Behind the Scenes: From the Studio

Ink tubes, stamp and palette knife

I spend so much time in my studio (which is in my apartment, making it easy to spend lots of time there), but it is truly a place I love and feel so in my element. I am so fortunate to have a big space all to myself, which I can set up and outfit in such a way that works just for me. The studio is always a sort of work in progress, and often in a state of disarray, with tools and materials and supplies scattered about as I use them and work on various things at once. But that is kind of what I like about it — it’s my space to industrious and messy and free and not worry about being “presentable.” That said, I thought I’d share just some random (edited) behind-the-scenes images from my studio…

I love these flat files. They can be considered “vintage.” A former work colleague and friend gave them to me; he had them in his design studio in the Flatiron District since the ’70s/’80s, and had no more use for them since the graphic design business turned digital…

Flat files; botton drawer holds excess chipboard and backer board

This was the block being carved for the first print I made last year (2011). For me the carving process is slow and deliberate, a chance to be meditative & quiet, to sit by the window with a cup of hot coffee and be lost in thought “working with your hands,” on something physical and tangible…

Linoleum block for "Almost" (2011) linocut, carving in progress

2011 was the year I started making my hand block-printed linen scarfs. This discovery — that I could make block prints on linen that could be worn as an accessory — changed my world! It opened up a new market and product line for me, and the possibilities are still being explored. I fell in love with printing wood blocks on soft linen, and I absolutely adore every scarf that I make. These blank scarfs — which are cut and sewn in my studio, and here are ready to be printed — represent the color palette that I love: soft, neutral, muted tones that are classic, timeless, never out of style, always elegant and natural…

Cut, sewn and waiting-to-be-printed blank linen scarfs

Linen fabric color swatches

Handkerchief linen color cards

Hang tags, with care information for linen scarfs

My dear, sweet and crazy dog has been a faithful companion this past year, keeping me company while I spend loooong days (and sometimes nights) at work in the studio. She is quite content to lie on the couch or sprawl on the hardwood floors, but at some point pretty much every day she’ll bring me her pull toy and insist on playing for a while, which is a nice diversion…

Sweet Koka, visiting in the studio

Looking out the window - it's Fall!

Overall it’s been a great year. I feel lucky and blessed to be doing what I love…

Out at a Brooklyn pizza joint, with a friend

Cheers, and here’s to a brand new year!

Oldie But Goodie…

Fort Greene Park, linocut with watercolor additions, 2012

I made the block for this print back in 2010, and decided to reprint an edition of this for 2012. It’s a depiction of Fort Greene Park, the wonderfully peaceful and shady park near my home in Fort Greene where you can wander among the trees and rolling hills. What I like about the park (designed by the Olmstead-Vaux team that designed Central Park) is its abundance of trees and grass, the hills and walkways, and the size — it’s big enough that it feels ample and spacious, but it’s not so overwhelming (it’s about 30 acres) that you are ever lost in it and don’t know where you are.

I drew the sketch for this print while sitting on the top of the hill that overlooks the tennis courts and lawn that serves as a soccer field. I love how you can see the tops of the brownstones on Washington Park peering above the treetops at the edge of the park. For this edition I printed the block in black ink and later hand painted some watercolor washes over the sky, trees and grass to add a little bit of color.

I use some wonderful sable haired brushes that a friend gave me once…

Paintbrushes and color strip

Prints before adding watercolor

Close up

Completed print signed, numbered and dated

Available in my Etsy shop here.

Busy, suddenly…

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The city of New York never ceases to amazement me. It is truly an awesome place. Although I’m a “native” and have lived in Brooklyn for more than five years now, I still feel lucky to call New York home. Less wide-eyed, perhaps, but there are moments when it catches me — like the view from a trade show window (just another ordinary day at work!).

After a slow slog of a summer I’m suddenly overwhelmed with activity. Producing for shows, teaching children once again, learning how to ramp up production. (There is an awesome tool that cuts fabric the way a circular saw cuts wood!) People I admire have often said, of their journey, “So many people helped me along the way…” I’m beginning to see how it’s true. The help of people in my community has been tremendous. In very real, practical, and huge ways — tremendously selfless ways. What they say to me: “A lot of people helped me along the way, so I want to do my part too.”

I hope some day I can pay it back, too. In the meantime, I suppose we have to live our lives in such a way that we remember how much we receive that we could never really pay back, really…

Upcoming Shows

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I have a few shows coming up this fall in that I’m excited about, all in Manhattan. Thought I’d share quickly here while I work hard to prepare! I’ll be selling mainly prints and scarves…

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Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Fall 2011 Trunk Show
Thursday, Sept. 15, 6 – 8 pm
Hosted by Proskauer Rose LLP
11 Times Square
RSVP to attend and more info is here

Independent Designer Pop Shop at Chelsea Market
Oct. 3 – 10 (Monday to Monday, Columbus Day)
11 – 8 pm daily (11 – 7 pm Sunday)
Chelsea Market Event Space, Chelsea Market
9th Avenue between 15th and 16th streets

Crafts in Chelsea
Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 am – 5 pm (rain or shine)
W. 21st Street between 8th and 9th avenues

