Printsy: Printmakers of Etsy

Interview with Cerys Turner

2012-01-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

Biography

ALondoner born and raised, I have lived in and explored various partsof this city. I went to Central Saint Martins art college and thenhave done lots of exciting bits and pieces, including a few yearsworking full time in fashion and even a one-time biscuit icer! I amcurrently working freelance and getting into creative projects withdifferent client groups within the community.

Whydo you like to print?

Ienjoy drawing, painting and collaging and find print a good way tocombine ideas and be more selective with colour, shape and line. Ireally like the way you can build up layers, too.

Whatis your favorite print medium and why?

Istill remember the day I learned to screen print at art school. Eventhough I had done other printing before, like mono printing and a fewother techniques and enjoyed them, I got this feeling of excitement and amazing rush that I'd discovered my 'thing'. I didn't want toleave the print studio!

Howlong have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I've beenprinting for roughly 8 years, I love to experiment, so my initialwork was very experimental, but having had industry experiencedesigning in-house for fashion companies, I've definitely learned todesign in a more controlled way for specific clients, too.

Whatinspires you?

Colour.I am inspired by the way it's used in art, particularly abstractexpressionist artists like Rothko, Kiefer, Klee where the colour isstrong and evokes emotions. I'm inspired by things I see around thecity, the contrast between the urban landscape, nature breakingthrough and layers of history breaking through; unusual flowers,noisy birds, misplaced trees, clear blue skies over rigid greybuildings, historical architecture, ripped posters revealing hiddenimages. I love finding unusual things from the past and beautifulvintage fabrics - I often go to car boot sales and flea markets insearch of eclectic objects.

Howdo your promote your work?

Mainly through word of mouth, but havingan Etsy shop has been a great way to start reaching peopleinternationally. I also have a blog and have started to tweet...

Areyou working on any particular projects now?

I am workingon projects with specific client groups -- I am interested in doingcreative workshops with vulnerable and disabled people and possiblycombining this with Art Therapy in the future. There are a couple ofTextile Design studios that I do ongoing projects for -- I've juststarted designing some really exciting prints for fashion swimwear.Developing my own style further is also important to me and I hope tomake more products with my designs on to sell independently.

Tellus one random fact about yourself:

Icollect deers! I really like their calm nature, how graceful theyseem and living in London it is very rare that I get to see them sothey are quite exotic to me. So far I have deers that are pink,wooden, red, sparkly, ceramic, tiny and even flocked.

Please stop by Cerys Turner's etsy shop and blog.

treasury!

2012-01-25T09:49:00.001-08:00

treasury!

2012-01-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Interview with Clare Winslow

2012-01-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

Biography:

Having originally studied painting and drawing, I discovered printmaking later when I took classes at the Corcoran College of Art in [Washington] DC and at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Maryland. As soon as I tried printmaking I was immediately captivated by it. This art form gave me an outlet for all of my creative identities: draftsman, photographer, digital artist and painter.

What is your favorite print medium and why? Although I love all forms of printmaking, I am especially drawn to screenprinting because it lets me easilycombine layers of color and imagery from my drawings, paintings and photography. Although screenprinting is often associated with flat, poster-like images, through the use of new techniques including building many layers, sanding and sponging ink through the screen, it can also produce prints with texture and painterly surfaces.

Tell us about your work:

As far as process goes, after coming up with a concept, I often use the computer to develop an initial sketch as well as the transparencies, but then I depend on my background in drawing and painting to make decisions about color, value, shape, texture and composition. Ultimately, I try to maintain a balance between process and feeling.

My latest prints deal with the theme of navigation. I am interested in working with signs and symbols that represent our attempts to chart a course through life and the physical world. This year I will produce work for a solo show in 2013, and will attempt to do more experimental printing, working with alternative materials such as textiles and bamboo. I’d really like toget the imagery out of the boundaries of the picture frame.

How do you promote your work?

Regarding shows and sales, I exhibit at the Washington Printmakers Gallery, outside Washington, D.C. I opened my Etsy shop a while back but only recently have had time to promote it. Etsy is a fun place to connect with artists from all over the world. Promoting my work is challenging, but I’m getting more comfortable doing it online through Facebook, by sending out emails to contacts periodically, and by simply talking to people about my work more often.

Tell us about your studio space:

I go to a screenprinting studio in Washington, DC which I can rent by the day and is big enough to allow me to work on large pieces. Now my kids are 8 and 12, I have more time for art, but there's still a lot of juggling going on, a scenario probably familiar to most artists with kids. I try to carve out time every day for art, even if it's a short period.

A random fact about me: I'm the child and grandchild of DC painters and a native Washingtonian. There aren't many of those!

