Lily S. May–Life with Art
Here are the origami models I mentioned in the last post. I made them from parts of an abstract linocut, Introspection, which I printed in the 1970s and recently coloured with pigment markers. I then thought of making a larger pinwheel envelope out of waxed paper. I put the others inside where they could be… Continue reading Mail Art Origami & Waxed Paper
I often find that during the process of making art work, I experience physical pain from repetitive movements. Oil painting at an easel was the only pain free work that I’ve done. And so, a few weeks ago, I took a break from making booklets out of old prints and rose from sitting to standing. … Continue reading Small Collages Out of Old Prints
Surprise fold booklet by Lily S. May, 2013I did indeed use the fold out booklet I wrote about on Feb. 2 as a model. Again, I was happily surprised at the variation that I discovered. Booklet with surprise folds by Lily S. May, 2013This mail art booklet is 5” from point to bottom and 2 ½”… Continue reading Surprise Folds
Fold Out Booklet made from old linocut by Lily S. May, 2013I’ve continued turning some of my old prints into booklets and sending them out as mail art. The one I’ll show you today I’ll be keeping for a while. It’s a happy accident that I want to use for reference for other booklets. I… Continue reading Fold Out Booklet as Mail Art Model
Mirrors of the Heart--some of the cards in the deck--by Lily S. May, copyright 1994Like it or not, it’s Valentine’s Day. And because of that, I’m offering up some hearts from the card deck I made in 1994. Mirrors of the Heart grew out of my interest at that time in tarot cards. I thought… Continue reading Mirrors of the Heart Card Deck
Program from The Al Purdy Show, Feb. 6, 2013, TorontoOn Wednesday night, I attended a fundraiser at beautiful Koerner Hall in Toronto. It was in honour of an excellent Canadian poet, Al Purdy (1918 – 2000). Al’s work was being honoured through readings by Canadian poets and actors and through performances by musicians. The funds… Continue reading Poetry Out Loud & in a Linocut
I’ve sent out another booklet as mail art, this time to a friend who’s also an artist. This was the first book I complied. It’s made of two prints. I placed the smaller book upside down inside the large one and sewed them together. Kapoks Touching, which you can see in my last post, forms… Continue reading Old Prints, New Booklets & Mail Art 2
I’ve made many linocuts and woodcuts since the 1970s, some of which I’ve sold and given as gifts or hung on my walls. But I have a great many that I’ve stored in a box and carried with me. They’ve been accusing me of neglect for several years. I have finally, this month, begun paying… Continue reading Old Prints, New Booklets & Mail Art
Back to printmaking. This is one of my favourite colour linocuts. I made it using the same process--subtraction printing--that I described in Mental Gymnastics. The print is one of several abstract ones I made in 1993. I didn't plan the design ahead, but let the work develop as I moved along, allowing shapes to appear.… Continue reading Inner Landscape Linocut
When I did printmaking I greatly enjoyed the mental gymnastics that were part of the process. First of all, you have to consider that everything you carve prints in reverse. This requires particular attention when you include words or numbers in the image. I recall times when my mind wandered and I found myself carving… Continue reading Mental Gymnastics in Printmaking
Arts of May 