Update: Endings and Beginnings

Implants, 2016, 8 x 10 inches, ink and graphite on paper, SOLD

I have been enjoying a bit of a break as far as art shows go--the last one of 2016 was in November and I will not be showing until February* 2017 at Verge PDX.  I install on February 2nd and there will be a reception on Thursday, February 16th. I am excited to wrap up some projects including a commission for a friend I've been putting off, an on the fly commission for a white elephant gift (above), and a piece I've been strangely paralyzed to begin for Catherine Haley Epstein's Coloring Project (below).

It's strange because I felt so freed from the "Inktober" drawings featured in my last show. Working on that series helped me rediscover my imagination and remind myself not to be too precious about things. But here I am, being too precious with this--however, to share this, I've accomplished Step 1: take drawing out of plastic sleeve. Catherine so thoughtfully hand-picked this image for me--taking in consideration the death of my mother when I was 25 and also my printmaking background by choosing Käthe Kollwitz' striking imagery.  The deadline is January 7--stay tuned for updates.

I'm also excited to announce that I've been accepted on the Board of Directors for Public Annex and have been acting as their Social Media/Communications Director. In addition to this, I'm working on my very first syllabus for Experimental Drawing--a class for Public Annex's first term!

I'm filled with gratitude for Jesse Reklaw who, along with his constant encouragement, challenges and kindness, sent me his own syllabi from the past and shared with me Lynda Barry's Syllabus and What It Is for me to glean from. The first term of classes run from January 23rd - April 6th. Experimental Drawing is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am - noon at Taborspace on Belmont. One of many details I've snagged from Lynda Barry--anyone who wishes to take this class need not have any artistic talent or drawing experience.  I'm thrilled to meet my students, and I hope I can help people fall in love with drawing.

Until Next Time,

Rachel

*This was edited from it's original post on 12/19--I confirmed mentally but not actually for March, but Verge kindly reserved a slot for me in February instead. Thanks Alanna!

Hot Off The Presses

Clockwise from top left: Carissa, Top-Heavy, Vessel, Outline, Kyle, Precious Cargo

I'm so excited to debut this very limited edition run of blown-up typewriter giclée prints during my opening reception at Bare Bones on Belmont!

Each 20 x 24 inch digital print is on Canson Edition Etching Rag using archival inks.  $120 each.

Remember, 30% of my art sales will be donated to Public Annex as Bare Bones generously waives their commission fee.  

First Thursday + First Friday in June

First Thursday at Oblation Papers & Press

Come see me this Thursday, June 2 at Oblation from 4 - 6pm, where I'll be drawing with my Citation II manual typewriter and you can utilize their Public Typing Station Yourself!

See how I work, keep me company and snag a flier for the June 25th festivities, where I've teamed up with Oblation to celebrate International Typewriter Day!  Stay tuned for details.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 25th, 1 - 4pm!
#publictypingstation

First Friday at Bare Bones Cafe

Join me and DJs Lorna Dune & Keith Sweaty as we celebrate my opening reception at Bare Bones Cafe on Belmont, this Friday, June 3 from 6 - 9pm! I'm thrilled to share works from 2014 through last week, as well as limited edition prints.  

Most importantly, I will be donating 30% of my art sales to my favorite fledgling nonprofit, Public Annex--this is an organization very close to my heart, with an aim to break down systemic barriers that prohibit marginalized populations from inclusivity by building a community around accessible farming and art programming. 

Just a few of the available prints for sale this Friday! Counter-clockwise from left:
Vessel, Kyle, Top-Heavy, Untitled, Automatic, Your Shadow's Shadow, Valentine, Empath

I will be running a sale on some of my small prints and will be sharing hot-off-the-press large-scale giclées of my latest typewriter-drawings.  I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to support my colleagues and this essential organization. Many thanks to Bare Bones for generously waiving their commission fee.

First Friday at Café Lulu

This is the part where I wish I could tear myself in two! The epic June Bayview Gallery Night also falls on Friday, June 3 and my large scale stamp and ink drawings as well as large-scale giclées of my typewriter drawings are on view during the night of the celebration (and beyond to mid-July!).  So Milwaukee, let me live vicariously through you and check out all of the artists and venues participating in BVGN 2016! I'll be there in spirit.

Café Lulu 2261 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207

In Progress - Brönwyn & Avery

Cranking out some new work for my show at Bare Bones Cafe, on view this June.

