New Beginnings

The old Thai Freedom House / Free Bird Cafe

     This week's workshop with Thai Freedom House was an exciting one full of new beginnings!  As we arrived, they were just packing away their last boxes onto a truck to move to their new location.  This was their last night at the old place and we all made it a good one! 

     Another exciting beginning is this month's theme for Thai Freedom House workshops, PRINTMAKING!  That was worth the all-caps because I happen to be in love with the art form. :)  I have been so excited to teach the perfectly capable and enthusiastic group something I love so much!

Hokusai's "The Great Wave"

     I made a power point with as little information as possible (too much) on an introduction to printmaking; the concept, the types, techniques and some examples of famous artists and their work.  Artists we included were Katsushika Hokusai, Albrecht Durer and Andy Warhol.  We also made sure to show off the printmaking talent of Thailand and used examples from Theerayuth Inkaew who prints out of Bangkok.

                  The first printmaking focus for this month was Collography, one of the more hands on techniques that is certain to be a good time - even if the prints don't turn out so well. ;) We decided to go with a bird theme for the prints, to go along with the Free Bird Cafe that supports Thai Freedom House.

     As soon as we finished the quick lesson, or rather my prolonged obsessive rant, the students of Thai Freedom House got to work.  They were just as enthusiastic as usual, maybe a bit more since the big move meant more hands on deck and more excitement in the air.  The packed room soon filled with feathers and paper and string and fabric as everyone went into a flurry of placing and gluing onto the printing plates we had prepared for them.

  

     Once complete, and somewhat dry, they headed over to our printing stations to paint and press their images.  I was completely surprised by every print that came out - that's what I love about printmaking is it's never quite what you expect and each print is unique.  The students came up with brilliant designs of palm trees and ostriches, pecking crows and of course, "Angry Birds".  :)

     I was so impressed by how quickly they were able to grasp this new technique and the designs they were able to create.  They were all far too humble whenever I told them their work was "suay mak!" which means "very beautiful" in Thai.  I found too many prints hiding under the tables afterwards which I stole away and flaunted as if I had made them, to the laughter of those who had really created them.

     The next time we see our Thai Freedom friends we will be exploring new territory in the next phase of Thai Freedom House as well as a whole new form of printmaking!

Peace, Love and Printmaking!!!! :) Amyyyyy