Let's Run with It!

Stuck inside today, waiting to get back outside!

Goalposts 5-color screen print on toned paper, 18 x 24

Chokecherry Toes Watercolor mono-print and mixed media, 11 x14

Mulberry 2-color screen print with watercolor mono print, 24 x 18

Feels like Summer

Bench View, Mixed water media on paper, 2026

View from the Witch’s House, 2 color screen print, with hand-colored water media on cream paper, 2023

False Indigo, Water-soluble oils with pastel on reclaimed canvas, 2024

Gallery in the Sky

Object Permanence is now on view in the skyway gallery adjacent to the Rochester Art Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Downtown Rochester makes for the perfect backdrop for my crocheted soft sculptures from plastic bags. Several new pieces were created specifically for the space, including the Basket Backpack and Ginger Jars pictured below. Take an afternoon for a skyway stroll and enjoy the show!

Basket Backpack Crocheted yarn from harvested plastic bags, and newspaper bags, 2026

Flared Ginger Jar, Scalloped Ginger Jar, & Ginger Jar in Yellow Crocheted yarn from harvested plastic bags, 2026

Art at Art in the Hollow

This Saturday, June 7th from 10am to 5pm I will be at Art in the Hollow. Art in the Hollow is an art fair in Swede Hollow, a Eastside gem! I will have prints and a few original paintings for sale in what is called the Park Overlook. You’ll know it’s me because I’ll be drinking a La Croix and explaining what is a gel plate printing.

Visit: https://www.artinthehollow.org/ for directions, parking, and whatnot!

Hope to see you there!

Hoarding as an Artistic Practice

Margi Grill in her home studio, age 9

As an art-making kid, my goal was to be a painter. Painting is what I studied in art school and I was good at it. I still am. I am one heck of a painter. Recently, I’ve felt the draw to a different media … Printmaking!

In college the printers were the hipsters. While us painters were engaged in Bob Ross cosplay, the printmakers biked to school, carried Nalgene bottles, and could answer “what type of music do you listen to?”. I was never cool enough for the world of print, which led to a 20-year crush on all things paper and ink! 

The older I get the less anxiety I have about being uncool, so I’ve started making prints. I began messing around with a screenprinting kit and took a few classes. Then, on a whim I bought a gel-plate. Life changed! A form of mono-printing, gel plates are basically Jell-O slabs that can hold acrylic paint, transfer texture, and take a lot of experimentation. I could now print how I had always painted, by figuring it out through layers and layers of process. Gel-plates are also the dorkiest version of printmaking. Perfect for me!

I have made several interesting gel-plate prints! I also have numerous failed projects! The paint was globby, the imagery was trite, or they reminded me of a Trader Joe’s grocery bag. Even bad prints are made with good paint. Most importantly, they’re made with valuable time! How could I possibly throw them out? This brings me to the point of the story: hoarding is an important part of my process!

My studio holds an elaborate storage system of failed prints: meh prints, prints that need one more layer, and prints that need a lot more layers. If the print has something interesting, but too many mucky areas, I’ll start with drawing (colored pencil, water-soluble crayons, graphite).  Then the nuclear option: I’ll add a layer of paint (watercolor, gouache, and even acrylic)! 

This elaborate, improvisation process is an arduous journey. Layers are added to mask an area that bugs me, or highlight something I like, and then gradually the tone of the painting will shift. I’m getting somewhere when it evokes a memory. I focus on those emotions and work to make that feeling louder. It’s done when I want to keep looking at it. 

This series of six prints were made this way. The plates were inked with cutouts placed over the paint, allowing the spiders, moons and hand mirrors to appear. Labeled meh, they were hoarded away, but the time came to sit with them again, add colors, and create new meaning. No longer meh, but rather they are mixed-media prints I’m proud to have made!

Mirror Image mixed media print

Haze mixed media print

Recollection mixed media print

In the Weeds mixed media print

Watercress mixed media print

Night Reflection mixed media print

Other Forms of Hoarding: My studio is also storage to a glut of many other ephemeral (flimsy trash) items! I’ve kept paintings from the above mentioned college years. I reuse them by cutting the canvas off the frame and restretching them over embroidery hoops to create circular compositions. I also have an unruly collection of vintage photographs that someone couldn’t throw out. One at a time, like a teaspoon from the ocean, a photo will become the precious fodder for painting. Lastly, I’ve kept every sketchbook and notebook I've ever owned. I apologize to the inheritors of my stuff. I have recently tossed the diaries of my teenage years. To those inheriting my stuff: you’re welcome!

