Happy New Year! A new linocut artwork before the year finishes

At the end of the year I always look through my blog posts and compare with the previous year. This year I think it was quite creative and productive for me. Because I am a self-learner, I did many experiments and learnt many things from my mistakes, and sometimes discovered new things. This is the way I like it! Life is an adventure to enjoy... Happy New Years to  you all!

This week I worked on a new linocut design. "Thursday mood" is the fifth piece of "Mood of the week days" series. I got inspired by a hashtag #TBT which indicates the first letters of "Throw back Thursday". Generally on Thursdays you share an old picture along with this hashtag. Let me tell you about the process; I did the sketch and to reverse the image I used a small Plexiglass board which comes with a light for seeing the lines easier on the back side of the paper (see pic). Afterwards, I transferred the reversed image on the lino sheet with a red ball pen, to transfer all the line art properly (see pic). Once the image was on the sheet, I went over the lines with the red ball pen, in order for all the lines to be fixed. After that, I carved the lino sheet. Once the carving is finished, I decided to check the negative image on a very thin paper with a charcoal stick. This is kind of a pre-proof stage for me. After seeing the result, I went over the lino a little bit more. I did the proof printing, and lastly, I fixed a few more details. 

Work in progress

"Thursday mood" by Birsen Ozbilge, 2016

Original limited edition handmade linocut print

(Edition of 25 only)

Paper size 6" x 8" (16 x 20 cm.)

Image size 4" x 6" (10 x 15 cm.)

Available, click on SHOP

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They must be right saying "Hard work pays off"

Hi everyone, It was another busy week at the studio with creating a new still-life painting, sharing and exchanging many ideas with other pastel and linocut artists from all around the world, filming, video editing and working on a raffle project which will give a chance people to win my artwork and finally updating my online shop on ETSY.  I worked very hard last week and couldn't have a break, even on the weekend, so I am really looking forward for this coming weekend to loosen up a little bit, and have fun with my Spanish family on our traditional Christmas dinner. 

Work in progress

Last week I worked on another festive composition, this time I used oil pastel medium to paint. Last year when we visited Istanbul, my mother gave me a few geranium cuts to take with me. I planted them on my way back and they bloomed so many times since then. Originally my grandmother, who passed away last year, used to have them. So this plant reminds of her memories and I call it grandma's geranium, too like the title. I set the plant into a brass bowl and decorated a little. I wanted to use similar tones as the flower has, so I laid two different kind of scarves to make contrast with each other and with the flower as well. I disregard the details on scarves and worked on the objects instead. One of the complementing object is a KLM's collectible miniature Dutch style house, a porcelain gin bottle, I bought it from Amsterdam 5 years ago for my husband, and yes it has gin in it! The last one is another collectible, a gift from my mother. It's a small glass snow ball with a landmark building called "Maiden's Tower" in the Bosphorus, This one reminds me of my hometown Uskudar in Istanbul. I think it's important for you to know about these objects in order to enjoy the artwork more...  I myself have more attachments with some of my paintings for that reason. 

See you until the next newsletter,  Have a great week! 

Detail

"Grandma's geranuim" by Birsen Ozbilge, 2016

Oil pastel on pastel paper, 29.7 x 21 cm ( 11.7" x 8.3")

If you are interested in to own the original artwork please contact me.

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Let's spread the spirit of Christmas!

Museum visit in Vegueta

In the last few weeks I visited several exhibitions in Las Palmas city. One of them was quite interesting, a homage exhibition to famous Grancanarian Poet Pino Ojeda (1916-2002) in San Martin Centro de Cultura Contemporánea. It was curious to find out that she was a good painter also. She painted abstract landscapes with wonderful textures and powerful abstract paintings (see pic above). There were a few portraits of her painted by other Canarian artists as well. The exhibition will be opened until 19th of February 2017. That's lot of time for planning a nice Vegueta visit. 

Work in progress

The Christmas spirit is all around the island nowadays. Streets and window displays are decorated with holiday ornaments. So, I felt like creating a festive still-life composition with soft pastels. I used Royal & Langnickel brand 48 piece soft pastel set with Rembrandt Artist's quality peach color toned pastel paper. I am using this new soft pastel set and it's pretty good and the pastel paper holds several layers of soft pastel very well, too (see pic below). Enjoy your week and don't forget to spread the spirit of Christmas...

Detail

Merry Christmas by Birsen Ozbilge, 21 x 29.7 cm, soft pastel.

Available as limited edition reproduction print.

12" x 16" on an acid-free heavy-weight matte paper made in USA.

