Welcome to the Farm #10 - Mixed Media

This is the first of three dog pieces I have been working on.  I started by gluing tissue paper to lay out some of the color areas and then used an existing plate to print the dog and some of the other textures. Finally I added the border by printing multiple layers of color.
The original piece, a black and white collagraph, was inspired by a photo my sister took of a black lab named Dusk. He reminds me of my Peschi.

Image size is 16" x 20"

Paper size is 18.5" x 21.5"

If you have any questions please email me.

University City Public Library

I have been trying to complete some new work for this show and have been experimenting with combining collage with my collagraph process. I decided to try working with collage and printmaking after hearing about a collage class my sister, Kathryn, attended this spring.  The dragonfly is an example of some crazy things that have happened with my latest work.  I hang the show tomorrow and still have some work to finish up.  Hope to see many of you at the opening on Friday, September 12.

Bird, Badger and Chameleon

Here's something a little bit different for me.  I thought I would create a color collagraph version of Todd's black and white drawing done in 1992.  I tried using textures that equated to the different values in his drawing.  Anyway.  There are two more drawings to work from.  One I have created with two color variations and the other will be in the works when I find the time.  I especially love all the eyes in the drawings. To get a better idea of what's going on please click on each image. (Black and white done by Todd Reigle)

The image size is 7" x 21"

Paper size is 10" x 24"

If you have any questions please email me.

Sneak Preview at Lillian Yahn Gallery (Todd Reigle and Bonnie Murray)

It's definitely quite a mix of work.  I hope this motivates
some of you to venture out to Winghaven on July 14th. 
Thanks to Diane for all her help!

Lillian Yahn Gallery (New Work by Bonnie Murray and Todd Reigle)

For anyone interested, my husband, Todd and I will be hanging a show at the Lillian Yahn Gallery this coming Saturday.  Opening reception is July 14 from 4 - 6PM. Let's hope it's not 115 degrees!

Pelican on Blue #1 (Collagraph of Large Waterbird)

Everyone seems to love pelicans. I love to watch them fish during my visits to Florida. This is my first attempt at adding color to the black and white pelican posted a while back. I took a little liberty here just to make it a little more interesting.

The image size of this original, hand-pulled collagraph of a pelican on a blue background measures 4.5" x 6.5" (11.4 cm x 16.5 cm)
Paper Size: 6.5" x 8" (16.5 cm x 20.3cm)
Printed on Arches Cover White Paper

If you have any questions please email me.

On Edge (Collagraph of Brown Pelican)

I came up with this guy in response to a print exchange request. The guidelines are to print a limited edition of 14 prints on 5" x 7" paper. The intent is for us to use up scraps of paper . . . which I have an abundance of. One print will be in a traveling show, another will be sold (hopefully) and the remaining 12 will be distributed to other printmakers participating in the exchange. The show of prints will be traveling to New Zealand in March. I will probably work on a color version of this to come some time in the future. For any printmakers interested in participating here's a link for more information.

Young Blood Gallery and Boutique

I was invited to participate in this printmaking show of Southern Printmakers. St. Louis doesn't exactly qualify, but they still wanted to include me. The show opens January 7th and runs through January 28th. The gallery is located at 636 N Highland Ave. in Atlanta, GA. Here is a link to their website. If you happen to be in Atlanta stop by. I'd be curious to hear what you think.

The Stalker (Collagraph of Great Blue Heron)

I am working on a series of larger birds that are the same size. So if you look below a couple of posts you will see the stork that I came up with. I think he has a little more character than this one. Anyway I learned one way to distinguish a Great Blue Heron from a Grey Heron is the rusty color found at the top of their legs and in the neck. Plus the Great Blue Heron is much more common in North America. Exciting info right? I think I prefer the black and white version. Image size is 18.5" x 13.5", paper size: 21.5" x 15.5" and printed on arches cover white paper.

If you have any questions please email me.

Art St. Louis XXVII

Art St. Louis XXVII, juried by Andrew Stein Raftery (Printmaking Professor at Rhode Island School of Design), opens October 29. If you are free on November 12 please come to the opening reception from 7-9PM. The two crow pieces of mine are in the show. For more info and a list of the artists please click here.

Macy and Taz (Original Collagraph of two black cats)

I created this hand-colored collagraph of two black cats with golden eyes for a close friend of mine. I thought I would try a version with a blue background. I kind of like the flat blue even though the cats appear to be floating. I think if I had to choose I would go with the black and white version.

Image Size: 7.25" x 9.25" (18.4 cm x 23.5 cm)
Paper Size: 9.5" x 11.25" (24.1 cm x 28.6 cm)
Printed on Arches Cover White Paper
Each print is signed and numbered
Varied Edition

If you have any questions please email me.

Lana Lee #1 (Hand-Pulled Collagraph of Corgi)

My friend Diane gave me a photo of her first corgi, Lana Lee, and was curious to see what I could do with it. Well here's what I have come up with at this point. As you can see I started out printing some color and then inked up my textured plate with a burnt umber. The final step was to do a bit of hand coloring. I was thinking about adding color to the background, but I really like it the way it is. Anyway I may try printing this in just black and white, but for the time being I will think about it.

Image size: 9.25" x 7"
Printed on arches cover white paper

Stepping Out #1 (Hand-Pulled Collagraph of Baby Stilt)

I started this plate long ago and just finally got to it. I plan to do this in color, but really liked the way the black and white turned out. Color version to come one of these days.
Image size: 7.25" x 9.5". Paper size: 9.5" x 11.5".
Printed on arches cover white paper.

Peacock on Gold #1 (Original Collagraph)

Above you can see some of the stages that this piece went through. This was another one of those what was I thinking???? I obviously still have an obsession with pattern. At any rate, the image size of the peacock is 28" x 21". Paper size is 31" x 24". I recently framed this piece for a show and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it looked. This piece is printed on arches cover white paper. When I have the energy I may do another color variation. I think for now I may go back to painting for a while . . .

Charlie (Collograph of Labrador Retriever)

Charlie #1

Charlie #8

I created several variations of this guy for a client.

Charlie is a yellow lab so #8 definitely looks more

like him, but I do like the black version.

The image size of this collagraph is 9.25" x 7"

Printed on Arches Cover White Paper.

Blue Crab on Yellow #1 (Original Collagraph of Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab)

Here's the color version. I tried not to go too crazy with color.

I printed the color on the background and hand painted the crab.

The image size of this blue crab measures 7" x 7" and is

printed on arches cover white paper. The black and white version is below.

Blue Crab #1 (Original Collagraph of Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab)

The image size of this black and white

version of a Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab

measures 7" x 7". The color version

is in the works and I will post in the

next couple of days.

Palm Warbler on Green 3 (Collagraph of Bird)

Here's one color version. Although I think I will experiment 

with other background colors and textures. Still like the 

black and white version below.

Image size:  7.25" x 9.5"

Palm Warbler #1 (Black and White Collagraph of Bird)

My original intention was to do this guy in color.  When I printed out the Black and White I kind of liked the attitude.  Tomorrow I'll post the color version.

Image size 7.25" x 9.5"

Purple & Blue Butterfly #2 (Hand-Pulled Collagraph)

Image size:  7" x 7"

Printed on Arches Cover White Paper