major puddling

i've had an interest in printmaking 

for a long time

the way ink and pressure bite into paper is delicious

and the way paper supports ink is, too...

but i know absolutely nothing about it.

 so, with kind directions

on the simplest of printing techniques 

from shanna leino and cathy cullis

i tried a little bit

 i wanted to try paper and cloth

but i couldn't find any printing ink

(though i have some) 

so i made some from paint and wheat paste.

it was not terrifically successful

but then i tried that wheat paste and india ink

which was a bit better...

 anyway, i now have the vaguest idea

of what a monoprint is

and why i might find it useful

somewhere, 

probably in a book.

i like the idea of words being almost but not quite unreadable

 busy getting some lokta ready

for kami-ito

(doubling the use of shanna's nifty weights as hand cushions)

three or four full sheets, 

which doesn't look like much 

 we had LOTS of needed rain

the land feels happy

 so do the birds

 when 

 opportunity presents

 a lovely driveway puddle

friend robin spends some moments

cleaning up.

i'm doing all kinds of cleaning up and out

emptying this old house of so much.

an artist's garage sale might be something of interest?

in any case,

there will be more trips to the transfer station.

or maybe i'll call the hauler.