MARYDALE Fest Twenty-Twenty-Four!

They’re coming…

I’ve been busy taping prints of all sizes into little cellophane bags, hand-painting the cleverest little signs, and rolling out 100 relief-printed bookmarks of a geranium inspired by my Grandma!

They’re ready for the 2024 Marydale Festival, in St. Paul’s North End!

MARYDALE Fest is Saturday, September 28th from 12-5pm! There is lots of art, really good food, and my little family will be hanging out all day. Plus, I’m giving away these adorable bookmarks!!

Come for the art, stay for the beauty that is Loeb Lake and the surrounding Marydale Park!

All the Small Things...

What does one do with their thousands of gel plate prints? Or the models constructed for exhibition proposals? And what about the vintage photo corners inherited from family photo albums?

I’ve created a collaged and mono-printed series that used all three! Behold Collection in Miniature I, II, and III:

Collection in Miniature I Acrylic ink mono-print with collage and photo corners on textured paper, available via SHOP

Collection in Miniature II Acrylic ink mono-print with collage and photo corners on textured paper, available via SHOP

Collection in Miniature III Acrylic ink mono-print with collage and photo corners on textured paper, available via SHOP

“Collection is Miniature” is a series made by scavenging my stash of unsuccessful gel plate prints. I cut out the interesting little bits with a pen knife and scissors. Then I spend an excessive amount of time arranging the pieces over a negative of a California Job Case. I make a tiny shadow and collage with an uhu glue stick. Lastly, I mount them on textured paper with vintage photo corners.

Another Trip Around the Sun

It is my birthday. I am 42 today.

The image to the right is of me intently staring at a hand mirror to view the eclipse whilst camping this spring at Beaver Creek State Park.

The image below is the gel-plate monoprint of an eclipse in a hand mirror that may or may not be finished as it may or may not capture the experience. Six colors in all. I used discarded and un-recyclable plastic for the mirror and eclipse shapes. For texture, I used a comb, a natural sponge, a paint brush, a pine cone, and oak leaves (both red and white). The printed image is 8” x 10” on 8.5” x 11” cardstock.

Hand Mirror 6-color monoprint on paper, 8 x 10




Bit by the Gel Plate Bug!

I recently picked up a small 5” x 5” gel-plate on a whim at the local art store. Within 24 hours I had three gel-plates, a collection of material to make various prints, and a lot less blank paper! It could be the flexibility of the gel-plate, or the immediacy of a mono print, but I am hooked! So hooked that even the simple act of eating a piece of fruit, will send me down the rabbit-hole of how to print with an orange peel.

The results were different from how I imagined, but I think they turned really nice:

Orange Peel Print I Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper, available via SHOP

Orange Peel Print II Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper, available via SHOP

Orange Peel Print III Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper, available via SHOP

Gel-plate printing has also given me a medium for a projects that I’ve wanted to complete for some time.

Camping and Crochet: First thing I pack when we head out with the camper (even before tofu jerky, and the cribbage board) is a crochet project! There is nothing more satisfying that counting the half-double post-stitches, while sitting on a camp chair and watching the leaves fall off the trees around me. It is the experience of feeling time pass: seeing the shadows move through day, the seasons change before our eyes, and all while my hands churn a ball of yarn into something (maybe) wearable. I entitled the series of 7 prints “Busy Hands, Changing Leaves”:

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves I Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper, available via SHOP

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves II Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper, available via SHOP

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves III Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper, available via SHOP

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves VI Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves V Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves VI Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper

Busy Hands, Changing Leaves VII Acrylic ink mono-print with colored pencil on paper

The Process: I made this series by painting with acrylic paint directly on to the plate (instead of using a brayer) and used a plastic cut-out to block out the shape of crocheting hands. Then I made a ghost image (the ink left over from a print) of both cedar leaves and a swatch of crocheted yarn. The layers felt a little disjointed to me, so I decided to break purist printmaking rules by adding colored pencil and enter the “mixed media” realm!

Lastly, the great thing about gel plate printing is that the prints where I’m experimenting or getting the ink off the plate for a ghost image, turn out just as interesting as my actual project!

 

4 color mono-print proof on paper

3 color mono-print proof on paper

4 color mono-print proof on paper

3 color mono-print proof on paper

4 ccolor mono-print proof on paper

 
 

2 color mono-print proof on paper

3 color mono-print proof on paper

3 color mono-print proof on paper

2 color mono-print proof on paper

3 color mono-print proof on paper

 

Note: I’ve only put a select few of these prints in my shop. I’m thinking about making a grab bag with a handful of prints. Dumb idea? Let me know!

