News From Jo Houtz...
1417 Emily Court West;
Abingdon, MD 21009
Phone: 410-538-5585 Email: h2ohue@aol.com
|
|
News From Jo Houtz... |
|
The Sheppard & Enock Pratt Foundation
Jo has had 5 of her works selected for "The Collection at Sheppard Pratt". These will be displayed in early 2007 in the patient wings of Sheppard Pratt. She was very excited about the selection and feels it is an honor to be part of the permanent collection at Sheppard Pratt.
The Baltimore Sun Newspaper Article
Jo was recently written up in The Baltimore Sun for her ability to use the Japanese Masa paper in a highly effective manner. To see and read the article please click on the following link.
Crushed Japanese Masa Paper
A number of my paintings are done on crushed "Japanese Masa" paper. This is a special process that gives a wrinkled or creased look to the finished product. To prepare the paper, I take a piece of the Masa paper, crush it and soak in water until the paper is saturated. Following that, I smooth the very wet paper with a 2 inch brush and while very wet drop the first colors into the background. The paper is soaked before every broad application of color. Detail work is done on a near dry surface.
Many artists attach the Masa paper to watercolor paper with a wall paper paste in order to give stability to the working surface, but I do not always do this.
Working with crushed Masa paper is much like painting on tissue.
When I begin to drop color on the wet paper it seeps into the folds of the paper and forms images and/or a unique background effect for my painting. I like the impressions and the results of the creases and folds of this paper and in every case I felt it enhanced the overall creative process of my painting.
My series called "The Ancients" is done on Masa paper and is my rendition of Cave Paintings from various parts of the world. Masa paper enhances the look of the cave walls in the painting. You can see the full list of "The Ancients" in the gallery section of this web site.
Too see specific examples, pull up the following pictures, also I have prepared a series of visuals demonstrating how to use the masa paper. Please CLICK on the Masa Paper Technique link below.
Examples of Masa paper results:
FISH OUT OF WATER
Jo had been selected as one of the Artists that participated in Baltimore’s Fish Out Of Water exhibits taking place in the downtown area of Baltimore during the spring and summer 2001 tourist season. There were 200 fiberglass fish artistically designed and set at various locations around the city.
Jo was very pleased to have been selected to participate. Her 6 foot, 60 pound fiber glass fish was placed in front of the Marriott Hotel on Pratt Street.
The fish were taken off display in the fall and were then auctioned off at a gala charity affair. More than $600,000.00 was raised for children's programs throughout the city.
Jo's fish, titled Bare Bones, was bought by the Alex Cooper Auction House.
The following links are pictures of the project at different stages. We hope you got an opportunity to see the full display in Baltimore.