I'm ready...

for the show at Café Zen. As any reader of this blog will know, and yes I do have a few readers, I have been working on these images for a while now (a quick check tells me it was back in February when I started work on these). And, drum roll please, here they are, framed and ready to hang either next Thursday or Friday. I'll be dropping them off at Green-Door tomorrow ready for the big day. This'll be my first real show participation since way back in 2003. I have to say that I am really excited. I had to take a quick snap of the little blighters just to see what they look like together and I think they look the dogs. But then I would wouldn't I.

These four prints are in editions of fifty, printed on acid free 300gsm paper and, should anyone fancy one, are available for £85 each (p+p to be advised - UK and world wide).

This a redux of 'Beetlebum', a print that I thought I had finished back in January. I was never completely satisfied with the finished article so, when I was approached by someone recently who had asked for a copy, I tool the opportunity to have another stab at it. The original was executed in three tones of blue which, while o.k.,always seamed a little flat. I decided to take out the darkest shade of blue and replace it with black. I also added an out line to the typographic elements. If you compare this with the original I hope you'll agree that the changes are for the better.

This is an edition of 20, 28cm x 19cm and is available for the princely sum of £50 (+£5 postage in the U.K.). Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can contact me at mail/remove/@mickstatham.com

So, this is how it goes...

First prep the screens and expose the image.

Fix the screen into the press


Ink it up and make a registration print

If everything's good, add more ink and start printing

Before you know it you have a row of lovely prints.

O.K. so it's not that simple. I just didn't take enough pictures.

My four 'Pantheon' series prints are now in the bag so all is set for the show at the Zen Café, a local arts café in the centre of town. Not sure of the date of the show yet but it's looking imminent.

I also have a small interview up at 'The Tools Artists Use'. It's a really great snooping resource. If, like me, you like to read about other artists techniques and modus operandi, you should really check this out.

Later this week I'm going to post some photo's of my work space at Green Door studios to let folks see how I work when I'm there.

It's two o'clock in the morning. Just finished the prep work for number four:Poseidon. I'm officialy knackered. Need sleep. Got to print this tomorrow. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I've been back from Italy for only a week but it feels like so much longer. Funny how the daily routine pulls you back to reality so quickly.

I've only been across the channel once before, a few years ago, to Barcelona. That was an amazing trip and I thought that Barcelona would be an unbeatable destination. How wrong I was. Italy has to be the most amazing place that I've ever been to. It certainly beats Britain hands down. There wasn't one thing that I can say was a disappointment. The scenery, the company, the locals (that's the Italians, not the pubs), the architecture , the art. Even the food was really good. And those who know me, know that I have food issues. So this was a feat in itself.

I didn't manage to do much sketching, only one in fact, which I've posted on Skineart. There just wasn't the time. And I'm a lazy sod which might account for it. There are photos on Flickr for those interested. Oh, and we stayed here. How awesome is that?

So back to work. Got one more print design to produce. Hopefully this will be ready for this Thursdays visit to the studio. It'll be Poseidon, which will be the fourth in the series of prints that include Ares, Hades and Medusa.

If I can get my act together that is.

This time Saturday night we will be in Italy. I'm excited for the trip and for the reason why we are going (see march fifteenth entry) but the flight, specifically the take-off, has me thinking that if God had meant us to fly he'd have given us capes (that's a Superman reference by the way). Once I'm up there I'm O.K. It's that initial rush as the 'plane thunders down the runway trying desperately to get off the ground before the ground runs out.

I'm sure I'll be fine...no, really.

This is the next in my 'Pantheon' series of prints. It was originally going to be entitled 'Gorgons', of which there were three. As you can plainly see, only one made it into the final image, so I guess that this should now be titled 'Medusa'. No, she doesn't have snakes for hair. It's representational, o.k?

I've just seen the last ever episode of Battlestar Galactica and it was...Frakkin'...Awsome! I've also just realised that much of the cultural and religious references in the show were based around Greek mythology. Just like the last few prints that I've done. Coincidence, eh?

No, honestly.

And yes, I am a first class Geek (no not Greek). Want to make something of it?

Another successful week. God, two in a row, eh? Seems like things really are falling into place at last. Here is the second print in what I'm now calling the Pantheon series and they will be produced in an edition of fifty each. This is Hades in all his glory. You'll notice that I've Left the dogs off the final image. Thought they made the design unbalanced. I know that there should be a Cerberus reference in here somewhere but, hey, artistic license is a wonderful thing.