Electro non-toxic Intaglio workshop/residency

So, why am I in Canary Island? It is because I am at an artist residency and workshop. The residency is located in a rural part of Canary Island. If you are into touristic spots, this might disappoint you. But if you are looking for a new and different experience, you will have so much fun and get inspired here.

It is right outside of my room.

It is a beautiful room with a view. Every night I go to bed listening to the ocean.

There is a beautiful printmaking studio next to it.

I started to learn a new intaglio technique. Instead of using ferric chloride, I use water melted with copper sulfate and then use electricity to bite copper plates. I will have a different section only on this technique.

You can find more info at http://www.resartis.org/en/news/upcoming_deadlines/?id_content=1117

for more information about the residency and workshop.

Alfonso Crujera is in charge of the residency and workshop.

Here is the picture of him helping me.

You are not a printmaker? No worries. Some artists such as musicians or writers come here to compose or write. It is a very inspiring place as an artist.

I am sitting on a hammock at the residency and looking at the ocean.

Another thing you will enjoy is all these exotic plants around you. I am painting some of them and I will also have a section only on plants on Canary Island.

Right outside of my window.

Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves y Dedo de Dios

I thought I bought enough foods for a week, but realized that I needed more. I asked Alfonso if there is any little store I could walk. He said no. But he took me to a supermarket so that I could buy things I needed. On the way back, he showed me the east side of the island. Oh my god, I could see why people love Canary island.

It was between two mountains. Alfonso was so kind that he stopped the car for me to take some photos.

After food shopping, we went a place called Agaete. This is a shot of Puerto de las Nieves y Deodo de Dios.

Look at the water. It was so clean and clear!

I love the architecture of the island. Alfonso said that a lot of buildings are built recent and they are kind of cheating the style. He said that this is close to real Canary island style except for the terrace part. The one on the right hand side is true Canary style.

I can see big influence from Islamic culture.

I love and love all these plants in the island. I will have to post only plants series some points.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

I arrived in Las Palmas yesterday. I will be here for two weeks working at an artist in residence.

I will post some photos of my work I make here.

When I first arrived, the landscape did not really appeal to me. Then, I start feeling about this town a bit more today. 

It is clouded today

 Canary island is well known for tourism and beaches but it is not white sand beaches we imagine in our heads. Alfonso, the owner of the residency said that it used to be like that. Lately, new factories were built and sand beaches are gone. I look at a map. I am on the north east side of Canary island, which is cooler, temperature wise. I heard that south part of the island is hotter and very dense forest, but here is pretty much desert. 

There was volcano eruption, I don't know when, many years ago. You can see rocks like these everywhere.

     City of Las Palmas far away. The city right in front of the picture is Tinoca.

It is very diverse place. I heard there are a lot of Koreans settled here.

Soon enough, guess what I found.

I will try to take buses and explore the city more later this or early next week.

Bilbao Newspaper features my work!

Local Bilbao paper features my work. 

Basque Feast and Guggenheim

Like Korea, people in Basque welcome other people with amazing foods. There is saying in Basque Country, if your guest leaves hungry, it will be vey a shame of you the  rest of your life. 

When they say that, they were not kidding.

We went to this restaurant that was located on the top of a mountain in Bilbao.

It started with octopus and potatoes. They even had gluten free bread, which was amazing.

The next one came.

I ate this much!

Then the next one came.

I don't know what is called in English but we Koreans eat this too.

The last one was a traditional Basque desert.

After that, I went to see Guggenheim museum and the spider.

If you want to buy souvenir from Bilbao, go to this store cross the river from the museum.

They have t shirts by the designer and some beautiful stuff! 

Let's support local busines!

 

 

Trip to San Juan de Luz

I had a sort trip to San Juan de Luz, South France today.

On the way, we stop at a cafe called Paseo Chocolate.

Amazing hot chocolate made of 100% caco.

The owner of the cafe was super fun too.

There were kids who made art on chocolate.

Royal families of Spain and celebrities such as Madonna spend their summer here in San Juan de Luz and I could see why.

La Taller gallery, Bilbao, Spain

If you are a printmaking artist, this is a gallery you must check out.

I also want this gallery to thrive that more printmaking artists show their work and more people appreciate printmaking. 

Maite runs the gallery, La Taller Gallery in Bilbao, Spain.

The gallery is located in beautiful Bilbao, Spain.

Here is the view from the gallery.

I had a great opportunity to show my work here. While I am visiting, I got some shots of the gallery.

Right next to the gallery, there is a small and beautiful printmaking workshop. They teach printmaking classes and have artists come and print their work.

Here is the workshop images.

And I made an intaglio plate and printed it there.

I am always supportive of non toxic printmaking but it was nice to do conventional style again.

I also never used brass plate. It was actually very nice. I wonder if I can get them in US.

Resin is being set.

The final work.

If you are planning on visiting Bilbao, check this gallery out.

The gallery information:

La Taller Gallery

C/Zumarraga 7,

Longja bajo.

Entrada por Maestro

Iciar S/N. 48006 Bilbao

Bizkaia

Spain

Tell: 0034 94 672 2292 

Http://www.lataller.com

 

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