Shut Up. (steamroller block print)

[Totally Judy]

I am willing to bet he makes conceptualizing sketches before beginning a full sized work. Some of mine were, in retrospect, better than the finished work, particularly the nude studies in charcoal and pastels. With the "old flame" history, he just might be willing to concede a few sketches for your display. It is worth a shot. And yes, I'd like to see the other pieces you have collected.

Gary already took a major financial loss on this print by not taking any payment from me. I only paid the gallery's fee. I don't feel comfortable asking him for any other "freebies." I asked him multiple times if he would draw me a bunny on a coaster or piece of paper, because the very first thing I saw him draw was a bunny on his school notebook paper when we were sitting together during an assembly in 8th grade. He's never come through with the bunny.

I'm sure he does have lots of conceptualizing sketches - he's an artist, isn't he?

I found the two pieces I bought last year at the street fair, thinking they might work with the Shut Up Print theme.

Here is the first piece I bought - it is 8-1/2" W x 13-1/2" H. I liked it because the woman has no mouth - so she can't talk and is always SHUT UP.

I liked this one because it is the "Peace" sign. "Peace" is kind of kicked back, mellow, and quiet - so again, no need to say, "SHUT UP." It is 8-1/2" W x 8-1/2" W.

Here are the two of them side by side on the print wall. The print isn't there because I took it down so I could take it to the framer today. Unfortunately, she closed shop until Tuesday. Dang.

I'm not convinced that I like these two pieces with the print. When I bought them, I had only seen a small picture of the print, so it was difficult to really visualize them together.

My suggestion is that since YOU are an artist, that you could do a couple of small conceptual sketches that I could hang next to my print. I'm really liking this idea. And don't for a second think that I'm not serious. I am.

Maybe Beth Ann(e) could do some artsy thing to hang with the print also!

 

[Totally Judy]

Here is a picture of the Artist, Gary Sweeney, and his wife Janet that was just posted on his Facebook page. They are in Florence, Italy right now because Gary has an exhibit opening there this week.

 

[biggun3006]

You know she was telling you to shut up about painting that room pink don't you?

 

[Totally Judy]

You know she was telling you to shut up about painting that room pink don't you?

But...but... I really LIKE the 2 pink colors in my living room. I probably will never shut up.

 

[Totally Judy]

Okay. Dana at the frame shop returned from vacation, so Friday I took the Shut Up Print in and we rolled it out on the floor. I asked her for her thoughts and input.

Dana is in my yoga class and really cool. Her shop is local, and she is married to one of the guys my boss went to school with. It's a small town and it seems like everyone either went to school together, or is a former/retired Marine. But everyone knows everyone.

The problem that I am running into is that the print isn't 4' x 6'. The actual dimensions of the art design on the paper is 4' x 6'. But including the white borders outside of the design on the paper, the final measurements are actually closer to 5' x 7'. That is one heck of a large art print to frame. Glass is obviously out of the question. Just clear/plain plexiglass, foam board backing, and thin black metal frame was something like $350 plus tax.

UV and non-glass plexiglass in the size I would need would be almost $500 just for the plexiglass. And Dana's costs are at leat 1/2 or more LESS than if I went to the frame shop in the other local town, and even more if I drove down the hill into the Palm Springs area.

We discussed a lot of different options for well over 30 minutes. I decided that the plain plexiglass was more affordable, but I don't want a reflective/glare glass covering this print. We discussed plexiglass just screwed into the wall over the print; piecing the UV-non-glare plexiglass over the design portion (4' width), and then piecing the sides with the plain flexiglass, etc.. These were options, but I don't believe they would do justice to the print.

So for now, the print is back up on the wall, hanging from clips. I have to replace the nails with the screws for the heaver clips Gary Sweeney sent me.

I am just going to let the print hang from the clips for now while I ponder my options. Maybe the print needs to just hang by the clips as intended by the Artist. I just don't have an answer right now.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have now seriously considered other possibilities for the presentation of the print. And while I really like the UV and non-glare plexiglass option, it is way outside of my budget for now. It would probably end up costing me close to $700 to get it properly mounted. And with the other expenses I have coming up for the painting of the rest of the interior of the house, and recarpeting all of the rooms, I just don't have the money to spend to frame the print with the best option at this point.

Dana did tell me that the inks used these days for block prints have greatly inproved over the past 20+ years. The paper is a very heavy quality paper for the print. And I'm certain that Gary Sweeney would have used the highest quality ink for his work. Dana said that even without framing, the print (paper and ink) would last in fine shape for over 100 years. Although she doesn't know how they can calculate that the ink would last that long!

I shared with Dana that Gary had told me to just dust the print off every few weeks. Dana said that rather than use a feather duster that could rub some dust/etc. into the paper, that I use a blow dryer to blow off any dust instead. What a great idea!

Thank you again, everyone. I really liked the frame idea, but will have to stay with the hanging by clips for now. (I don't have any knives valuable enough to sell to even being to pay for the framing!!)

TJ