The Painted Desert, Petrified Forest,Newspaper Rock, typical view of Route 66 through the desert

A few photos taken a month ago

The Lasso Motel was deserted and decaying but Trails West lounge, Del's restaurant, The Palormina

Motel and KV Park (for campers and caravans) seemed to be open. I'm not sure about the Ministry of Hope.

Back in UK

It was an excellent week in Rhode Island. Joan's extensive knowledge of the local area, artists and printmaking made for a very full and interesting week. There's so much to think about that it will take a while to digest it all - it's a good thing I made notes to refer to.

We discussed ways of working together in the future using non-toxic printmaking processes. Ideas ranged from exploring the Amazon, to the Scottish islands, Peru, Tasmania, France (to see Cedric Green) and Sicily.

I've been promoting Wolverhampton as obviously the best destination...but I may well be moved from that idea when I've got over jet lag.

Humpback whales and the Boston Museum of Fine Art (Route 66 project on hold)

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I went whale watching today and made 12-15 whale sightings off the coast of Boston. The sheer size of both the adults and calves as well as their movements, especially the back flip of the tail... really worth seeing.

Later visited the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and saw Michael Mazur's prints and well as some of the permanent collection of paintings and prints.

Time to return home tomorrow.

Cohasset and Scituate (South shore - Boston) (Route 66 Project on hold)

I met Esther Maschaio (who I'd met about 5 years ago in Edinburgh) and talked to her in her studio in Scituate. What an amazing studio in a barn attached to a "Cape Cod colonial" style house with clapboard siding. Amongst other things,she's had an exhibition in Rotterdam since I last met her. I loved her prints and talking to her and the time went all too quickly. I was trying to persuade her to come to to the UK again - maybe she will.


Later met Steve Smalley, a painter who is very knowledgeable about Pop Art and seemed to know much more about London than I do. We engaged in a wide ranging discussion about Route 66, Hockney, Boshier,Yarber, Hambling and many other things.

Found out some new ways of doing monotypes from Joan and plan to use these in relation to Route 66 research material on my return. The style fits in with the work of David Tress which I was studying in the UK.

Saw an interesting Print Exhibition at South Shore Arts Centre, Cohaesset and also saw Boston Printmakers exhibition at Duxbury Arts Complex
Early night tonight as we setting off first thing on a boat to look for whales.

Waterless lithography

I've been having a very interesting time working on waterless lithography (Pronto plates) today. It's quicker than the traditional litho, which I learned some time ago. There's still a constant wiping with a wet sponge and rolling of oil based ink across the plate, but it's a much quicker process. The plates are like paper and you can draw on them, print them out on a laser printer..very versatile and apparently inexpensive, just a few cents each.

Is there a supplier of pronto plates in the UK?

Rhode Island (Route 66 Project on hold)

I had such a good time, did so much printmaking and met so many interesting people that I was reluctant to leave Albuquerque. After a lovely evening with Regina, I flew overnight from Albuquerque to Boston via Newark. Now i know why they call it a red eye flight. I did manage to sleep a little on the plane but was a little dazed on arrival.

It was great to see Joan waiting at the baggage claim and also to find that my suitcase was still in one piece. It had been developing cracks but some tape seemed to hold it together ok.

I had a tour of Boston and, although I knew there was some interesting architecture in this city I was very surprised at the extent of it. A lovely city. I will return to see more later in the week.

Joan's large "loft" (it's not in the roof like an English loft) space in an old mill in Pawtucket has been converted into her living space and studio and we are planning to do some printmaking tomorrow. Probably prontoprints and monoprints. We're also hoping to see a play later and then meet some of Joan's friends for dinner.

What else has happened? Many discussions about art and in particular Printmaking. We went to Cape Cod yesterday and were in an out of many small art galleries. We also visited New Bedford and a whaling museum - the whole town was founded on the whaling industry. We plan to go whale watching (not the same thing!) later in the week.























Today we went to Newport and saw two Vanderbilt mansions on the cliff top (The Breakers and the Marble House) full of paintings, interesting furniture etc. Alva Vanderbilt was a leading woman in the suffragette movement here and an interesting person with the financial means to lend real support.

I'm looking forward to working with Joan tomorrow. Time to sleep now. I wonder if I'll see a groundhog outside the window - I saw one on the river bank a couple of days ago and would like to see it again.