Please stop by Clare’s website & Etsy Shop

INTERVIEW with LYNN BAILEY

2011-12-18T08:59:00.000-08:00

Biography

My initial training

was in conservation of prints and drawings. I loved handling old prints and was very good at the invisible repairs and when I’m feeling frivolous I’d tell you I was trained in touching up Old Masters. Cutting mounts for Rembrandt prints and making tiny repairs for wormholes in a Hokus

ai are among th

e highlights from this time.

At the same time I was also discovering

that I am dyslexic and keeping up with the chemistry and all the scientific changes was quite a challenge for me. So for a while I took a complete change in direction and worked as a rendering artist in animation. While it was very enjoyable being involved in films and TV, and

[I was able to] apply my attention to detail, I missed havi

ng full creative input and I never lost my interest for Print.

Why Printmaking

After a while, it was clear that my skills were being replaced by computers, which wasn’t direction I wanted to pursue myself. I spent some time traveling around Africa while I tried to determine what direction I should take next. Thirteen countries, 1,000 pre-digital photographs, sound recordings and several boxes of artifacts later I returned to London and found it really difficult to go back to work where I was to follow the direction of an art director.

After, many evening classes, portfolio preparation classes and a part time foundation course later I went to college for a Fine Arts degree. I went to Exeter in Devon partly because the color of the soil which was reminiscent of central Africa! I also chose Devon because I knew that my artistic interests had more to do with the land than with the urban angst. While in college I found myself gravitating towards printmaking again. There is something about the processes that draws people with an interest in the science. The indirect way of working appeals to me and I believe that printmaking particularly suits the dyslexic mind. I already have a tendency to see things back to front, and have no problem transposing things, turning them around in my mind and even working in negative when necessary.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

I think if I had to choose one process I would narrow it down to Intaglio; but that will have to include drypoint, collagraph and acrylic resist etching. I teach and keep my hands in with all forms of printmaking. My work will often combine many different forms of printmaking in one piece. Some of my most recent work uses collagraph plates, which are inked up with different intaglio colors, and then have transparent relief ink rolled over the surface, then the chine collé tissues are laid over theplate. The colored tissues have been printed on with a drypoint and hand tinted. Together with the inked up collagraph plate and chine colléd tissue are added plant materials that have been inked up by passing through the etching press on an inky plate. When all these different elements are in place, it is then that all the parts are printed and adhered on to damp cotton paper with the etching press.

Tell us about your work:

All of my work has some kind of environmental angle to it. Themes I have worked with include the regeneration of the land; the purification of the water that was polluted by the landfill; a commentary about lost orchards; and a celebration of the easily overlooked wonders such as common weeds and bugs that have an important role to play in biodiversity. My most recent work is all about “Devon Hedgerows” which actually support a phenomenal amount of wildlife and are structures of great beauty in their own right.

Tell us about your Print Shop:

I help run Double Elephant Print Workshop for the last 15 years, where people can come participate in a variety of printmaking courses. This is a non-profit community interest company run by six artists. I was one of the two original founders and I offer technical support to the membership, run several of the courses and undertake editioning work from time to time.

Double Elephant has a very active outreach department. We have several small, portable presses that the team takes out to schools, art societies, prisons and anywhere that would like to experience printmaking at first hand. We also offer Printmaking on Prescription where people with mental health issues can be referred by local doctors to benefit from the therapeutic aspects of printmaking and self-expression in a safe environment.

How do you balance being a Master Printer and your own work?

Finding a balance between running a print workshop and being able to produce my own work is very difficult. On the plus side, I have access to excellent equipment just a three-minute walk from where I live and access to inspiring colleagues. The difficulty is that a lot of my energies are taken up with helping other people achieve their printmaking aims, sometimes at the expense of my own. A key thing for me is to always have a project in hand and something to work towards.

How do you promote your work?

Promoting my own work has always been something I find very difficult. I’m not accustomed to sticking my neck out and getting noticed. However I am very happy promoting the Workshop and over the years I have become quite well known in the area because of that. I have been lucky to be a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and have work in the Devon Gallery with a very strong printmaking reputation. I know I should get my stuff out there more, but it is difficult to put in the time necessary for this, plus I’m very picky and will not have my work mixed up with reproductions if I can help it.

Key promotional events for me are open studios. These are great fun and people will travel around the area to visit artists in their studios. I have a wide range of work to offer, ranging from my original print, handmade cards, postcards, hand printed cushions, and hand printed bags. I also have my Etsy website and an art page on FaceBook where I have more fans than friends. I like to keep it relatively Etsy “light” on FaceBook because I don’t want to put off people who are really fans of my work. I’m finding it an interesting way for people to see my work and get feedback about what people like.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I’m rapidly turning into an eccentric, little old lady…

Check out Lynn's Etsy Shop

Treasury!

2011-12-15T10:38:00.001-08:00

Interview with Nieves Waleska Pumarejo Blanco of Toshisworld

2011-12-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

Biography:

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Puerto Rico where I currently live, in the capital, Old San Juan. I made my BA and a Master degree in Visual Art in the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Germán campus.

Why do you like to print?

My love for print came since I was in the kindergarten [and] the teacher showed us how with leaves and empty spools deep in painting create “prints” of them in the paper. Later in my printmaking classes my love grow much more. Printmaking became one of my favorite mediums to work.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

At this moment my favorite is linocut because it is accesible, easy to print if you doesn’t have a workshop and relatively easy to cut and design in it. I love printing in other colors than black and feel the texture of the print papers. On the other hand, if I would have a studio or workshop to print, my other favorite is the collography because of the mix of textures and ideas for work with it.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I’m [began] printing again about two years ago. I feel like I’m still learning, every time I do a print something new happens in my mind, so always I’m seeking for knowledge. A new way to cut, a new line to draw, a new paper to try. I want to evolve to perfection, in the meantime I’m really happy learning and printing.

What inspires you?

My inspiration is nature. My culture, my thoughts, my feelings. I’m searching [for] my own language, my own mythologies, my own symbols. Inspiration is an infinite resources that will help me to find my own space in art and printing. I love the form of the leafs, the shells, the lines that defines our environment.

How do you promote your work?

I’m using facebook, twitter and my blogs. [especially] the blogs I feel very comfortable talking about my creative process my thoughts and ideas that I would love to develop in some time.

Are you working in any particular projects now?

Not really, well I have something in mind with print and jewelry and my big project is learning.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I don’t like talk about myself too much because I’m a shy person but one fact is I love art in all the ways especially photography, jewelry design, printmaking and bookmaking, art is my religion, I love learning about the creative process of other artist and I’m always looking for knowledge. Recently I started my own private print art collection.

Check out Nieves' Etsy Shop and Blog

HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011

2011-12-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011

2011-12-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011

2011-12-09T20:51:00.000-08:00

Interview with Rich Fowler of Boarding All Rows

2011-12-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

Biography

I grew up in the Midwest (U.S.), although I spent some of my childhood in a small English town. The San Francisco Bay Area is now home and is where I first took an interest in printmaking. I come from a family with different creative interests like art, photography, and music, but it wasn’t until recent years that I seriously explored that side of my brain as an adult.

Why do you like to print?

I was first attracted to linocut printmaking because it’s an art form requiring little in the way of equipment and doesn’t involve sitting in front of a computer, which I was already doing a lot in my job. The process of carving the block and then experimenting while printing got me hooked. I like that a hand-pulled print tactilely reflects the printing process – the layers of ink, the embossing on the paper – it has clearly not come out of an inkjet printer.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Relief printmaking, at this point, appeals to me the most, although I really enjoy producing drypoint prints because the process is a nice contrast. I’m drawn to the free-flowing graphic designs for which linocut is well suited. The challenge of making multi-color prints – both making them visually catching and registering the blocks accurately – drive me to improve and expand my work. I get a deep sense of satisfaction when I peel the paper off an inked block – revealing the good, the bad and the ugly.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I started printmaking in 2009 and my first pieces were simple linocut designs. Last year I took a couple workshops, such as at KALA Art Institute in Berkeley, that taught me how to make multi-color prints using a key block, which opened my eyes to more sophisticated compositions.

Another evolution has been to fight my natural inclination to produce images that are close representations of their subjects. I’ve tried to beat that out of me through drawing classes.

What inspires you?

Travel is a passion of mine, and maps, the outdoors, old poster art, and typography are all themes I enjoy exploring. I use a lot of my own photography from travels for brainstorming new ideas. The work of woodblock printmakers such as Tom Killion and Gustave Baumann, as well as the incredible Japanese ukiyo-e artists, were a revelation. I find the groundbreaking, graphic designs of early 20th century poster art – the typography, illustrations, colors, layouts – wonderfully inspiring.

How do you promote your work?

Promotion is not my strong suit but I recently designed a website and an artist page on Facebook. I also participate in some of the community aspects of Etsy, which make it such a unique forum for selling artwork. I’m a member of a local art association, which puts on an annual art show, too. In the future, I hope to have more face-to-face interaction with the public by selling at street fairs and art festivals.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I keep a long list of possible projects as they come to me, often letting them ruminate for a while as I think of different ways to compose them or simply work on a technique before investing the time on a new print. A Japanese train linocut, that I shelved for months but am now finishing, is a great example. Many of my recent projects have featured airport-related themes. I have a soft spot for airports.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

In 2006, I traveled around Asia and the Pacific for four months – trekking in the Himalaya, fending off leaches and drinking rice wine with a shaman in the jungles of Borneo, and volunteering at an elementary school in the Cook Islands.

Check out Rich's Etsy Shop and Website

Treasury!

2011-12-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Holiday Treasury!

2011-11-30T08:49:00.000-08:00

Interview with Kyle & Courtney Harmon of Screen Eggs and Ham

2011-11-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

Biography

We are a husband/wife team (Kyle & Courtney) with the most beautiful baby girl, Sophia. We both grew up in Manton, a teeny tiny town in Northern Michigan, where we will be moving back to soon. We currently live in a small farming community Coopersville, Mi just outside of what I think is a huge city (Grand Rapids, Mi) where Kyle goes to Kendall College of Art and Design, for art education. We got to know one another after I caught Kyle staring at me in LaF's High School art class, while we were painting a backdrop for a Elementary Christmas play together. I'm not going to lie my mind was shouting to me, “Oh my god Kyle Harmon, is checking me out! Play it cool, don't act like you care” then I ever so calmly turned away from him and could feel the bright red begin to appear on my face.. (FYI every girl from our school would have felt that way, he was the attractive, athletic “bad boy” type, that wasn't actually bad) Definitely one of the most embarrassingly exciting moments in my life (although I've never told him). From there I decided the best way to nonchalantly get to know him (secretly make him my boyfriend) would have to be of course MSN Messenger. Our messenger relationship quickly turned into actual friends, then boyfriend/girlfriend, then best friends, to eventually husband & wife/business partners.

Why do we print?

We print because we love it, printing brings so much happiness to our lives. It's a wonderful feeling to make a living doing what we love, creating artwork together for other people.  

What is your favorite print medium and why?

We don't necessarily have a specific favorite print medium, but our new obsession is with printing onto ceramic pieces. 

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved? 

We've been printing on and off together since High School art class (6 years ago) where our teacher Mr. LaFreniere had a local screen-printer come in to teach Kyle how to screen print, and that's when we really began creating together. Our work has evolved and molded into team creations featuring both of our strengths in everything we do, it works out fantastic because what one of us lacks in, the other tends to excel at. Before when we would begin our creative processes we would almost always try to think of elaborate ideas with deep meanings embedded into them and now we try to make things that people would like to have hung in there home, it excites us every time we get another sale to know that one more household will have our artwork hung on their wall. 

What inspires you?

Seeing color palettes inspire me. I love going into home depot and making a fool of myself by taking every paint sample I can get my hands on, although I'm quite sure Kyle finds it embarrassing.

How do your promote your work?

We primarily promote our work within Etsy, definitely one of the more important items on my long, ever growing, dreaded “to-do” list.

Are you working on any particular projects now? 

We are currently working on making educational inexpensive large posters for children's rooms (a new obsession for me being a new mom), (examples- playfully colorful world Typography maps, numbers, & alphabets) for our other Etsy shop

We also are working on a series of artwork for Tellurex (a company that offers thermoelectric solutions) they will be featured at the Redline exhibit in the Smithsonian Gallery. The Redline exhibit will feature more than 30 projects that reflect a growing movement among designers, engineers, and social entrepreneurs to create low-cost solutions for everyday problems both globally and locally.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

Kyle collects and organizes football cards. Courtney collects and organizes paint samples.

Check out Kyle and Courtneys Etsy Shop and Second Etsy Shop

Interview with Leila Hooper Zeitler of Aurafinearts

2011-11-20T13:06:00.000-08:00

Biography

My professional background has been in the field of antiquities and fine arts. My professional background brought me tremendous satisfaction.

My artwork gives my a similar sense of gratification.

I am mesmerized by the bright spontaneous nature of light, atmosphere, patterns and textures created in our magnificent environment.

I create etchings from my original painted images featuring flowers, wildlife and landscapes. My images are infused with multiple layers of color using eco friendly modern printmaking materials and techniques.

I live in Cambridge, Ma. with my husband. We live in a small and lively city which is in close proximity to both the mountains and the sea which we both enjoy immensely.

Why do you like to print?

I love the spontaneous nature of printmaking.

I also enjoy exploring modern eco friendly materials and techniques. There is something very rewarding about learning to successfully use materials which are gentle to our planet and to ourselves.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

I am thrilled with modern printmaking materials and the success you can achieve with them once you have mastered their quirky characteristics.

I love the eco friendly inks which are made with soybean oil instead of toxic chemicals. I love being able to cure a solar etching plate with the natural light of the sun instead of acid. I adore using recycled, repurposed and found organic objects to create works of inspiration.

What a treat to have access to mediums that reflect our recognition to conserve and protect own natural environment.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

My first recollection of printing is when I was a child and I was teaching people to ink leaves and create intriguing patterns with them. A number of years later I am still encouraging people to experiment with this wonderful option in order to explore their own creativity. It’s an irony really.

In between, the need to experiment has allowed printmaking to be a true ally for me. Learning to recreate sketches, carving woodblocks and linoleum and learning how much passion I feel for the painterly monotype and gelatin printmaking have all played a significant role in the evolution of my artwork.

What Inspires You?

Sometimes, I feel like an explorer. I will get an idea and then I will pursue different methods I can use to interpret it.

Mostly, my inspiration is directly from our natural environment. It is so rich and abundant that I never lack new ideas and challenges.

Being engaged in my artwork keeps me very focused and gives me enormous sensitivity to our surrounding environment. Color, light, textures and patterns are all a part of what I may attention to. These sensitivities afford me a freedom in the way that I interpret and see the environment around me. And thus, the way that I interpret it in my work.

How do you promote your work?

Someone once said that you are either good at doing the artwork or good at promoting the artwork, but rarely are you good at both. I believe there is a lot of truth in that.

I stay connected to the various outlets of exposure.

I will enter several juried competitions this spring and summer. I will also be in several group and gallery shows. A small group of us have formed an environmental printmaking group and we are scheduled to promote several shows over the next year. I have two etsy shops featuring my work.

Are you working on any particular projects right now?

I am always at work on one project or another and manage to feel that there are not enough hours in the day.

To get back to something I am very passionate about, I am pursuing the field of promoting eco friendly printmaking materials and techniques. A small group of us recently formed and we have put together various proposals which will lead to exhibitions in the near future.

It’s a tremendous amount of work but it’s also something that can be very rewarding.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

The first thing that comes to mind is related to the work we’ve been discussing.

Recently my husband and I have begun to produce videos which are a combination of my artwork and his musical accompaniment. We have worked on several now and they are highly effective and have been very well received.

We are in the process of producing another one which will feature a new batch of artwork I’ve been working on over the past 4-6 months, including new wildlife and botanical images. These will be accompanied by my husband’s music. He is a professional classical guitarist.

You can take a look at the one’s we have done. They are available on my website and on Youtube.

Check out Leila's Etsy Shop and Website

Interview with Jenni Desmond

2011-11-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

Biography

I’m 26 and a freelance artist and illustrator. I live in a blue house near the sea in the quirky city of Brighton, UK, and share a studio there with 5 other artists. I’ve just finished a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration and before that did my degree in English and Art history and taught in France for a year. When growing up I always dreamed of being an illustrator but it didn’t seem a possible career choice at the time so I put it in the back of my mind. Slowly though, I realized drawing and illustrating was something I was incredibly passionate about and I enrolled in a couple of short courses and became obsessed, working 18 hours a day until I realized it had become part of my identity and my oxygen, and so I decided to go with it. Since then I’ve had several exhibitions, love making products to sell on etsy, do lots of commissioned work and am forging a career as a children’s book illustrator and would also like to develop my work more for interior design. I still tend to ‘work’ night and day and I love every minute of it.

Why do you like to print?

Printing gets me out of my comfort zone (pen) and I love the messiness and freeness it brings. Print changes the tone and texture of a line, making the line more sophisticated and interesting, and I love the spontaneity printing can often bring to your work- you never quite know how it’s going to come out!

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Overall, I most enjoy printing techniques that give you texture, tone and room for expression, so I think for me it is etching. It keeps a spontaneity and freshness to your work because you have to draw straight onto the plate with little room for mistakes. It is also a slow and meticulous process which requires quite a lot of perfection and patience to get right. The sensation and smell of the hot wax, the acid bath that can ruin your plate in seconds, and the big press that makes you feel straight out of the middle ages I find all incredibly satisfying and fun. I really like the final outcome of an etching, the quality of the line can be beautiful, and you can get some really interesting tonal qualities, especially when adding aquatint.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I’ve only been printing for about 3 years so I’m very new to it and am discovering new techniques and methods all the time. I’ve started doing a lot of monoprint recently, and love printing onto textile. I am interested in creating work that doubles as being functional, and not solely decorative.

What inspires you?

A big one is music- I always listen to music when I work and what I listen to depends on the mood I am trying to create in my work. I am also inspired by pattern in nature, interior design, psychology, stories, and find that some of my best ideas come when I’m cycling or running outside. I think it is also very important to constantly come out of your comfort zone and see and experience lots of new things.

How do your promote your work?

Blog, facebook, twitter, word of mouth, exhibitions, magazines, emails…

Are you working on any particular projects now?

We are having an open studio in Brighton next month (note - this interview was published after Jenni's open studio) so I’m getting work ready for that at the moment and I am working on book illustration. I am also developing lots of ideas at the moment for some new exciting printed products to sell in my shop over the next few months…watch this space!

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I have a mole wedged between my toes which is called ‘the rabbit poo’ - unfortunately it does looks like that.

Check out Jenni's Etsy Site and Blog

Tutorial: Coarse Aquatint

2011-11-10T06:15:00.000-08:00

Aquatint is a technique used in copper and zinc plate intaglio printmaking to create tone. In a traditional studio, this is frequently done using a fine powdered resin which forms an acid-resistant dot cover on the plate, applied using a dedicated aquatint box. You get a reliably even tone throughout the image. In safety oriented studios, some artists substitute the powdered resin with spray enamel or spray paint.

Etchers who've worked exclusively with aluminium plates may not be familiar with this process because aluminium is 'self aquatinting,' in that if you place a large exposed surface of aluminium in the acid, it will not bite out the entire surface (thus creating an open bite) but rather bite out the metal in a grainy matrix which can hold ink.

Note: this tutorial has been written for those who have previously used some kind of aquatint, rather than for the complete beginner. However, if you belong to the latter category and nevertheless want to read on and find yourself confused, please do ask in the comments!

As the name suggests, this tutorial covers some aspects of the application of, and results that can be achieved with, a coarse aquatint. It's different from a 'fine aquatint' that the tone is more irregular and broken, and you can apply it without having to build yourself an aquatint box.

You need:
• Respirator / dust mask
• Lump resin / aquatint ground (this may be called something different depending on your location)
• Ziplock/plastic bag
• Wine bottle (empty) or a rolling pin which you never plan on using for food preparation again
• Jar
• Cheesecloth
• Old newspaper
• Heat gun

0) Powdered resin is bad for your health and loves to stick in your lungs. If possible, invest in a respirator, but at the very least wear a dust mask. Work somewhere like the garage or shed, where wind isn't going to blow the powder around, but which is away from fabrics and cushions. Cover your working surface with plenty of newspaper for easy clean up afterwards. When heating the resin, work in a very well ventilated area.

1) Put enough resin to fill your jar into a layer or two of ziplock bags.

2) Cover it with a cloth, and using your wine bottle/rolling pin, crush the resin into a powder.

Before rolling and after rolling:

3) Pour the powder into the jar. Cover it with 2-5 layers of cheesecloth (depending on the size of the holes in the cheesecloth and how much powder you'd like to escape) and secure with a rubber band.

4) Place your degreased plate (resin doesn't stick to oil!) on the newspaper. Hold the jar over it and tap to let the powder fall lightly on the plate.

4.1) Remember that resin expands when heated, so don't overdo it or the acid will have nowhere to bite.

4.2) If you need to cover large areas with tone, you are more likely to get an even coverage if you hold the jar up high to lightly work larger areas of the image instead of trying to do small bits at a time. Note that this will also cause the powder to float about more, so protect your clothing and workspace extra carefully.

4.3) The powder is not attached to the plate at this stage. Be careful not to breathe on it or to let your movements disturb it.

A corner covered in resin:

5) Carefully heat the resin from underneath with a heat gun. You'll know it's attached to the plate when it becomes transparent. Don't inhale the fumes.

6) After the plate has cooled, you will be ready to proceed in the same way as any other aquatint: block out the white areas; etch; clean off with methylated spirits; proof!

It takes a while to get the hang of exactly how much powder coverage there needs to be for the effect you're after. It is possible to get quite even results:

Or you could embrace the irregularity, in which case you get something like this:

(Work is entitled Gathering in the Domain, 2011)

Interview with Anne van Oppen of Annevo5

2011-11-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

Biography

I was born and raised in Southern California. After twenty plus years of living, working and playing in other parts of the country I moved back and met my husband. We live on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County. My working years were spent in the apparel industry. Skiwear in Vermont and surfwear in Hawaii. I was an apparel and surface designer often using relief prints to achieve a desired effect or application.

Why Printmaking?

I love printmaking for many reasons but primarily because of the multiples. I do not find it as difficult to part with a piece when there are more in hand.

What Is Your Favorite Medium and Why?

Currently my favorite print medium is Galvanic Etching on copper. I recently set up a studio at home and resolved to keep it as non-toxic as possible. The journey has been frustrating and the disappointments abundant but well worth the trip. I am developing my process and gaining control of the effects I want to achieve. The discovery and successes are very exciting!

How Has Your Work Evolved?

I have been printing for many years, off and on, and seriously for the past ten years. My work has evolved into simpler images with interesting texture. I am interested in expressing a feeling along with the image and not saying too much. I want the viewer to participate and formulate their own feelings related to the piece.

What Inspires You?

I am inspired by the nature around me. I try to sketch regularly and many pieces are developed from there. I love gardening and spend a lot of time outside among my plants. Insects and their ways entrance me, so they are often subjects as is my funny and charming cat Big Guy.

How Do You Promote Your Work?

I am a member of several local artist groups and I enter the local shows. As much as I would like to sell more work, I do not enjoy the running around to accomplish this. I admire other artists that have the energy. I love Esty and Printsy and I hope they will help get me out there!

Any Special Projects You are Working On?

Yes, as I mentioned I am exploring Galvanic Etching and I am working on a series of ten or so prints that express my achievements in this process. They are all 7 1/2 x 7 1/4" with varying sized plates, 2 x 3" or so and a chine' colle frame or background. Once printed, I hand color areas of the piece with watercolor. The first three are on Printsy.

Tell Us One Random Fact About Yourself

A random thing about me is that I am a very good sailor.

Check out Anne's Etsy site and The Los Angeles Printmakers Link

Interview with Paul Roden and Valerie Lueth of Tugboat Printshop

2011-10-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Biography

Valerie grew up in South Dakota, and Paul grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. We met at the University of South Dakota, and have been together since 2002. After graduating with printmaking degrees in 2004, we eventually settled in Pittsburgh in 2006, and have been working collaboratively in woodblock for the majority of the time since about 2007.

Why do you like to print?

We like to craft intricate images by hand, working for several days or weeks on a single piece. We like to think of the prints we make as being 'conceived in multiple'--that is, thought of as being in front of a large audience from their conception. Printmaking allows us to spend many hours making complex, multi-block drawings and have an end product that is affordable, original, and completely handmade artwork. We want to be able to take what we do directly to the public at affordable rates. Working in print allows us to do what we love and be able to make a living on it as well.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

We are currently very fond of working in woodcut. We like the raw, natural state of the medium and the act of drawing and carving on the wooden block feels real. The blocks seem precious but are very strong and durable. Carving into linoleum or MDF just doesn't feel the same or yield the same end result--wood also provides for much greater detail, especially over a large edition. We are fans of the crisp, bold lines of woodblock printing and appreciate the subtlety of each block's differences. We feel a strong connection to printmaking's roots in woodcut (and as a medium by which to give images and text to the people) and are excited to be contributors to its lengthy tradition.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

We have been printing together as Tugboat Printshop since 2007, but each have more than 13 years of experience as printmakers & artists. Valerie worked primarily in etching before our collaboration in woodblock printing began. Paul has been working almost exclusively in woodcut. We have both explored and are proficient in many print mediums but have been working in woodcut since 2007.

What inspires you?

The natural world, history, science, thinking about the future are the broad umbrellas that we generally work under. We are facinated by the history of mankind, especially as relates to the history of the natural world.

How do your promote your work?

We have done a lot of travelling over the past 3 years to indie craft fairs, city fairs, gallery shows, etc. and promoting our work in person is by far our favorite. Nothing beats a customer being able to see the prints in person and have their questions answered by the artist(s) that made the work. We have a website, etsy store, facebook, blog, flickr, etc. and upload new prints and progress shots frequently to keep folks interested in looking & checking back. We also send out a monthly e-newsletter that features new prints and any upcoming events or press we feel might be of interest to our audience. (You can join by visiting our website!) We're constantly evolving and trying new ways to bring what we do to the public. We are very ambitious about almost any project we tackle or are asked to contribute to.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

Sure! We have a number of blocks in progress…many more will be a part of our LIFE OF LEISURE Series. Others are in a different vein…

We are very eager to tackle some larger and more colorful artwork

Tell us one random fact about yourself

We have pretty developed sweet-tooths and love to read our horoscopes.

Check out Tugboat's Etsy Site and Website

Interview with Morgyn Stranahan

2011-10-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Biography

I have lived in the Milwaukee, WI area all my life. At the age of 15 I began to seriously study visual arts after the death of my parents.

Why do you like to print?

