Sea Croissants

Sea Croissants, Lithographic print, 18x24

Lithography, Spring 2014

______Here is my first lithographic print! I began doodling some crescent-shaped worms in my sketchbook and quickly ended up with these delicate critters who are floating and bending in the atmosphere. I plan on working with them again, along with constructing some Sea Bagel buddies to abide them in their journeys. I think I'm going to create a whole family of underwater bakery brethren!

______I have really grand news about this: my printmaking teacher shined a bright light on my dull day by telling me she submitted it to a showing at the PaperWorks Gallery in Birmingham. She used her people skills to ensure that mine had a place in the show since I was diligent in and outside of class, whereas the rest of my class has been pretty laid-back and slow to start. She also said she'd gladly help me through an independent study in Lithography next Fall semester. That was a big honor since she usually tells people to go away when they want to do one. That means I would be able to make the independent study work around my own schedule opposed to attending to class at specific times. She straight up blurted out how my entire class was basically holding me back, but then said if I mentioned what she just said to anyone in the class that she would fiercely deny it.

______In my book o' life, there is really no larger compliment than one from a teacher, and I must say I feel as fuzzy as the fluffy cilia of my sea croissants.



______Some of you asked what Lithography is. It's a form of printmaking, but it's much more intensive than, say, woodblock or linocut printing where you carve into a block, slather it in ink, lay paper on top of it, and roll it through the press. It's based on the concept that oil and water repel each other... and that's all I'm going to say because describing the process would one) give you a case of the ultra yawns, and two) make you stare at me with wide eyes like I'm some kinda breakdancing rooster.

______But in a nutshell? It's sort of like ghosts. Lithography is totally just ghosts n' magic. And nitric acid, solvents and grease, and inky hands that whimsically perform all sorts of scientific wonders. It makes you smell like a hazardous auto shop and look like you've been attacked by tiny scooter wheels, but most importantly, it gives you a sense of pride when you're all done with it.

______Le end. Enjoy le sea croissants. But no eating them, for they are friends.