Monday, January 28, 2008

The Way I Read It


Here's a linoleum print, the largest I've ever made - and hand-printed with a spoon rubbed in circles on the back of it! It is my political statement for the Bible belt, and I have a smaller version of the same message, "We are not so many worlds apart". It's basically a prayer for peace and unity. The other title is "The way I read it", meaning the Bible.

The central image of the marching feet was a happy accident. I use old newspapers underneath clay pieces when I work, and I was in the middle of a series of black and white clay hearts. The article, about the ROTC in Walterboro, happened to be under a clay heart, and when I picked up the clay, the marching feet were outlined by the shape of a heart. I saved it for a while until it found its place in the middle of the print.

Printmaking has a wonderful history in political statement. I enjoy that aspect of the art form, as did my parents and generations of printmakers before us!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Art by Janka




Here are a few photos of work from the past few years. I made hearts like crazy when we went to war in Iraq. Flowering vases I have made for some time, since teaching a friend how to pinch a pot. This wall-hanging dress is called "Cleopatra". (See the asp?)
Clay is a wonderful medium. I use earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain.
Recently I have ventured back into figurative work.
I also paint and make linoleum prints and woodcuts.
I've been an artist all my life. (Most children are.)