists from the MPC Fine Art Print Club mpcprintclub.org as well as 2 other participants (San Francisco and Boston) to take the Monotype in Mazatlan Workshop, January 5- 9. It was a great group of women coming together for a week of making art as well as enjoying all that Mazatlan has to offer. Starting with a welcome dinner at my home on Saturday night, the next day we went to Stone Island to enjoy great seafood, cervezas under a palapa and walks on the beach. Monday morning everyone was ready to get to work making prints!













































I brought 7 printmakers from the U.S.to Glen's January workshop. Some of the participants were professional printmakers, others had far less experience. The workshop was a great success! Glen engaged everyone, giving all participants what they needed. Glen's studio is in a beautiful part of a wonderful town. The environment is very inspirational. Glen and Candace (the proprietor at Casa de Suenos) were marvelous guides to the area, and helped everyone to have a very productive workshop and a fabulous vacation at the same time.
Robynn Smith Printmaking Instructor, Monterey Peninsula College

Evelyn Klein,Printmaker/ Painter and Printmaking Instructor, Monterey Peninsula College, Equinox Press said this about her experience:

I was part of a group of 8 printmakers who came from diverse areas to share a common interest: printmaking.

Glen received us with such friendliness, warmth, enthusiasm and professionalism!

I still dream of her incredible house and studio, the rich earthy colors of Mexico etched along her walls, corridors and gardens.

I spent 5 magical days at this studio transported into a world of art, printmaking and intense camaraderie, sharing our passion.

The work that came out of this gathering was rich, individualistic and deep.

But above all, a new relationship was born amongst us all.

We already have plans for future meetings locally in California (Monterey & Bay area) and at her studio.

Thanks Glen for offering this opportunity!

And two other comments:

How lucky I feel to have spent my first trip to Mexico in Glen Roger’s Monotype in MazatlanMazatlan scenery, Glen’s generosity, and demonstrations of her process, printmaking in her beautiful, spacious studio surrounded by inspirational art, all made for a fabulous experience and one I can’t wait to repeat. The impressions I made both on paper and in memory are welcome influences on my printmaking. I enjoyed warm water, warm sun, delicious food, relaxed atmosphere, splashy sunsets and good company. What more could an artist want from a “working” vacation. Muchas Gracias Glen! workshop. The combination of the colorful

Pamela Takigawa

It had been many years both since I'd made monotypes or been in Mexico. Glen was so gracious, and her studio so inviting that it took no time at all to feel comfortable and start working. Quality attracts quality, and that holds true for Glen's Mazatlan experience. Whether at the beach, strolling in town, dining or those precious work hours in the studio, the experience was relaxed elegance. I see the local and natural colors in my work, and those sunsets will never be properly described!

Karen Palamos, San Francisco, CA

Writing on the Wall - new prints inspired by Uluru

On my trip to Australia in May, I visited Uluru (Ayers Rock). There were a number of small caves around the periphery of the rock that one could peer into - and see the cave drawings.

When I returned to my studio, I wanted to capture the essence of the colors and shapes and the markings on the wall. The symbols of spirals, concentric circles, and images from nature have been a part of my artistic vocabulary for years and it is always exciting to see them in another part of the world.

None of these prints are a direct copy of the walls I had the honor to witness. On the contrary, the cave drawings served as inspiration. I wanted to honor this ancient language of an ancient culture - to infuse my prints with the wonder, spirit and mystery that I felt there.

Pat Henry Shows Her Colors in Puerto Vallarta

Pat Henry is an artist, an architect, and one of the first women to sail solo around the world! She's an amazing woman - full of inspiration and enthusiasm for whatever she sets her mind to.

I met Pat via a mutual friend, Helen MacKinlay, who had met Pat in Singapore when she sailed into port. When I had a show at T. Fuller Gallery last year in P.V., we met for coffee for the first time and then Pat came to my opening reception.

I drove down to Puerto Vallarta to surprise Pat at her studio/gallery opening June 6. Pat had come up to do my monotype workshop in April and was showing the monotypes she produced as well as new abstract paintings. It was great to see the monotypes framed and on the wall. She had 2 series, one of colorful tango shoes (Tango being her new passion) and the other, more abstract, with images of Frida Kahlo peeking out behind bright colors. "Ole" had a bold black overlay with gestural marks allowing the rich Mexican colors to show thru.

With this new work, Pat was breaking out of her tighter, realistic approach to painting - landscapes and figures of her travels including neighborhood scenes in Puerto Vallarta. And did she go wild! The medium size canvases - all untitled - are rich with drips and splashes of color. All are vibrant and purely abstract.

Pat wrote a book about her sail around the world - a great read! By the Grace of the Sea: A Woman's Solo Odyssey Around the World (McGraw Hill/International Marine/02)

Check out her work and bio in http://www.pat-henry.com/