I've said it before, but now that I've got to draw a child for the third time, it's really fun and challenging to work around making a kid look like a monster.  However, I owe my gratitude to Jenny and Jason for sending me a photo of their sweet spawn with an already ridiculous expression, granting me license to make this super goofy drawing:

I also have the privilege of borrowing the face of this lovely drawer of grotesque and unabashedly gooey creatures, Brönwyn Lorelei, using my pink ribbon from Ace Typewriter paired with typed-on yellow transfer paper.

Mark your calendars for the reception--a week from today!

Opening Reception

Typewriter Drawings & More

Friday, June 3rd, 6 - 9pm

Bare Bones Cafe

2908 SE Belmont Street

Free event + refreshments available for purchase

Songs slung by DJs Lorna Dune + Keith Sweaty

*Reminder that 30% of my art sales will be donated to my favorite nonprofit Public Annex*

Gearing Up For International Typewriter Day!

Detail of my fun collabo with Oblation!

Did you know that June 23rd is officially International Typewriter Day? I didn't either until Oblation Papers & Press found me!

Thanks to my show back in February at Darling Press, I was able to connect with Oblation and they've invited me to be a big part of this special celebration.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 25th!

We're still hammering out some of the details, but here's a short list of the fun to be had:

* live typewriter-drawing by yours truly
* limited edition prints for sale
* letter-typing station with Oblation's own handcrafted paper, envelopes and stamps provided
* raffle to win a typewriter

I'll share the flier ASAP!

Please email your mailing address if you'd like one sent to you: redlumlehcar at gmail.com

I'm really looking forward to this! Hope to see you then!

First Friday Opening Reception at Bare Bones Cafe

Hello again everyone!

I'm thrilled to announce my work will be on view June 3 - June 30 at Bare Bones Cafe on Belmont!

This is going to be a very special opening reception--as Bare Bones graciously waives their commission, I will be donating 30% of my art sales to my favorite fledgling non-profit, Public Annex!

Find out more and donate directly here!

Public Annex (PA) is special to me because I am so spoiled and honored to know the community of hard working people hoping to lift this phoenix off the ground--from my former supervisor, Carissa Burkett, these are her beautiful words about this amazing and necessary nonprofit:

I am very excited to publicly announce a major project that I have been working on alongside my incredible colleagues and friends.

The state of Oregon along with federal changes are cutting funds going to incredible programs that support adults with developmental disabilities. We have formed a new non-profit called Public Annex, that will work within/outside/around/above the systems that limit access. Our goal is to provide accessible urban farming and arts programming, focusing on inclusivity of artists and farmers with developmental disabilities.

Our mission is to break down systemic barriers that prohibit marginalized populations from inclusivity by building a community around accessible farming and art programming.

Come celebrate with me and help me support Public Annex! There will be originals and prints available for sale, to accommodate most budgets.

In other exciting news, Lorna Dune and Keith Sweaty, two of my dearest people and super fun DJs, will be slinging tunes during the reception! Of course, there'll also be tasty snacks and refreshing beverages from Bare Bones!

Can't wait to see you there!

The End Of A Fabulously Busy Year

I am thrilled, relieved, grateful, inspired, and overjoyed--this year has been exceedingly full and exciting in so many ways and it looks like this year is primed to unfold in kind.

I have not updated this baby in awhile because I've been blissfully nestled in a seemingly endless array of deadlines, from holiday gift typewriter-drawing commissions, to web illustrations and too many crochet projects--fortunately for my blog, my wrists are now protesting my use of them, forcing me to take a hiatus from drawing.

I keep getting asked to draw beautiful women--yes, please! Will release full image after Christmas presents are received...

So in the meantime I'll torture myself with these images of projects I can't wait to finish or begin:

I would totally date a grid.

Here's a snap of some freshly scored Rives BFK that I can't wait to dig into. This is intended for my upcoming show at Café Lulu in my hometown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in April 2016. I've got a huge space to fill and plan to make twelve to fifteen 30 x 44" drawings for this show--at this point mainly using permanent marker and other usual suspects of drawing materials.

* * *

Purple ribbons available at Ace Typewriter in St. John's!

A recovering chromaphobe's in-progress self portrait.

