ILLUSTRATION REPORT ~ JULY 2010

For a more detailed account of my artstic activity, please subscribe to my electronic newsletter by e-mailing danmitsui [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Please also e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing original drawings or prints, commissioning works of art, collaborating, licensing an image, exhibiting my work in a gallery or selling my work in a store. I welcome questions, comments, advice and criticism.

I am very interested in bringing my work and my knowledge about sacred art to a broader audience than this web log, especially by speaking for parishes, schools, youth groups, conferences and other organizations. If you know of any opportunities for this, or if you would like to invite me, please e-mail me.

My main web site has been redesigned, and now includes prices on all works for sale, most of which are in the sections on religious art, biological art and giclée prints.

On a personal note, my son has recovered well from the surgery that I mentioned last month. I am immeasurably grateful to those who offered prayers on his behalf.


New Print Available

I have issued a new print of my recent drawing of the Annunciation. The edition is limited to 100 prints; each is signed and numbered.

Tom Petroff of Artists Print Service prepared these gicleée art prints on heavy rag paper for me. I have worked with this printer for years, and he has always done a remarkable job. This particular print proved a special challenge, as it was the first one I have ordered of a drawing in full color with gold leaf. Gold leaf, when scanned, looks rather gray and green. To better capture the true appearance of the drawing, Mr. Petroff photographed the original with indirect lighting that reflected off the gold leaf in warmer, more accurate hues. The gilded areas on the prints look much brighter and warmer than they do on the scans shown above.

I finished signing and numbering the prints yesterday morning. They really turned out beautifully; the details are sharp, the colors bright. I hope that they will prove popular.

The print is the same size as the original drawing: 6" wide and 8" tall, centered on 8" x 10" paper. Each print costs $96 plus shipping.

The original drawing is also for sale, for $2400. For more information about this work of art, see this web page.

Recently Completed Drawings

The largest drawing that I have been working on over the past month, of the Last Judgment, is still a week or two from completion. The following drawings were all finished in July:



A colored ink drawing on goatskin parchment, of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The haloes, garment trims and textile patterns are authentic gold leaf. 4" x 6". The original is for sale for $400.



This drawing of St. Peter was created to commemorate the Pontifical Solemn High Mass recently celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Limited-edition gicléee prints of the original drawing were created as gifts for members of the schola that sang at the Mass.



This bookplate was a gift to a couple on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary. The central image is of St. Edward the Confessor being crowned with palms; Moses leading the Israelites through the desert and the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost are drawn to either side of it. The small drawings in the corners stand for the names of the couple's four children.



A custom heraldic bookplate, featuring the arms of the Viana and Pereira families of Portugal. The tinctures are indicated using the Petra Sancta hatching system.



This drawing on goatskin parchment began as a calligraphy practice sheet. I added color and gold leaf to the handwritten prayer. 4" x 3". The original is for sale for $100.

Work in New Media

I continue my work on several projects in media besides ink drawing: I have acquired paint, rabbit skin glue-based gesso, and boards (which I have already sawn and sanded by hand) for several painted icons. I also plan to gesso some parchment and paper, to use for silverpoint drawing.





Mostly, I have been working on etched metal. I hope to create intricately patterned gowns to place over icons of the Holy Face of San Silvestro and of Our Lady of Czestochowa, and crucifixes and medals for a mediaeval-style rosaries strung with bloodstone and jasper beads on silk cord.





My first tests using copper plates etched with ferric chloride were successful. Soon, I will begin work on some sterling silver plates, to be etched with ferric nitrate.

Limited-Edition Art Prints for Sale

Limited-edition giclée art prints on heavy rag paper are available of the following works. Click on the thumbnails below for more information about each drawing, or here for more information about limited-edition prints in general.


Annunciation
Image size: 6" x 8"
Paper size: 8" x 10"
Limited edition (1-100) signed giclee art print
$96 + shipping


Crucifixion
Image size: 8" x 11"
Paper size: 9" x 12"
Limited edition (1-100) signed giclee art print
$120 + shipping


St. Michael
Image size: 5.5" x 8.5"
Paper size: 8" x 10"
Limited edition (1-30) signed giclee art print
$96 + shipping


St. Columba of Iona
Image size: 8 1/2" x 11 1/9"
Paper size: 9" x 12"
Limited edition (1-6) signed giclee art print
$120 + shipping


Tree of Life and Death
Image size: 5 1/4" x 7"
Paper size: 8" x 10"
Limited edition (1-50) signed giclee art print
$96 + shipping

Christmas Cards for Sale

Tree of Jesse
Card size: 5" x 7"
Blank inside
$1 per card + shipping
Envelopes included
Minimum order of 10


Annunciation to the Shepherds
Card size: 4" x 5"
Blank inside
$1 per card + shipping
Envelopes included
Minimum order of 10

See this page for more information.

Printed Universal Bookplates for Sale

Olives


Critters


Maze

Size of printed bookplates: 3" x 4"