Tree of Souls (Pranayama) Screen Print

This print began as a series of sketches that were later refined into a pen and ink drawing. Rochelle uses a tiny .005 micron black pen to create the various lines and shaded dreamlike worlds. Each color separation is drawn by hand and printed one at a time to create the limited edition of prints. The process from sketch to final piece can take up to 2 months. 

Tree of Souls refers to the ancient connection with nature and generations past. Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning  extension of the prana, life force or breath, as portrayed in the central element of expanding, life-like lungs. This print is a culmination of the various flowers, plants, and architectural elements that have influenced and grown in my work for the past 3 and a half years. In 2009 I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and took a series of photographs, which inspired several drawings, prints and artist books. I was fascinated with the pointed cactus plants, tiny buds of botanical forms and the serenity of floating lotus ponds.

Last year I traveled to Italy, which became another breathtaking source of inspiration. I took in every little detail, from the hand-painted ceilings of the Sistine Chapel to the leaves of the gardens surrounding the Bourghese Museum. The smooth, marble-striped columns of the Duomo have transformed into twisting, tangled vines in "Tree of Souls."

My most recent work has evolved into purely imaginative worlds of hybrid flowers, ornate birdcages and abstract plant-like forms. I marry these natural figments of the imagination with symbols of Hindu and Buddhist deities, mandalas and Buddha himself.

♥ Happy Valentine's Day ♥

So Flows the Current

As the year comes to an end it's natural to take time to reflect on all that has happened in the past 12 months. In 2011, I made a conscious effort to set goals, create daily intentions and dream big. Among those aspirations was to travel, create art, teach others, and find an essential balance.

Pursuing my passion has evolved from a self-fulfilling dream to a means of communicating and connecting with a larger, global community. As I develop my work I become a vehicle for exploring the imagination, finding joy and inspiring others. Art is a universal language, my way of expressing a vision that sometimes cannot be put into words. Discovering your style as an artist is one of the most difficult things to do, and in this past year I have found my voice on paper. A recognizable mark, set of glowing colors, and other-worldy imagery. Gardens of plant-like forms have grown into life-like worlds of tentacles, spider-legs and feathery wings. As a friend of mine kindly wrote "Looking at the work can be a meditation in itself."

Staying positive can be the most difficult challenge as we face rejections, disappointments and change. Just as I am ready to perhaps give up on all this hard work, I am reminded to keep going, to persevere. One morning in the fall, I was commuting on the train, sketching a new idea for a print. As I reached my stop I folded up my little black sketchbook, until next time. As I walked to the stairs an older business man caught up with me and tapped me on the shoulder. I thought that I had dropped a pencil or my metro card. He simply said "Your work is really beautiful." I was taken aback by the sincere, unexpected compliment. It made me realize how many times people have approached me to share their thoughts or comment on my work. My sketches have allowed me to make connections with people from all walks of life, single moms with their infants, homeless men with a hat full of change, or a young high school student. Everyone seems to see something different in my imagery… a garden of mystery, seemingly harmless, with a dangerous twist of vines and thorns.

Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel can be next to impossible when we aren't reaping the rewards of our labor. But putting something positive into this world is an accomplishment in itself. There is more to life than going through the day to day motions of earning a paycheck and finding stability. It is this pursuit of passion that must be valued and nurtured. As we come closer to achieving a purpose in life we have more to give others, more to contribute to the world. We must learn to accept change and the inevitable ups and downs… so flows the current.

The song "So Flows the Current" by Patrick Ohearn was the inspiration for this post: http://www.patrickohearn.com/CDpop_up_soflows.htm

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Thanks for following the blog and continuing to support my work.
~ Rochelle

Creating a Silk Scarf

 

I begin by sketching out my ideas with a mechanical pencil (mostly commuting on the train between yoga and the studio).

 

I completely redraw the sketch onto Bristol Board. I use tiny .005 micron pens to trace over the drawing (if you live in Brooklyn and your art store is sold out of .005 microns, I probably bought the last one.) I tend to leave a trail of them wherever I go...

I scan in the pen and ink drawing and print the design onto vellum. The transparency becomes a color separation (stencil) for screen printing. I screen print the image onto the blank white silk scarves with a black, water-based resist called gutta.

After the gutta dries, I stretch the scarf onto plastic stretcher bars using tiny pins. I hand paint the background with special silk dyes. I have to work very quickly and carefully to avoid getting watermarks or bleeding through the lines.

I paint the design using the silk dyes in a similar technique to watercolor painting, using the white of the scarf for highlighted areas. The painting process can take up to 7 hours for intricate designs.

Once the scarves are dry they need to be steam set. I roll them up in newsprint and aluminum foil and then steam them in a pot for 4 hours.

Voila! We have a silk scarf. Ready to wear or hang as a beautiful piece of artwork. If you order them from my Etsy shop they will be packaged in screen printed wrapping paper. Perfect for the holidays!
www.etsy.com/shop/rochellefox

Deity of Grace

Deity of Grace tells the story of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of spiritual and material wealth and prosperity. She embodies the elements of light, wisdom, fortune, beauty and grace. She is believed to bring good luck and protect her devotees from misery and sorrow. Lakshmi is associated with the lotus as she is the personification of nature, the center of all. The circular composition of this piece emulates the infinite connectedness of all things in nature. The heart-shaped Bodhi tree leaves symbolize the abundance of prosperity. Graceful branches of feathers and hanging pearls represent the ornate adornments of the deity.

This print began as a pencil sketch that was refined and transformed into a pen and ink drawing. This was the first piece that I finished drawing on Bristol board and then cut apart to rearrange the elements. This organic process developed as I began to explore the movement and flow of each composition. Certain forms come forward while others are pushed into the distance, inviting the viewer to look closer and discover something new each time.

Deity of Grace Hand-Painted Silk Scarves Now Available On My Etsy Shop!
My Etsy Shop

Sneak Peek at My Next Print

This is a pen and ink drawing that will soon come to life with color! Stay tuned for more photos of the screen printing process.

3rd Ward Open Call

Hi Everyone,

I've submitted my portfolio to the 3rd Ward Open Call. Awards include a NYC Residency. a Solo gallery show and a $5,000 Cash Grant! There's a People's Choice Award for a $1000 cash grant. The winners will be announced in December. Thanks so much for all your support.

~ Rochelle

Click the link below to vote for me:
Vote for Me!