Estampas Bonitas: Beautiful Prints

Estampas Bonitas on Sungas, on Saias, on Congas on the Praias!  I'm bursting into song again!  But, for me, the quintessential mark of the carioca style- bold vivid colors in a variety of patterns stamped on most any article of clothing.  Artwork pending.....
If you think it, they will print it.

My recent collection of lino-cuts has revolved around the ordinary and the cliche symbols of Rio.  One such image that comes to mind:  the cockroach, that pesky urban denizen. Barely tolerable, he goes where he wants.... and so does his print....

"Oh!  I didn't see you there!"

"Excuse me! Passing through!"

"What a lovely home you have here. Mind if I skeeter for a while?"

Window Life

Fofoca: Gossip

My final printed works these days are a montage of everything I've been absorbing form this frenetic city.  Now the jumble in my mind has a place to go.

Endings turn Beginnings

Finished my last class teaching with Edumais yesterday. I'm so full of emotions.  The saudades I will have for my students and my time here in Brazil. The excitement of new possibilities. But I can't think about the next step just yet. Time, let me linger here for a moment.

Time will also tell me what this passage in life was about further down the road. For now, I think of the people I should thank. The good-bye's to be made. The final meet-ups.

Brazil, I don't know when I'll be back but I'll have to save a large space in my heart for you.

So I lingered as long as a could with this post and today is my last day here in Rio. I've been printmaking as much as I can.  My dad says I'm printing South America to take back with me. He knows me. Full of surprises, this city, marvelous as it is, a dangerous beauty at times.

Closing this curtain for now.  I have to come back to you, oh Rio.