Let me introduce myself: I'm Janet Davis, an artist and entrepreneur living and working on the North side of Bonavista Bay, on the island of Newfoundland in Eastern Canada. There are many challenges to running a business here in my small rural hometown, and there are many wonderful benefits too. This blog is where I share some of those challenges and triumphs, and share what it's like to live in this part of the world.
I received an exciting package in the mail this week: all new jewellery from our buddy Michelle Lambert! She has created a number of ArtSea Jewellery pieces just for Norton’s Cove! They are available in store only- check them out when you visit! The prices are very reasonable, and there are a wide variety of styles and matching sets for those special occasions and every day.
Working with the Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation, I designed a linocut print (and pen/ink drawing for use as a logo too) of a brown trout over the summer.
Today (and tomorrow too, I’m sure), I am editioning the piece. I’ve cut enough paper at 5 x 11 inches each to make an edition of 75 + a few Presentation Proofs that the IBEC can use for fundraising for their cause. If you’re in the area, please drop in to have a peek at printmaking in action!
Once the printing is done, I’ll add a few details, like those red and blue spots you can see on the Trial Proof, and then they’ll be signed, numbered, chopped, and packaged or framed.
Lino-cut relief print |Rice paper | Janet Davis 2014 | $100 matted* also available framed in store | matted size is 10 x 10 inches | Edition of 36 + 3 Trial Proofs
Finally geared up to print the edition! Black ink on the bird alone, then adding a little watercolour on the printed paper… I’m expecting a total edition of about 30 to be ready for sale at the Craft Council’s Christmas Fair next month. You’re welcome to stop in to see how they’re made!
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| Fresh off the printing press, Whale Bait goes to the drying rack tonight. |
Printing a complete line of cards, mini-prints, and bookmarks for spring orders as well as stocking my own shop shelves takes a while… When I started Norton’s Cove Studio almost ten years ago, working a 12 or 16 hour day was fairly common. I’m not up to that anymore though- aches and pains and grumpiness come from long hours doing the same thing now that I’m forty. So I take it slowly but surely. One colour of ink per day, taking days off in between, and keeping up on other projects at the same time make for a much happier middle aged Janet!
Today we’ll (my mother, Ollie, is my co-worker again today) be printing black.
I’ve also added all the new images to the Norton’s Cove Cards product line page. Have a look!
I’m posting from the fabulous Alexis Templeton Studio tonight in St. John’s, where I’ll be working on small projects with Alexis until Saturday night. Feel free to drop in to pay us a visit! I’ll post some working pictures tomorrow…
Update [31.10.11] I forgot to take pictures! But we got lots of snowflakes printed and ready for the kiln. With any luck, they’ll be ready for The Christmas Craft Fair which starts next week! Alexis will have a booth there, and you’ll also be able to get them at her shop on Quidi Vidi Road and my shop here in Brookfield.
We also printed six dogberry plates… we’ll see how/if those turn out soon!
The View from Norton's Cove 