Heron crossing the Moon
by AnnaJo Vahle
Original - Not For Sale
Price
Not Specified
Dimensions
18.000 x 21.750 x 0.250 inches
This piece is not for sale. Please feel free to contact the artist directly regarding this or other pieces.
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Title
Heron crossing the Moon
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Relief - Embossed Paper
Description
This is a 18 inch by 19.75 inch embossing on paper.
I learned how to create old-fashioned printing and paper-making many years ago. One of my projects was to make an original embossed work of art. First, I made the paper using old dryer lint on a screen. I collected my dryer lint and mixed it in an old blender with bleach, I believe that this was to keep it from growing mold. I would then squeegee the slurry out onto a stretched screen similar to a window scrieen. I would allow it to dry for a few days. It would dry and harden into paper. It usually had a lovely deckled edge, which I liked. I used the paper for water colors, ink, printing, charcoal, etc.. I even made handmade cards for Christimas for my family and friends.
I carved my design of a heron flying over some reeds and under a moon. I used an x-acto knife for carving the foam board. I glued the three different elements on another piece of foamboard. Once everything was arranged, I placed it on some heavy padding on the large printing press. I laid my paper on top of the padding. The carving/ die was placed on top of that. Another layer of heavy padding was put on top of that. I then closed up the press and wrenched it as tight as I could make it. I have forgotten how long I let it set. It seems like I did several (about a dozen prints) that day. I worked on it for about four or five hours. My memory has become a little fuzzy about all the details. I believe that I may have misted the paper with water to make a pliable. When they were all pressed, I laid them out on flat tables to dry. I framed them and gave some away as gifts.
Uploaded
September 5th, 2020
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Comments (48)
Gary F Richards
Beautiful!Extraordinary experimental composition, colors, and artistry! F/L Voted in the contest EXPERIMENTAL ART
Louise Merigot
This is such a special piece. Thank you for the detail of the process, Annajo...I compost my dryer fluff! I’ll be saving it now for paper making...on my ‘to do’ list. l/f
Laurel Adams
AnnaJo, this work is PUREly magical …love this WHITE on white cosmic interpretation …This contest is so large I may not have time to comment as fully in real time …that doesn’t mean my votes won’t be flying!..:-)) …this one will be on my radar! Thank you for your ongoing support of THE behind the scenes BUZzz…stunning!
Sarah Irland
What an amazing work of Art, AnnaJo! So much work went into this. I love the beautiful lines and balance of the design. And, of course, the beautiful Heron!
Alexis Grone
Fantastic, AnnaJo! All of your artwork is exquisite, but the imagination, time, and skill this piece took were all worth it! Liked and voted in "MOON Art" contest.
MS Art By Sarka
Brilliantly creative piece, AnnaJo! All one colour focuses the viewer on the idea and the movement. Very clever!
Laurel Adams
STUNNING TEXTURES ALL...ANNAJO...love your work!...v...best to you ...Love the relief work!
Conni Schaftenaar
Must be what the bleach in the blender step is for! And, for the record, this is a MUCH more work-intensive piece than my masa Apple Blossoms - LOL! Comparative walk in the park!
Conni Schaftenaar
Wow, you did a beautiful job with this emboss, and your description of the process is great! I'm laughing at the idea of dryer lint for paper, because in my house, dryer lint is usually denim blue from my husband's bib overalls and blue cotton work shirts! I'd have beautifully blue tinted paper, though! L/F
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Ha ha ha. I believe that you might. It seemed like everything came out a dingy gray when I did it.
Bill Kesler
Superb work AnnaJo. Love it. Thanks for sharing your process, very fascinating. * * * F/L
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "Coastal Water Birds-Shore Birds" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet