Avocado Ink

I'm an Uncle + Art Happenings

Hello!

My oh my May has been a wildly busy and beautiful month. Last Monday I became a first-time uncle! Charles “Charlie” John Zlogar is his name and I can’t wait to get out to Illinois to meet him! He’s named after my dad.

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Irrigation season is in full swing and That Irrigation Guy is the busiest he’s ever been with projects all over the Hudson Valley (shout out Rico and Chris for all your help). Both my jobs are as busy as they get right now, which means a lot of people are either getting laid off or gardening. These are strange worlds I straddle: writing resumes, installing sprinkler systems, making art in between. For those who subscribe I sent out essay a few weeks ago about my life as a resume writer (check that spam folder).

When live feels busy I try to lean into that which helps me relax or decompress. Tranquility is a choice, as I recently learned in yoga. But cultivating it takes practice. No matter what, I always try to make time for art and reading. On rainy days. After work but before dinner. After dinner but before bed. Right now I’m reading North Woods by Daniel Mason. Funny enough, an irrigation customer lent it to me.

Lately I’ve been focused on incorporating found or natural materials in my art making. In practice this means sneaking off with scrap wood from the job site across the street. Or filling our freezer with bags of avocado pits and skins to make ink.

Here’s two inks I made with the pits (pale pink red) and skins (pale brown) from store bought avocados.

These were easy to make and there are a ton of recipes online and in books—like this one Lauren bought me. Essentially, all you need is water, baking soda, about 20 halved avocado pits, some gum arabic powder and isopropyl alcohol. However it is a very messy process, and you definitely need dedicated pots, strainers, and utensils.

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Aside from the ink making, I’ve returned to painting with oil on (stolen/found/pilfered) wood. These are all quick, rough paintings when I have a spare 20 minutes and feel the need to do something.

Lastly, Kingston Neighbor Art Collective (Lauren, Johnny, Emily, myself) will be tabling this Saturday at 233 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, NY from 10-3pm. I will have the paintings above for sale. Also, May is mental health awareness month and I have it on good authority that there will be therapy pigs!