I cannot believe I am finally basking in the magic that is working in color! The idea of creating a four-color CMYK typewriter-drawing was floating around in my head for awhile, but the problem stopping me was locating a yellow ribbon. Thanks to Ace Typewriter I have blue, purple, and standard black and red, but it appears that yellow may not exist--if anyone has leads, let me know! Luckily, my brilliant friend Jessica Poor suggested using Saral yellow transfer paper:

Photocopy of separated yellow layer on top of yellow transfer pape fastened to quality paper allowing the typewriter to transfer marks indirectly.

That pretty blue ribbon--it looks ultramarine but types a stunning cerulean. Tiny view before the cyan layer is added to the completed magenta (well, red) and yellow layer.

 This is why I refer to myself as a closet-printmaker. All of my drawings are attempts to make drawings that look or act like prints. Is typewriter drawing just a masochist's monotype?

* * *

In more leisurely news, I've had the immense pleasure of discovering the Portland Correspondence Coop held every third Tuesday at the IPRC--it's a wonderful community of awesome creative people who meet and make mail art, often involving some kind of mail art exchange with a monthly theme, jovial conversation and a rotating cast of typewriters brought in to test-drive by expert/enthusiast Ethan Jewett of PDX Typewriters. Its free, open to the public and highly recommended--stay tuned via instagram, too!

The PDXCC has reminded me about how great mail art and old fashioned correspondence is in general--I mean, I use a manual typewriter to draw, I should be using it the right way, too.

In my early twenties, I had a solid penpal situation with my dear pal Emily--of which the peak of correspondence took place when we lived on the same street (and still used USPS!)--as well as romantically bombarding potential suitors and my friend Michael, who I met in Milwaukee but was instrumental in and an unforgettable help when I moved to Portland.

Klaus Nomi Elvis stamp

Drawing frivolous things--a forgotten pleasure

Reverse side of a wedding gift waiting to be sent. Color!

Anyway, I'm really excited to have begun a mail-art back-and-forth with Brendan Larsen, one of my favorite drawers I've found on Instagram. Also, I look forward to rekindling the practice of sending unexpected appreciative mail to loved ones as well as some good old typewritten-letter correspondence with Colin Smith and future fun drawing collabo with the talented Quinn Amacher. Anyone else?

* * *

Lastly, I'm excited to announce that my typewriter-drawing, Carissa, is featured in the winter issue of PictureSentence and that the creators of the publication, Robert and Margaret Tomlinson, have invited me to share some of my work in a drawing show Robert is curating at the Western College of Oregon in February 2016.

Also in February, I look forward to a joint exhibition with the incredibly talented Stephanie Yoo* at Darling Press! Brooklyn transplants, she and her loverman Hunter have been super supportive in sharing my work with others and attending my shows (and letting me draw them!). I wouldn't have met them if it wasn't for my amazing cousin and prolific musician Lorna--who now also, along with her wonderful partner Keith, share this beautiful city with us. I'm so spoiled.

That said, I want to express my gratitude for the unending ways my pals and colleagues have offered their undeniable emotional, logistical, creative, brilliant, kind-hearted, and continuous support. Thanks so much for attending my many shows and events this year, and I can't wait to share the details of 2016's already mounting list of shows! Looking forward to the future! XO

*CORRECTION: The show at Darling Press will be a solo show after all, but Stephanie Yoo and I will have a joint show sometime later this year. 

Mostly Drawings Of Women - Solo Exhibition at 77 Salon

I'm so pleased to announce that my final exhibition of this year will showcase the various media I've been working with since 2014.

Please celebrate the closure of this beautifully wild year with me on First Thursday, November 5 from 7-9pm! You can RSVP and stay tuned for more details on Facebook.

Mostly Drawings Of Women
on view November 2 - 29

77 Salon
1100 NW Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97209

Opening Reception
First Thursday
November 5
7-9pm

 

Additional hours:
M-F 10am-8pm
SAT 9am-6pm
SUN closed

October Is Typewriter Month!

And I had no idea--this is what being productive in the studio for six consecutive shows leads to: being totally out of touch with what's happening outside of yourself.

Patsy, 2015
 typewritten ink on paper, 6 5/8 x 13 3/8 inches
SOLD

I'm super grateful to Nico Courtelis and Chloe Eudaly (proprietress of Reading Frenzy and co-founder of the IPRC) were kind enough to clue me in to the excitement that is Typewriter Month in our fair city. All the hubbub is co-sponsored by IPRC and Design Week Portland with typewriter aficionado and publisher/editor/designer of Uppercase Magazine Janine Vangool gracing us with her presence with a release and presentation of her new book, The Typewriter: A Graphic History Of The Beloved Machine.  She has all the details/itinerary here.

