Waiting for a proof...

All of the editing and reediting is done and I am waiting for a proof before going to the next step...

I am very happy to finally be done with my first book.
I am proud of the story I wrote, the way the words fall together to create a certain level of suspense. I am a bit embarrassed to admit it took so long to finish this project - not because I was totally goofing off - but because there were so many other projects in between that I let take priority over finishing this one.

The picture to the right is the area behind my drawing table when I started The Last Monkey in 2005. I had just moved back to the bay area. I had the idea and a bunch of scribbles of how the story should end...the hardest part for me. I broke down the text into pages that would each need an illustration. 142 in total. I began to slowly work at creating the drawings I would need to complete the book. I did not know at the beginning how I would publish it. I only knew I needed to finish.

I made a lot of linoleum prints and paintings and other smaller projects. I had my day job, teaching art to 6-12 graders. I worked to get my art into galleries and show as much as I could. I dated. I moved a few times. I thought about getting a Masters Degree. All the things that get in the way of a low priority project. Time passes with multiple re-starts. A few more moves and a wonderful wedding, a few new drawings added each time. As I get older, my drawing style changes - improves - I think! I wonder if it will ever be finished. I wonder which of the older drawings will need to be redrawn to fit my newer work?

More false starts, but this year I decided to really commit to completing the work. More than half of the drawings have been made since January 2017. Several older drawings redone. Four editors to look at the text and imagery and other details I never thought of before getting to this point.

So close! Now I am just waiting for the proof to arrive. So I can say go! The book will be available in traditional book format and on Kindle. The next step is to reread the multiple ideas in my old notebooks and choose which to complete next or perhaps work on completely new stuff. The next book will not take 12 years...

The Last Monkey: Almost there...

In the meantime, watch a small film preview of a scene from my book...

The book cover.

Here is the description from the back of the book:

A thinking chair, hungry sharks, and angry toasters? But, who am I?

The artist looks back on a childhood of being taunted by sharks and toasters. In an attempt to explain, theories abound, but maybe the explanation is simple.

Getting a glass...

The Last Monkey is in editing...

I have finished my first illustrated book and sent it of to the editors. It has been a long process with many things taking my time away from the project. The book is complete and has been sent off for editing.

The last Monkey is a story about irrational fears that hold us back and a few other things...


Working now on the author bio, story description and a few other things ahead of releasing the book..

Pulling a print: Cable Cars.

Here is the Video of me pulling my latest print. It has been a long time since I made and videos or used any videos editing software, so there is a bit of a learning curve and this is my first very simple video. It was fun playing around with it and trying to get it to do what I want.

I started this print in 2015, before we left Oakland. I carved most of it during the East Bay Open Studios.What a busy time! The finished product got a bit lost in the move...a few months in a Portland hotel with two cats and a dog, then relocating to a suburban rental home, while we try to figure out how to build a real house on our farm...I was finally able to get back to this image. I finished the lino a few weeks ago and printed a small edition.

 I am fairly happy with the finished piece and ready to move on to other projects...

My Drafting table with the finished lino and print and some oil paints set out and ready!

2017 Goals!

My goal for the coming year is:
· to create one finished linoleum print each week.
· finish my illustrated book “The Lasts Monkey.
· and start selling produce we grow on our farm.

Your support and encouragement will help me get there. Thank you in advance. Here is my introduction on my Patreon page:

I am an Artist, Writer, Art Teacher (middle and high school since 2002) and new farmer (since 2015).
I create drawings and linoleum prints about things that I find Interesting. My art is based on what I see around the farm and places in modern cities where nature collides with industrial objects.A gallery director once told me my work was too "disparate." I think that is a good thing. I want to make art about everything! And I am not working on just one thing. I always have several prints or drawings, illustrated stories and farm projects in the works. I document them on my website and blog.
You can help support my work by becoming a patron. I will post art here first and post how to and (eventually) behind the scenes videos. I am open to suggestions of what you might like to see.

My prints and drawings and more can be found on my website at www.kathewelch.com and for sale on Etsy. Our small press is at www.FourOceansPress.com. Our farm blog is at www.FrogEagleFarms.com.