Japanese Woodcuts

A student from my last introductory block printing workshop generously gave me this absolutely gorgeous book! (My students are so wonderful). It describes textile designs for kimonos made from woodcuts. I’m so completely fascinated and inspired by these images. Perhaps it’s the combination of the color palette, and the delicacy of the designs. Or the fact that I’ve been working so much with linen, exploring the process of hand block printing on textile… I’ve always associated Japanese kimonos with very intense, vibrant colors, but these are more subtle and mixed with grays, like the colors I favor… Also I’m fascinated by the craftsmanship. The essay in the book describes how a strictly disciplined society ruled, creating an environment where superior craftsmanship flourished:

The city of Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital from 794 until 1603, when the Tokugawa Shogunate relocated the central government to Edo (Tokyo). As the center of court life, Kyoto was a vibrant cultural magnet that supported a high level of connoisseurship in the arts and crafts. The Shogunate established strict control over a class system of warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants.*

Hmm, warriors, farmers, artisans and merchants — which one would you be?

I think it is also good to be reminded that before we ever stepped foot on earth (or in the studio), there were centuries of artists inventing and mastering this form of printmaking.

*From “Zuancho in Kyoto: Textile Design Books for the Kimono Trade.” Essay by Kenichiro Yokoya, Photographs by Mikio Matsuo.

Linen

I have been attempting to work with linen for a long time now, experimenting with different blocks and how to block print by hand on linen. Linen is such a beautiful fabric — there’s a simple elegance and earthy quality to it that is special. I dug out my old sewing machine and started playing around. My mom taught me how to sew when I was very little, for which I am now very grateful. I purchased a pair of left-handed fabric cutting scissors and got to work. These block printed scarves, I love! Koka is modeling a smaller one I made from the fabric scraps left over from my first run…

Color

I just love the illustration in this week’s New York magazine for the “urbanist’s guide” to different world cities. The color palette immediately jumped out as one that resonates with me somehow… from the gouache paints I use to add color accents to my prints, to the Kate Spade iPhone cover that I love.

This particular shade of blue is so dreamy to me, I painted half my apartment with it. The color, called “Sea Swan,” is lovely enough to swim in — the perfect shade for the half of my live-work space where I “live,” relax and sleep…

Valentine’s Day projects

I am growing to really enjoy Valentine’s Day. Partly it’s a way to remember the old school tradition of handing out “valentines” to all your friends in school (remember that, from elementary school?) It seems poignant somehow, a holiday that changes in meaning from the way you experience it as a child to the way you experience it as an adult. Also, it’s a holiday that celebrates love. It falls in the middle of February, which to many people can be the coldest, hardest month of winter to get through. Although it’s the shortest, it can seem so long somehow… and why not honor love in the middle of the coldest, hardest month of the year?

And partly, it’s an excuse for me as an artist to create some fun things to give away as gifts to friends and loved ones, to let them know they are special. Which, if you ask me, is a good thing to do…

OK, I get a little carried away. I confess that printmaking lends itself to becoming obsessed. Part of what I enjoy so much about printmaking is the ability to repeat the image, to make so many pieces and objects, all original and hand-crafted, from this one little block…. and that, I love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Snowy morning

It’s another snowy, snowy morning out my studio window. We’ve had so many snowy days and cold, cold weather…

I love the seasons, though, and the slower, quieter pace of winter, post-holidays…

I’ve been happy to stay indoors a lot with my coffee and hot cocoa, and, of course, my Koka…

New Products…

I made these ceramic plates to test out at the Brooklyn Flea holiday market, Gifted, and they were a huge success. I printed them in black and in red, and had two styles, a rectangular white serving plate and a square serving plate.

I really like the idea of being able to hand-print the linoleum block onto a ceramic plate. Once the ink is dried, I glaze the surface and bake the plates to seal them. They are restaurant grade plates, perfect for serving cookies or cheese with your wine while you’re entertaining.

I got the idea from a business-savvy friend of mine, after we were hanging out at another friend’s wine & cheese party during Thanksgiving. They go well with my aesthetic and appreciation for gathering friends around some wine and good food. I love the way they developed organically…

I have a couple other ideas around this same theme that I’m working on as well. As soon as I’m happy with them, I’ll be sure to test them out too. Stay tuned…

What we stay alive for

“Profit is a necessary condition for existence and a means to more important ends, but it is not the end in itself… Profit is like oxygen, food, water and blood for the body; they are not the point of life, but without them, there is no life.”

–Jim Collins + Jerry Porras, “Built to Last”

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

— Robin Williams as John Keating, in Dead Poets Society

New wood block

Here are some images of a new wood block in progress. I started with a drawing right on the wood, and took about one late night and an early morning carving the block.

I look forward to spending the time carving. Carving, to me, is soothing and grounding, almost meditative. It takes a lot of focus and concentration and a whole lot of time, but sometimes that is a welcome change from the way we live most days. So many things in our culture is so instant and quick. I like having to take the time to chip away at something, to sit down and focus on one thing, to work slowly and calmly…

I’ve since finished the block and made a few prints of these. Look for them in my online shop soon! www.michellehan.etsy.com

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