Printmaking Courses in Spain

Mel & Bernice Strawn, Salida, Colorado, USA

Mel and Bernice Strawn are a young couple whose entire lives have been dedicated to art. He taught at universities in Michigan, Colorado and, I think, Chicago. She is a painter and sculptor with a long trajectory of incredibly imaginative and delicate work. When Mel retired from teaching they made their home outside Salida, Colorado, high in the Rockies, where they still live. Mel has the honor of being one of the world’s very first digital artists.

He and B came to the Gallinero and my studio in February of 2011 to work on solarplate prints. Mel had already done some solar work but, tireless researcher that he is, he wanted to delve further. Working with them was a delight and a learning experience for me as Mel questioned and experimented every step of the way, while B did what she is: pure creativity.

We’re still in touch via email and Mel is still experimenting with new solar plates. (The manufacturers should supply him with plates and pay him for  publishing his findings!) Thanks for coming, Mel and B. It was a pleasure to meet and work with you. You’re two wonderful role models for the creative life.

Here’s a longer article on the Strawns from the Colorado Central Magazine.

From the visitors’ book: “My husband, Mel, and I have stepped out of the cold February weather of Colorado to enjoy the sun on the little deck to draw, work on prints and sip a little afternoon wine.  The view across the valley to the south dips to the River Genil  and then up the steep terraced hillside carpeted with green and glowing with blooming almond trees. The Booths have cultivated an exotic garden here which immediately captivated me.  The local nopal, prickly pear cactus clumps, are fascinating and I did several prints based on those forms. In Maureen’s studio you can try out different approaches to printmaking and with her help you can find one that relates to the direction of your art. Maureen and Mike are very generous in their concerns for your comfort and the success of your art goals. We couldn’t have asked for more caring and attentive hosts.

Bernice and Mel Strawn, March 2011

 .

Robyn Smith, Sydney, Australia/Malta

In true Australian fashion Robyn is a tireless world traveler. For years she made her home between Australia and St. Petersburg, Russia, with occasional residencies in Spain and Finland. She has recently moved to Malta–warmer than Russia, not so far away as Down Under, and within easy striking distance of her old haunts. Robyn and I have worked together in my studio a couple of times. The most recent and the most ambitious was the preparation of her work for the St. Petersburg Biennial last year. Her submission was a big, beautiful dyptich dedicated to Pushkin. I’ll be fascinated to see her next project.

 .

Vesna Pantelic, Belgrade, Serbia/Granada, Spain

Vesna, painter, sculptress and graphic artist,who also runs her gallery in Belgrade, was introduced to me many years ago by our old friend, the French/Spanish/ Danish/Moroccan photographer, Dominique Dallet. He thought I would enjoy meeting a Yugoslav artist and I certainly did. Since then we’ve been on a lot of art escapades together in Belgrade, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Austria and Yugoslavia, becoming solid sisters in the process. Vesna won the top art prize at the 2012 Chinese Olympics with a two and a half meter sculpture. The following anecdote might give you a notion of Vesna’s spirit: Arriving at the Málaga airport with a bundle of paintings she was faced with an exhorbitant excess-baggage fee. So she refused to pay, spread the paintings out on the airport floor and sold them on the spot, mostly to air crews. What’s next for Vesna? You never know, but she recently finished the house she was building in Granada and we’re hoping she will come here to live.

 .

Zhara Buali, Saudi Arabia

Zahra Buali came from Saudi Arabia–where she did valuable work in printmaking with Saudi women–for a two-week workshop a few years ago. Zahra’s work is all about women working together, a nod to the solidarity among women in Saudi Arabia. It was interesting working with and getting to know Zahra, as I had never known a Saudi person before. That said, she had also lived for a long time in Montreal so she summed up the best character of the two places. She has recently moved back to Canada. I wouldn’t be surprised if her son who lives there weren’t a factor. Here are some of Mike’s photos of Zahra at work in my studio and some of her results.

From the visitors’ book: “Working with you was a wonderful experience for me, and that will add to my knowledge. You are a true free spirit and a beautiful soul and your art reflects that. I enjoyed every minute in your studio. Thank you dear.”