Las plantas

One of amazing things about Canary Island is exotic plants. I have never seen anything like it before. So, I was not sure what to think of it at first. I started with the garden at my place.

I don't know all the names of the plants, but they are amazing!

This is goji berries. It was fresh and very yummy.

This is a tree originally from Canary Island called drago.

Its sap is red. So people here call it " San gre de drago", meaning drago' blood.

So, I made a drawing out of it.

I am going to Jardin Botanico de Las Palmas Grand Canaria soon. I will post more plants!

Beautiful trees!

Electro non toxic intaglio

You might have wondered why I am in Canary Island. I came here to learn electro etching 

and make some art out of it. My teacher Alfonso taught me this amazing new technique.

This is an electro tank. It is a mixture of water and copper sulfate.

The principle of this process is that two copper metals are faced to each other.

Then, put some electricity into the solution. It sounds very complicated but very simple once you see it.

I am getting ready for some plates. You simply file the edges of the plates, sand them down, and degrees them with vinegar and whiting.

I use Lascaux resist for the process. First etch. Iron neutralizes copper sulfate.

Stop out some area.

After second etch, clean the resist.

Then, stop out for electro-tint, which is very similar effect to aquatint.

Right before putting the plate to the sulfate solution, make sure to put the plate into vinegar/salt solution to degrease the plate.

My first electro etching ever!

This is graphite ink technique. You use graphite ink from Graphic Chemicals with lithotine and cobalt dryer and apply it into the plate with a brayer.

I did an etching first.

Then, apply the graphite ink.

This is semi dry technique. Place your plate on newspaper and plastic wrap.

Place the plate and some fabric, strings, or paper. Put some sulfate on the plate.

Then, put two pieces of sulfate soaked felts and weight them.

These are some of my work that I did!

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.