Project Season Begins with Homare and Mamiko Ikeda

By Teddy Benson Homare Ikeda Mamiko Ikeda June 11, 2014

Homare Ikeda critiquing his watercolor monotprints.

The crazy season of prints fairs is behind us, the mountain snow has melted, and interns are arriving. It’s project season at Oehme Graphics. Last Month, Homare and Mamiko Ikeda set the pace for long summer days in the studio. Master printer, Susan Hover Oehme first saw Homare’s work about 10 years ago in Denver, and more recently at William Havu Gallery. She has long admired his complex and intimate abstractions, both on canvas and paper, and also adored his wife Mamiko’s enthusiasm and variety of talent, so she invited the couple to Steamboat Springs for a week-long dual collaborative project.

In eight days Homare completed 21 watercolor monoprints sized between 11 1/2 x 11 inches and 28 x 23 inches (pricing info on our website). Homare found his own, unique approach to painting on vellum. By referencing the strong sense of space in his paintings, Homare cut stencils of new and old vellums. He then intertwined the stencils with his emotive marks in order to compose each print thoughtfully and experimentally. Finally, Sue and Homare broke down the colors and marks from one of his sketches to make six solar plates for his Stairway to Heaven print, entitled Six Rocks.

Mamiko Ikeda comparing “Baby Stone-age TV” to “Stone-age TV”.

Mamiko literally made big leaps at OG. She began the project with a series of
20 1/3 x 16 inch watercolor monoprints. She then turned her attention to a simple 12 x 12 inch black and white relief print, entitled “Baby Stone-age TV” which inspired larger, more complicated and crazier “Stone-age TV” relief prints. Mamiko, Sue, and Hollis carved the 3 x 4 foot block in a single morning, and after resting cramped hands, they got to work inking. The massive block represented endless possibilities, so Sue and Mamiko printed both intaglio and relief in a variety of colors, combinations and assortments of media. This creative series consists of ten 31 x 42 inch bleed prints.

Mamiko Ikeda, Master Printer Susan Hover Oehme, and assistant Hollis Moore proofing Mamiko’s relief prints.

Mamiko made eleven large relief prints on beautiful, full sheets of Somerset paper.

Homare’s inventiveness, open-mindedness, and imagination make him a joy to collaborative with. He says in his bio, “Working with painting is mystical. I often don’t know what I am doing yet painting seems to know how and what to do. I spend many hours looking at painting as if painting is able to say something. When things are right it does speak. I add one more stroke and wait for her voice to come out. It is a fascinating space. ” Master Printer Sue Oehme looks forward to making more solar plate etchings with him in the future.
Mamiko’s presence was just as warm and inspiring. By sharing her interest in calligraphy, felting, animation, and guitar with the staff, she discovered a way to integrate her extensive list of passions into her block prints. We were honored to share in the couple’s company, and indulge in their Japanese cooking (YUMMY!!). How fortunate we are that Denver is only a three hour drive from our home base! Visit Homare’s website and Mamiko’s website.

Proofing the six solar plates for Homare’s Stairway to Heaven print.

Homare Ikeda and Master Printer Susan Hover Oehme pause during the signing to show off one of Homare’s watercolor monoprints. This print, “Finale A”, is 28″ x 23″ inches and priced at $1700.