Untitled (#9514-3) copyright 2023 Douglas Stockdale –
I have been taking note of the various writings on the subject of Happiness and one of which that really resonates with me is about taking note (credit) for the positive events in your life. This is a self-affirming act and create all sorts of positive vibes. As artist, I think we especially need this affirmation, especially since we constantly put ourselves out in front of others, such as making gallery, magazine or book publisher submissions and end of up with probably more than just a few rejection slips. It can take a while to find our audience and create our tribe, thus a good pat on the back every once in a while is really necessary to keep moving ahead.
Over the past 15 years of writing this art/photo blog, I have enjoyed looking back and documenting what I have managed to accomplish over the past year. Although, last year was a really rough one for me and I had a lot of trouble mustering up the good vibes, I was still able to find some good stuff for 2022. Nevertheless, this personal review process puts a smile on my face and gets me really pumped up for the start of the new year. Win-win!
I think my really big accomplishment this year was figuring out cyanotype printing. I ended last year in a bit of struggle with solar printing my cyanotypes and early this year I decided that I really enjoyed the process and results, thus I made the investment in an LED UV printer, and drilled down on a classic cyanotype printing process developing a proper ‘squishy’ adjustment curve for my digital negatives and a resulting Dmax for my cyanotype prints.
The artistic validations of making this decision to continue with my cyanotype printing occurred in four parts; individual cyanotype prints were juried into three alternative photography exhibitions (one of which was selected as an Honorable Mention!), two of my cyanotypes were featured in The Hand magazine (issue #42), I sold a couple of cyanotype prints and the icing on the cake had to be recognition of a Critical Mass 2023 Finalist with a cyanotype portfolio. Very nice!
At the close of this year, I have used the curatorial feedback on my Critical Mass portfolio to fine tune and tweak my Entanglement(s) artist statement and portfolio incorporating some hand-sewn artwork into the cyanotype prints. Btw, since my Finalist portfolio, Entanglement, did not have the embroidery, I am considering a slight title change to Entanglements (plural) to signify the difference and change. Something to noodle on over the holidays, eh?
Indirectly this year, I have also become a bit of semi-accomplished embroider as a result of hand-sewing my cyanotype prints for both the Entanglement series and the Last Iceberg series. First I started with using a relatively simple straight-stitch using light weight sewing thread, then I upsized my lines using embroidery floss while learning back-stitching and French knots. LoL.
As a book artist and Senior Editor for PhotoBook Journal, I had two speaking opportunities in addition to my leading my book development workshops (and I have two more workshops scheduled for early 2024, see below if interested). And sold some of my artist books as well. A very nice win-win.
The one other substantial photo equipment investment I made this year, besides the LED UV printer, was after years of consideration, I finally purchased a used 50mm Distagon for my Hasselblad (used to make the image above). Nice. Finally had the discretionary income to buy this equipment (one of my book publishing speaking engagements paid off).
As to my cyanotype printing process, I know that I am still on a little bit of learning curve, as I do not achieve my visual results always on the first printing, while I am getting much better. The cyanotype print featured above is from the second version of my contact negative which was printed after tweaking the contact negative (both improving the cloud/sky details and the shadows) after the first attempt. The second version now provides what I had pre-visualized when I was making this photograph. Nevertheless, this is a huge improvement over my earlier attempts, especially over my crazy solar printing.
Interesting note to end the year; the above print feature in this post was intended to be hand-sewn as I have the others for the recent Entanglements series, but as an individual ‘straight’ cyanotype, I think the resulting image is very engaging as a stand alone cyanotype. I think I know what negative is going to be in tonights printing session, as I still want a hand-sewn version of this image as well.
Untitled (#9514-3) copyright 2023, classic cyanotype image is 9 x 9″ on a 11 x 14″ sheet of Revere Platinum hot press cotton rag. Edition of 5 + 1AP
Make every day an Earth Day
Doug
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Book development workshop:
Update: Developing a Creative Photo Book, on Zoom with SouthEast Center for Photography (SEC4P), January 20 & 21st and 27th, & 28th, 2024, from 10 AM – 1 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST).
New: Book Making with Douglas Stockdale, on Zoom with Medium Photo, March 16-17 & 23-24th (4 sessions, two consecutive weekends), 2024, from 9am-12pm (Pacific Standard Time).
Artist book available:
The Flow of Light Brushes the Shadow, an artist book from Singular Images Press, 2022, $60.00 (CA sales tax for those residing in the USA) plus shipping expenses. Message me douglas.stockdale.artist@gmail.com
Singular Images 