Open Studio Class

After our last Beginning Etching class we decided that it would be great to have one evening a week where we would open our studio up to our students. The idea is that the Open Studio Class allows printmakers to use the studio and facilites as well as have fellow printmakers around to converse with. This is what we came up with:

The Open Studio Class will be an opportunity for printmakers to work independently on their own work with full access to the press and equipment of the print studio. Each student will be required to take an introductory class at Twin Vixen Press or attend a one-hour introduction to the Twin Vixen Press studio. During the class, Briony and Helen will be available for questions and technical support in the studio. The class may choose to do group critiques and discussions on individual work.

The Open Studio Class will meet for 15 weeks from December 3rd to the last week in March (taking 2 weeks off for Christmas and New Years). We will meet Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 pm. Students have a choice of purchasing a 10-class card or a 5-class card (or both). There will be a drop in fee option as well. If we have to cancel a class for any reason (weather, vacation etc.) we will offer make up classes.

10 Class Card:
$250.00

5 Class Card:
$150.00

Drop in Fee:
$35.00

Toxic Blue Green Algae

Just last week I finished my last plant illustration for my 'Wicked Plants' book project. The 40 botanical illustrations took me nearly 8 months to complete. The project has been a huge learning experience for me in so many ways. It's probably been the hardest thing I have done in my life so far but it has also been extremely rewarding. The book, written by Amy Stewart and published by Algonquin of Chapel Hill, will be on the shelves sometime in May.

The last plate I worked on for the book was Toxic Blue Green Algae. This plate was by far the most challenging to figure out how to illustrate. I also ended up doing a fair amount of research to complete the plate. Finding a whole fish in Vermont is a lot harder than I thought it would be...

Wooden Dinosaur Album Cover

This summer Twin Vixen Press had the chance to collaborate with Wooden Dinosaur to create a CD cover for the first release of "The Hum of Your Valved Voice". The Album cover was created by both Helen and Briony (simultaneously drawn) and was printed in a limited edition of 50. The project was a great learning experience and turned out really well. The press is currently working on two more album covers: one for Sudan, titled "Edo No Hana" and another for Heavy Winged, titled "Spreading Center". Both albums should be finished by early December.

Fall at Twin Vixen Press

Helen and I have had an exciting, action-packed fall so far. For Halloween we decided to momentarily change our name to Twin Skeleton Press and dress up as glow-in-the-dark dancing skeletons. It was quite fun but by Saturday we ready to return to our normal Vixen roles.

This weekend Twin Vixen Press put on its second Beginning Etching Workshop. The class was absolutely a blast. From ten to three both Saturday and Sunday we prepared plates, etched and then printed like mad. There were 7 students and they turned out to be a great group of artists who all made beautiful prints. We had a great time and now have a few new friends who are obsessed with etching like ourselves!

This last class was so great we've started thinking about hosting an 'open studio' class on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 so that people can keep working in the studio. Stay tuned for more details. . .

Things are moving along. We finished a CD design this late summer and are working on two more designs that will be finished by the end of November. We will post them when they are complete.

We are gearing up for this December's Gallery Walk where the Whetstone Studio Building will be featured. Our studio will be open for a party, with music, friends, and some framed prints.

A few photos from our weekend workshop:


• Lauren and Ruth discussing their plates • Helen helping Terri register her plate on the press


Joan stopping out her aquatint • Lunchtime!

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Beginning Etching Workshop

We had such a great time teaching our etching class last spring and are going to teach a similar class again this November. For all those who couldn't make the last class, please sign up for this one, it is a lot of fun! This time we will be using our new Aquatint Box and teach the authentic aquatint etching process.

Etching Workshop
$160 (includes material fee)
Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th 10 am – 3 pm

In this class, students will learn the various techniques of etching on copper, including Hardground etching and Aquatint (with our new Aquatint Box)! Students will also try various printing techniques. This class is open to all levels, including experienced printmakers. Please sign up, it is fun!

November shows in Vermont















This Holiday season Helen and Briony will both be participating in a number of shows. Here are a few coming up this month:

On Friday, November 7th, during Brattleboro's Gallery Walk, Helen will be showing her etchings and some small paintings at Amy's Bakery and Arts Café with her friend and painter Jill Auerbach. The show will be up for the month of November. Please come and check it out.

On Saturday, November 1st, Briony will be participating in a miniature show at Haymaker Card & Gift in Morrisville, Vermont (just a few miles north of Montpelier). Some of her smaller prints will be on display. If you are in the area, come check it out through the holiday season.

Holiday Miniature Exhibition:
A Group show of five artists working in small sizes

November 1 - December 24, 2008

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 8th, 5-8 pm

• Autumn Fahey (abstract acrylics, Morrisville, VT)
• Briony Morrow-Cribbs (etchings, Brattleboro, VT)
• Omri Parsons (mixed media, Peacham, VT)
• Jennifer Ranz (pottery, Greensboro, VT)
• Julie Ruth (oils on canvas, Montgomery Center, VT)

Haymaker Card and Gift Gallery: 84 Lower Main St., Morrisville, VT. For information call 802-888-2309 or visit Haymaker Press on the web.

Twin Vixen Press at the Langdon Street Café

You are invited to join us for an artists' reception and musical performance on September 13th in Montpelier Vermont at the Langdon Street Café.

On display will be works by Briony Morrow-Cribbs and Helen O'Donnell. Briony will be displaying prints from her Wicked Plants illustration project and Helen will be showing paintings and prints from the past winter and spring.

Musical performances include Magdyn Osh, a five piece psych folk band from Brooklyn, NY followed by Wooden Dinosaur celebrating the release of a new CD "The Hum Of Your Valved Voice." The new CD features limited edition hand printed sleeves done by Twin Vixen Press. Knotty Pine, a northern Vermont new time old time band finishes up the evening with raucous fiddle tunes and sweet ballads.

The Langdon Street Café is a live music hub located in downtown Montpelier with beer, wine and food available.

When: 7pm Artists' Reception
8:30pm Music by Magdyn Osh, Wooden Dinosaur and Knotty Pine

Where: Langdon Street Cafe, 4 Langdon St., Montpelier, VT

For more information on the Langdon Street Café visit www.langdonstreetcafe.com

'Bellingham Bay'

'Bellingham Bay' by Helen O'Donnell

Hey to all the loyal Twin Vixen Press fans. This is my newest three color etching! This came about because my dear friend Terry Turville got married to my dear friend Gary Hallowell. Terry was trying to figure out what kind of present to get for her wedding party and she came up with this great idea... She commissioned me to make a brand new piece of art work and she gave it to her people. This was the print that I came up with and luckily she was happy with it.
I also got to deliver it in person and join in the celebration. It was a terrific wedding and I got to see all my people on the West Coast. It was the best.

There have been lots of things happening this summer, lots of changes in the air, projects, work, moving to a new apartment, teaching art camp, getting ready to coach soccer in the fall and to teach a printmaking class during the upcoming school year. Vermont is beautiful and I think that I am sticking around for awhile! Briony and I are still great friends and business partners and we think that our studio is the greatest place on earth.