It's official!

I passed my entrance portfolio review today, which means I am officially a printmaking major here at NIU.  I was given the advice to work a little more on sharpening my techniques, then do more print work in combination with other disciplines I love, like sculpture and performance art.  I was told I'm very conceptually strong and that I need to think big and use whatever mediums are necessary to communicate my ideas in the best way possible.

Also, I'm on winter break starting tomorrow, so I plan to take some time updating this site with photos of my new work from this semester.

Happiness and relief...

"The Connoisseuse"

"The Connoisseuse" Woodcut by N. Rice 2011

My most recent finished piece was a woodcut entitled "The Connoisseuse." It was displayed in the "Chatter" printmaking show at Bad Dog Gallery on October 20, 2011, along with work by my fellow Relief & Intaglio classmates. My "Ribbed for Her Pleasure" woodcut was also in the show.

It features a woman contemplating a piece by Piet Mondrian ("Composition with Black, Red, Gray, Yellow, and Blue" from 1920). I thought Mondrian's work would be interesting to use as a subject because its flatness and precision contrasts to the imperfect nature of a reductive woodcut. The title is based on a Norman Rockwell painting, called "The Connoisseur" from 1962, in which a man is shown contemplating a work by Jackson Pollock.

The process used 4 different blocks: a key block + 3 other blocks which were each reduced one time.

Proofs of my key image

Key image transferred onto all 4 blocks

Block 1, Color 1

Block 2, Color 2

Block 3, Color 3

Block 2, Colors 4 & 5 (split color roll)

Block 3, Color 6

Block 1, Color 7

Key Block, Final Image

Finally, here are some photos of the artwork at the "Chatter" show, which was a fantastic evening. We gave away a limited number of free 4 x 6" woodcut prints to the earliest guests. Those are pictured below, along with the rest of the work in the show.

4 x 6" Woodcut Freebies

Work by: Scott Steder, John Cheney, Sam Kiss, Jonathan Arends, Karen McKenney, and others

Work by: Christopher Blume, Sam Cikauskas, and Jeanette Nuxoll

Work by: Andrew, John, Ryan, Nikki Rice, and others

Find me on Tumblr!

Many items of business today...

1) I have a Tumblr account now, which is quickly becoming my insta-porta-mobile-blog.  It basically a bite-sized version of this blog, with a lot more photos and postings about things that amuse and inspire my life and my art.  I've been using it to post works in progress, as well:

 

http://nriceart.tumblr.com

2) I'd like to fill my Links page with some interesting stuff, so if you have a website showcasing your artwork, or know of any good printmaking sites, please let me know.

3) I am working on adding an event calendar to this site, but until then... my Relief & Intaglio class is going to be in a show at Bad Dog Gallery in DeKalb on October 20th, 2011 from 7-10 p.m.  It's called "Chatter" and will feature woodcuts from the entire class.  BONUS: We're giving away free prints at the show.  Come and get it!

My First Suicide Print... Awww!

I just finished my first printmaking project of the semester - a 6 color/1 block reduction woodcut (AKA a "suicide print"). This was only the 2nd woodcut I've ever done, and the process took a long time for me to wrap my brain around. I intended to take photos of each step in the color process, but one got left out.

Color 1

Color 2

Color 3

Color 4

Color 6 (Final)

An introduction...

My name's Nikki Rice and I am a Printmaking major at Northern Illinois University (with an Art History minor). Aside from showcasing my artwork, I would like this website to be a place where I can brainstorm ideas for my newest projects, share show dates and reviews, profile my favorite artists, and talk about new printmaking processes I'm learning.

I've just started my 3rd year here at NIU, and am currently enrolled in a woodcut & intaglio class. I am a printmaking n00b, and exploring new techniques on a regular basis. I'd love feedback and advice from anyone who's willing to share, and links to artists and printmaking websites would also be appreciated.

If you're interested in purchasing any of the work you see on this site, please contact me at saucygirl0@gmail.com.

Cheers!