Ammonite and Nautilus Shells

Here's some work I've been doing at the Sunny Point Artist Residency. These are reduction linocuts of the Ammonite and Nautilus shells for my new book. Throughout the book the two characters remain the same size and orientation, although their colors change to emphasize changes in mood. The soft parts of their bodies will be included in the final illustrations, but I'm doing those as watercolor paintings. I did the shells as linocuts to give them a more smooth, graphic look to contrast with the more expressively painted soft parts of their bodies, and also in contrast to the rugged woodcuts of other prehistoric plants and animals that will appear in the backgrounds.

I'm At Sunny Point!

I am currently fulfilling a ten day artist residency at the Arts Center of Yates County Sunny Point. Sunny Point is a beautiful bit of land on Keuka Lake which includes a little white cottage, a large red barn studio, and a garage that is currently being converted into a ceramic studio. It was donated to the Art Center by the late Dr. Annie Smith (author of Bearing Up Cancer, among many other accomplishments) as a place for creativity and healing. Any artists interested in applying for residencies at Sunny Point click here.

So as you, dear readers, might imagine, I'm in a state of bliss. In the past I've enjoyed a number of writing and visual art retreats/residencies, and from 2004-2006 I spent two years immersed in a graduate studio. But this is the first time in seven years that I've had the opportunity to focus completely on my art-making in total peace and solitude for any concentrated period of time. Basically the first time since I had my lovely daughters (who I do miss terribly; they are coming to visit soon!) So I feel as if I am deeply savoring this residency more than any previously.

Even though I've been working in the studio like mad, I don't have anything quite finished enough to share yet. Probably tomorrow. I can say that I'm finally getting some real headway on my new book, The Nautilus and the Ammonite. Screen printing, linocuts, woodcuts, and watercolor painting are all involved, and things are going swimmingly.

Pre-Order Owl and Cat In Love Today

I have just launched the presale campaign for my second book to be published by Words On Woodcuts Press. Here's the link to the campaign.

My regular readers know the project Owl and Cat In Love well, but for new readers, check out all the postings about the artwork as it was being created here.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported this campaign in any way over the years, even simply through your encouraging words and thoughtful critiques of the work. You all helped keep me going pursuing these artistic dreams. After seeing how beautifully Cats A-Z turned out, I can't wait to see Owl and Cat In Love in print.

Owl and Cat In Love: End Pages

I just finished the end pages for Owl and Cat In Love. I decided on a tessellation pattern of their faces in order to emphasize the similarities in their facial appearance, despite being a bird and feline species. Love at first penetrating gaze into each others' eyes.

I am pretty happy with this.

"Flora and Fauna"

8" x 10" (image), 10.5" x 13" (paper)
Artist's proof
Oil-based ink on Stonehenge paper

Now that I've published Cats A-Z, it's time to gear up for publishing Owl and Cat In Love. I'm about to start a pre-sale campaign for the book, and I made "Flora and Fauna" as a promotional print for the campaign.

It's a still life with two of my daughters' toys that I particularly love, and which are of course also an owl and a cat. I wanted two different types of flowering plants to parallel the animal pairing. I selected black-eyed Susans because I see so many of them this time of year and cherry blossoms as a quiet nod to Japan and its rich history of mastering woodblock printmaking.

Wednesday Kids' Class in West Philly

Me doing a monotype demo for campers this summer at the
Community Arts Center in Wallingford. This is one of the art
making methods I'll have kids explore at the UCAL this fall.

This fall is going to be a fabulous semester for teaching! I'm teaching printmaking classes for adults, and I'm continuing my work at the Wagner Free Institute for Science's SNAP program.

And, now I've been hired to teach Mixed Media 2D Art to 3rd-6th graders on Wednesdays, 4-5:30pm at the University City Arts League. We'll be doing some printmaking, learn techniques in drawing, painting, collage, and some paper mache, too! To register, check out the class listing on the UCAL website.

Cats A-Z Is Now For Sale!

Announcing the release of Cats A-Z!

In this cat-themed alphabet book for mature readers, light humor blends with sardonic wit and serious philosophical musings. This is not just another cute cat book. It is a cat book for the more deeply contemplative cat lover.

The book is 8" x 8" hardcover, cloth with embossing, Smyth sewn bound, 56 pages plus printed end sheets. First edition of 500.

Get a signed copy by contacting me directly at marfknox (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject line "Cats A-Z."

Or purchase it online through my Etsy Shop (cheaper US shipping) or my Amazon Store.

Or buy it in these stores:
Wagner Free Institute for Science's gift shop
The Open Book in Elkins Park




From the Reviews: 
Besides being an intriguing mix of stories, the book is also beautiful, and would make an excellent gift for the animal lover in your life. My own copy has a prized place on my coffee table where it has become a conversation piece.

-Miss Riki, Nov. 1, 2015


...most of the time the cat books I’m offered are either annoyingly humourous (sorry but I’m not into Lol cats or “I haz” cats) or too mawkish. Of course, I love my cats and think they are cute but they are far more than that. They are interesting, fascinating and complex. Something told me that Martha’s book would be quite different. I was right.

-Beauty Is A Sleeping Cat, Oct. 30, 2015

This is the woodcut created for the end pages as it appears
in the front of the book. In the back is its mirror image.