To see details click on SHOP

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A visit to Casa Africa and New Linocut Print "Friday Mood"

Enjoying the exhibition at Casa Africa

The other day we saw Fernando Nguema's "Obras incompletas 1992 – 2008", a sculpture exhibition at Casa Africa in Las Palmas city. Sincerely, this place never fails my expectations, every time I visit there, I discover unique and beautiful creations by African artists. If you will be wondering around the city these days, I will highly recommend it. Casa Africa is very close to Plaza de la Feria and 15 minutes walking distance from Parque San Telmo. It will open until the 5th of January, visiting hours; Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.  

Making of  the linocut

This week I worked on a new linocut print (see pic above) project. This one is called "Friday mood", it is for the "moods of the week days" linocut series. When I was sketching the design, I was listening the famous hit song from the 80's, "Friday I'm in love" by The Cure. So, somehow the CD cover and the earphones ended up getting into the composition. I tried to express the joy of being free from typical "9 to 5" work and enjoyment of a glass of beer, calamari snack and music by the sea side. I hope you feel the same way... 

If you wish to have your own limited edition linocut print, you can contact me or simply order it at my online shop. (only 25 editions will be printed). In advanced of upcoming Black Friday, I have a special offer, which is **FREE Shipping worldwide** by registered mail with purchasing any 3 pieces of linocut prints in my ETSY shop ClickGallery. Use coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY for the discount. (offer ends on November 28th, Monday) Enjoy  your weekend!

"Friday mood" by Birsen Ozbilge, 2016

Original limited edition handmade linocut print

(Edition of 25 only)

Paper size 6" x 8" (16 x 20 cm.)

Image size 4" x 6" (10 x 15 cm.)

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* Reply with a comment if you liked this.

Peace on Earth

Holiday season is getting closer, in less than 2 months... So, last weekend I started to design a linocut print greeting card. This year's theme is "Peace on Earth". The world really needs this now as it should be our wish for everyone. As you may know already, many famous as well as unknown artists created unique handmade greeting cards in the past and these are collectible small art pieces, which can be framed as an artwork (see pic below). This year I am going to offer a set of 6 greeting cards for 40 € including Free shipping worldwide with registered mail. Also, 5% of the sale profit will be donated to UNICEF Foundation to help children affected by war. 

 "Peace on Earth" Greeting card sets (left) - Mock up for framed linocut (right).

Even though the preparing process was quite time consuming, the result was worth it. After several sketches made, I transferred the final one to the lino sheet (see pic below) and started to carve it. I did a test print with a chalk stick (see pick below). Because the blue ink was a little bit dark I inked the lino sheet with lighter blue mixing it with white color. I tested inking a few prints to make sure no more carving was needed (see pic below). Next day when the prints were totally dry, I cut and attached them on heavy-weight hand-cut card stock. Later on with an HB pencil I wrote the title, signed and dated the cards. Each card has its own envelop and protective plastic sleeve. If you think your friends or relatives might be interested in ordering them, feel free to share this e-mail (or share the blog page link). I will be busy printing and preparing card sets till mid-November, in order to give enough time for people to send them for the holiday season. Have a great weekend!

Making the "Peace on Earth" linocut print for holiday greeting cards

"Peace on Earth" Handmade Linocut Greeting Card

by Birsen Ozbilge, 2016

Card size is 8.25 cm x 13 cm (3.24" x 5.11)

Set of 4 is available to order, click on SHOP

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How to frame a Linocut Print

a visit to Museo León y Castillo 

Well, I just fixed a few things on design and video editing programs to be able to share with you the latest news from the studio and the island's undiscovered places. 

I don't know if it happens to you, but I was always curious about the street names, especially the ones with people names... Many years I passed through "calle León y Castillo" which is one of the longest and important streets in Las Palmas, and the other day we were walking around the historical part of Telde and came across with this same name on a museum building.

Fernando León y Castillo (1842-1918) was a politician, and a very important personality who decided on an intervention of Spain and North Africa and he was an ambassador in Paris for many years until he died. The collection is full of history with wonderful paintings, sculptures and decorative artworks from the last century, many gifted from royal families. (see pic above) We really enjoyed this visit. At the end of the tour we were allowed to sit and rest at the roof terrace, where we relaxed and I sketched the surroundings.

from carving till framing 

Last week I worked on a new linocut print (see pic above). Earlier this summer I made two linocut prints titled "Saturday mood" and "Sunday mood". So, I decided to continue this series and I came up with another traditional drink; Turkish coffee. This 3rd one in the series represents the beginning of the week, it's a "Monday mood" (see pic below). A little coffee fortune session will be fun for Monday, I thought.

I ship my linocut artworks well-packed and registered but with no frame. It's much safer and economical. Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week!

"Monday mood" by Birsen Ozbilge, 2016

Original limited edition handmade linocut print

(Edition of 25 only)

Paper size 6.5" x 8.5" (16 x 21 cm.)

Image size 4" x 6" (10 x 15 cm)

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