I unfortunately* won't be available to attend this year's soiree, but it's on my calendar for next year. Should you be available, please attend and tell me all about it and/or let me live vicariously through your Instagram.

If you are feeling especially generous, you can feel free to tell people to go to Blackfish Gallery to see my latest typewriter drawing AND to Radish Underground to see my very first humongous monster of a typewriter drawing--both on view currently!

In other news, I finally scanned the pieces I had on view at Luke's Frame Shop last month--enjoy! Endless thanks to everyone who came out to both recent openings--what a blast!

Erica, 2015
typewritten ink on paper, 8 x 9 1/4 inches
 $200

Kierre, 2015
 typewritten ink on paper, 16 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches
$250

Self Portrait II, 2015
typewritten ink on paper, 7 x 12 inches
SOLD

Thom, 2015
typewritten ink on paper, 14 5/8 inches x 9 15/16 inches  
$250

*It's actually quite fortunate because I get to watch two people I love and adore, Robbie and Katharine, marry each other!

Opening Reception @ Luke's Frame Shop

I'm so stoked about the opening! Come nerd out with me and get an up-close look at Unrevealed, my latest small-scale portraits made using my Sears Citation II manual typewriter on view through September 29 at Luke's Frame Shop.  Opening Reception: Saturday, September 12, from 6-8pm. Hope to see you there!

Left to right: Erica, Patsy, Michael, Carissa.  Also, I love that faint Luke's Frame Shop logo shadow overlay...

On a more personal note, I am feeling more than sentimental as I finally begin to process some recent changes in my life. I have recently made the difficult decision to leave my position as exhibition coordinator/art assistant at ProjectGrow, a place where I have cultivated countless friendships and experiences from which I can't imagine my life without.  

It's so difficult to describe how amazing this place is--I've been connected to this art studio/gallery/urban farm here in Portland since 2011. ProjectGrow is a place where anything imaginable can happen--where creativity and authentic expression is fostered. And that sentence sounds so empty, but it's really just so hard to explain! Over the last three years, moments of my day entailed the following: while attempting to be the supportive one, uncontrollable tears surprised me as three of my motherless colleagues and I hid under our boss's jacket while we imagined our dead moms in heaven playing cards and drinking wine; I cleaned up organic chocolate syrup disguised as faux-feces from all the surfaces in the bathroom as part of a practical joke telling me I was hired; in order to distract ourselves from mundane matters at hand, I began to sing an impromptu musical and was quickly accompanied by nearly half the room, all of us singing operatically about "fourteen boys in the boarding school" and then quickly and hilariously degrading into a narrative of exactly what was happening in the room.  

I can't imagine my life without ProjectGrow, and I don't have to, because it's influenced my life drastically. The decision to leave is being made so that I can focus on my own creative practice, but I would not be here, now, if I hadn't been afforded the opportunity to experience this beautiful, hidden world.  I am forever in debt to the incredible, brilliant, and strong people I know now.

The reason I'm explaining all of this is that, just a few short weeks ago, I mentioned to Luke (the owner of Luke's Frame Shop) that several of my colleagues who might wish to attend the opening use wheelchairs.  When he explained that there wasn't an accessible entrance, he went ahead and built a ramp so that all of the people I care about could attend.  I guess this post is making it sound like I get ambushed by tears often, but I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so many awesome, caring people, and I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by this act of kindness.  Luke's has been my favorite frame shop, and I'd already respected his team and business immensely, but this really takes the cake. Endless gratitude.

Wheelchair accessible ramp built by the team at Luke's Frame Shop--see it in action tomorrow, Saturday, September 12.

See you tomorrow!

In Progress - Kierre

I'm working on one of my last drawings for Unrevealed, which will be on view at Luke's Frame Shop from September 3 - 29. This piece consists of the following characters: @, #, ', %, o, ", *, and +.

Kierre, in progress typewriter drawing on Rives BFK

I am having so much fun drawing.  It's funny, if I were trying to make this image with traditional drawing media like graphite or charcoal, I would become so frustrated because it would become too time consuming, because I would pile on the material too quickly.  Typing, in a perhaps counterintuitive way, helps me work faster because it forces me to be more patient, challenging my heavy hand.  Since I have to treat it more preciously, I don't use a ton of time erasing and therefore redoing.

