Lily S. May–Life with Art
Here are the 4 block prints I've made for the upcoming heart show at Gerrard Art Space in Toronto. The gallery has called for submissions of up to four pieces which got me thinking about the four chambers of the heart. This led me to the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. Though I… Continue reading Aspects of the Heart
In December, I saw a tree near the Allan Gardens Conservatory in Toronto in full sun. I believe the tree is a sycamore or plane tree. With the sun full on it, the tree appeared to give off light. Here's one of the photos I took of it. In December, I also received a surprise… Continue reading This and That
I've been carving 4 block prints that I'll be entering into a show in Toronto. When they're done, I'll post them here. But, in the meantime, here's a photo I took on December 28th while on the streetcar. There was an unusual occurrence--the sun came out after a generally very grey autumn and early winter! Happy… Continue reading The Sun The Sun
This is the 2nd block print that I've carved out of softoleum over the last two weeks. Softoleum is, as its name suggests, a softer than linoleum carving material. This print, like the one in my previous post, is around 4" x 6". I adapted the print from a line drawing I made a few years… Continue reading In the Beginning
I've been drawn back to my old love of printmaking these past few weeks. I've been carving a soft rubbery-like block of a product called softoleum. This is the first of two prints I've made so far. As I worked on it, it seemed the animal was saying something about the human hand in the… Continue reading Intelligence
This painting began as one related to my father as a teenager. That image is now hidden under a layer of red and yellow paint. I was unhappy with the quality of that image because I found myself working in a tight fashion. In an attempt to free myself, I painted lines and shapes with… Continue reading Joy and Despair
I'll return to showing photos from my trip to Italy, but first wanted to post this block print I made this week. I carved the print from a rubbery material that's easy to carve yet that gives smooth crisp edges. This helps me counter repetitive strain from years of printmaking. I didn't plan the image… Continue reading 60 – 40
Here's one of my favourite photos from my trip to Italy and certainly of my time in Florence. The Ponte Vecchio means the Old Bridge and it is lined with shops selling gold jewellery. But there is a spot on each side of the bridge that is open to the river Arno. There, in mid… Continue reading From the Ponte Vecchio
I haven’t known where to begin writing and posting photos about my recent trip to Italy. So I’ve decided to start in Rome where my husband and I started out in September. We visited some of the big sites, sacred and profane: the Sistine Chapel where I got to see the incredible frescos of Michelangelo… Continue reading In Rome
I've just gotten back from a wonderful trip to Italy--somewhere I've never been. I didn't draw while there but saw some fabulous artwork and architecture and took many photos that I'll be showing here. On returning home I saw that a catalogue had been produced for BIMPE X, the miniature print exhibit I'd entered in… Continue reading The Print That Got In
Arts of May 