Paper Your Walls

The online sale for Posters for Parks is now OPEN!

The great thing about Posters for Parks is all 44 poster designs are 18” X 24” and are only $50! My house has great art on the walls because of this sale. Minneapolis parks gets some money and the very talented local artists and designers get some money (50% each to be exact).

I made a 6-color screen print that I designed and screened myself; right on my dining room table! Please consider purchasing a poster or voting for your favorite!

Here’s a link to that before mentioned 6-color screen print:
https://postersforparks.org/product/asclepias-tuberosa/

Me at opening of Posters for Parks 2023

Exhibition Closing!

One week left! Concerning Plants is closing this Saturday, September 30th. Artreach St. Croix is an awesome gallery in the heart of downtown Stillwater. It was a joy to share my Gone to Seed series in the space with Kristin Maija Peterson and David Spohn! 

Garlic Mustard | Alliaria petiolata, Oil on board, 10 x 26

ArtReach St. Croix:  224 N. 4th Street, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
Open Wednesday – Fridays 10 – 4pm, Saturdays 12 – 4pm

Posters!!! Posters for sale!

It’s poster time!!!

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation annual Posters for Parks show is Saturday, October 14th!
Get you tickets today: Eventbrite

 
 

The pop-up gallery will be at the Minnehaha Regional Park pavilion next to Sea Salt (4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417) on Saturday, October 14, from 3– 7pm. 
Registration is open and tickets are free on Eventbrite. Any remaining posters will be available for sale the following week at PostersforParks.org.

I flexed my poster making skills this year with a six-color screen print this year. I chose to showcase Asclepias tuberosa, otherwise known as Butterfly Weed.

-Hope to see you there

My Version of Botanical Illustration

A few of my favorite works completed while taking “Botanical Illustration” through Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Continuing Education taught by self-described rule-breaker Shannon Brunette at the University of Minnesota’s Conservatory.

Solanam quitoense: A botanical illustration of the Solanam quitoense plant, commonly known as a Naranjilla. Painted with graphite watercolor and opaque Groucho, detail drawn in sanguine chalk on cold press watercolor paper.
11” by 14”

Butterfly Ranunculus Trio: Black pencil, water-soluble crayon on lightly textured and toned paper.
16 1/2” by 10 1/2” painted area on 18” x 12” paper.

Pitcher Plant: A psychedelic mixed media drawing of a carnivorous plant. Drawn with graphite and water-based crayon on gold-toned paper.
Drawing area measures 14 3/4” by 9 3/4” on 18” x 12” paper.

antARcTica

I’m excited to be part of Annie Young’s Exhibit antARcTica exhibiting at the Ames Center in Burnsville running from August 29 to November 5, 2022, with an opening October 1st at 5:30 pm!

The above images are part of the work Annie and I created in collaboration to document her time in Antartica, or as she calls it “ journey to rock bottom.” Annie has collaborated with a number of amazing artists to create this exhibition. Please take the time to check out here description of the project here: annieyoungarts.com/antarctica

In addition to the collaborations, each artist is also exhibiting their own works. I will be showing three new pieces in my Contact Sheet series where I’ve created large two-dimensional sculptures of ephemeral photos such as contact sheets, photo booth photos, and school pictures. The portraits in this series are all very personal to me and I consider it an immense privilege to showcase them with this exhibition!

Kristy: Locket Contact Sheet, Water-soluble oil and chalk on canvas, 30” x 40”

Mickey: School Picture, Water-soluble oil and chalk on canvas, 33” x 50”

Jeanne: Photo Booth (detail)

Jeanne: Photo Booth, Water-soluble oil on canvas, 72” x 14” (hinged diptych comprised of two canvases: 54” x 14” & 18” x 14”)

Half Birthday Sale!

UPDATE: The sale is over.
If you missed it send me an email at mgrillpainting@gmail.com for a belated coupon code!!!

EVERYTHING in my online shop is 39% OFF!!!

It’s my Thirty-Ninth and a Half birthday!

Celebrate this most important half-birthday with me by helping me clear out the studio to make way for new work!
Use code: 1/2BDAY for 39% off on paintings, prints, works on paper, something you’ve had your eye on, or something you just found!!

Items will be shipped within 24 hours of purchase via USPS or can be picked up locally. I am currently only shipping in the US (mi dispiace)!
Email me with any questions: mgrillpainting@gmail.com

SHOP

Use Code: 1/2BDAY for 39% off
Happy Shopping! Happy Half Birthday!