Come celebrate with me during the reception on Saturday, September 12, from 6-8pm.

In Progress - Patsy

detail, Patsy, 2015, typewriter drawing on Rives BFK

This is a portrait of an incredible woman I've known for several years.  She is beyond sweet, the queen of pet-names, brilliant, kind, and possesses a kind of wisdom I've never encountered before.  Her face is such a wonderful landscape to traverse with my typewriter.  Patsy is part of my series Unrevealed, which will be on view September 3 - 29 at Luke's Frame Shop (2707 SE Belmont, PDX, OR). 

Opening Reception for Unrevealed: Typewriter Drawings By Rachel Mulder

Saturday, September 12, 2015

6-8pm

I can't wait to hang this show--it is such an honor to show these works on paper at my favorite framing biz, Luke's Frame Shop. The opening also coincides with the Belmont Street Fair, so it should be a blast--but if you need a reprieve from the party outside, we'll be there to soothe you with wine and cheese.

Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Exhibition: Unrevealed at Luke's Frame Shop

I'm thrilled to announce that my latest small-scale typewriter drawings will be on view at Luke's Frame Shop, my favorite local frame shop + art gallery from September 3 - September 29, 2015. I was fortunate enough to show the first incarnation of this series in my hometown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, earlier this summer, and I'm very pleased I have the next twenty days to crank out some new drawings especially for this exhibition. Carpal tunnel, here I come.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12 and join me from 6-8pm during the opening reception, which delightfully coincides with the Belmont Street Fair. Hope to see you there!

Cyan, 2015
typewritten ink on paper, 8 x 10 1/4 inches
$200

Jamond, 2015
typewritten ink on paper
8 1/4 x 12 inches
$200

Michael, 2015
typewritten ink on paper
8 1/4 x 13 inches
 $200

Michelle, 2015
typewritten ink on paper, 8 x 10 3/8 inches
$200

Self Portrait, 2015
typewritten ink on paper, 7 1/4 x 12 inches
$200

About:

In this series of portraits the subject's identity is obscured either by natural visual distortion or by the purposeful withholding of certain features, a result of my fascination with the way in which facial features can mutate into erratic and confusing landscapes. As my heavy handed drawing techniques in traditional media and linework urge cartoonish renderings, the sense of veracity that comes with portraiture was elusive.

Using my Sears Citation II manual typewriter as a drawing tool and a photograph of the subject as a framework, I challenged my instinct to rely on caricature but also found myself resistant to the ideals of traditional portraiture. Rather than seeking and depicting a blank truth, where facial features and body parts appear as expected, I was compelled to complete an exercise in neglecting the firmly cemented visual images in my head. Navigating through this imagery using this cumbersome yet delicate drawing tool within the delineated contours of the photographs allowed me to scatter my focus, working in one compartment at a time and allowing the images to form like sediment collecting, a slow build of overlapping marks and feeds through the typewriter until each was complete. Focusing solely on the difference in values and angles and not the expectations of visual truth, I was led back to the fundamental task of drawing what’s there.

Go Fund Me

Hi Everybody!

I recently acquired this stunning piece of Smith & Corona machinery. This beautiful baby is currently on a three-month vacation at Blue Moon Camera & Machine, being tinkered with by the experts, her platen getting a shave and massage (seriously--read this), and her function being totally restored.  She's roughly 100 years old and with her 18" carriage, I'll be able to work larger on a single sheet of paper!

I am extremely fortunate to have many exciting opportunities before me, but I may not be able to make them happen if I cannot acquire the funds. If you are interested in supporting my artistic practice, please check out my Go Fund Me campaign. My aforementioned typewriter repair, cross-country travel to install my large-scale work, and framing costs make up the need for this fund.  

If you are interested in donating, please view the gifts available to you below:

If you donate $30 or more, I will send you an 8x10" print of one of my smaller typewriter-drawn portraits of your choice!
If you donate $150 or more, I will create an original 8x10" typewriter-drawing for you!
If you donate $450 or more, I will create an original 16x20" typewriter-drawing for you!
If you donate $600 or more, I will create an original 22x30" typewriter drawing for you!]

Thank you so much for your consideration. Have an incredible day.

Best Wishes,
Rachel