Absolutely positively in love with the process, the meditative quality of all of it. Of course, it rocks to have several copies of a finished piece.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

It changes, but currently linocuts, because I can both work on a block and print almost anywhere.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

Over 19 years. It wasn’t until I was introduced to silk screen that I got excited about printmaking. I’m more willing to try new things now because I finally get that failure is truly just a necessary step towards success. I’m not stuck on my initial image of a piece and can allow it to develop the way it needs to.

What inspires you?

Love watching animals and people move and interact. Languages and how they offer a different way to look at the world. Drawing games with my nieces.

How do your promote your work?

Etsy, Facebook, (although it’s not really a straight up Facebook “fan page”), enter gallery shows,- rarely accepted in any, about once a year do some type of local art fair, loyal fans, word of mouth, and donate art to several worthy charities. That last one makes me feel independently wealthy.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

Currently between printmaking projects. Working on a series of landscape paintings for a commission, illustrating a coloring book for a community leader and making another attempt at puppets.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

Considering planting hops in the garden this year. If anyone has advice on which rhizome to go with for Southeastern WI, please convo me! Thanks!!!

Check out Morgyn's Etsy site and Web site

Interview with Luzelle van der Westhuizen of Mengsel Design

2011-10-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

Biography

I’m from Cape Town, South Africa. Moved to London 5 years ago and live with my husband near Wimbledon in South West London. I have a degree in Jewelry Design and after working for various other designers, I decided to venture out on my own. My jewelry has always been very graphic and two dimensional, so printmaking and illustration was a natural step for me. Looking back, I now realize how much I as drawn to print from a very early age.

Why do you like to print?

It is addictive! I love playing around with colours. The thing with silkscreen printing is that the quality of the ink on the paper is something that is hard to replicate with digital and every piece is unique. I really enjoy the physicality and the technique behind it. Coming from a jewelry background, it was easy for me to find my groove in another type of workshop/studio environment.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Definitely silkscreen printing. I love the graphic effect and the bright , bold colours and shapes that can be achieved with this technique.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I’ve only been printing for less than 2 years. I completed a short course of 3 evening classes in silkscreen printing a year and a half ago at the East London Printmakers Studio and after that I was hooked. After finding a printing studio closer to my home, I joined and started printing and experimenting. I would say that most of my printmaking progress has been trial and error and I feel that I’m now at the stage where I’m getting very comfortable and that I get the results that I want. I still have more to learn though! There’s ALWAYS more to learn.

What inspires you?

I’m mostly inspired by geometric and hand-drawn patterns, as well as African and Scandinavian design. Beautiful vintage objects and graphic typography are also very inspiring. I find a lot of inspiration by going to old, specialist bookstores that sell rare books and prints, like Sotheran’s of Sackville Street. It is really great to live in a city like London and just go out exploring with my sketchbook.

How do your promote your work?

I have my own blog, where I enjoy sharing my work process and I always include promotions like discounts and giveaways, which I also post on Twitter and Facebook. My Etsy shop is also advertised on leading design blogs, such as Bloesem, Pikaland and Print and Pattern. So far, I’ve been lucky with others bloggers writing about my work frequently.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

[Last spring I participated in a] pop-up shop with Curate 40 at the Notting Hill store of Pedlars. Also more work for Heal’s and a few new print designs for my Etsy shop.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

Afrikaans is my first language.

Check out Luzelle's Etsy Shop and Website

Interview with Dunja of Doonyaya

2011-10-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

Biography

I live in a small town outside of Portland, Maine with my heavily tattooed husband Gerald and our two raw-food eating cats Hero and Suki. I graduated with a Fine Arts Master's Degree from Bard College in 2003, focussing on photography at the time, but found that my real passion is screen printing. I converted our garage and part of our basement into my studio space, and the upstairs of our garage is our practice space for our band Elk Blood - I play keyboards.

Why Printmaking?

I have always loved to screen print since I first took a class at the Corcoran School of Art when I was visiting my father in Washington, DC one summer in College. I was addicted to the speed of it and the ability to make multiples which I could then re-print or collage and make into one of a kinds. It combined photography, illustration, clip art, found images and painting in one medium. I've always been somewhat ADD, unable to focus on one thing at a time, and I also get easily bored once I've learned how to do something. I am always attracted to the next shiny thing, so to keep my attention a medium has to be wide with possibilities, which is exactly what screen printing offers.

How Has Your Work Evolved?

My work has evolved from being an intellectual or theoretical practice, which I learned in school, to being an intuitive process where I have learned to trust my instincts more than my head. It took a long time to detox from the headiness of art schools and learn to be an artist again, something which came naturally to me as a child, then was lost as I became conscious of my place in the world and how I appeared to others. The biggest challenge has been returning to who I am without doubting my abilities or instincts.

What Inspires You?

I am inspired by artists who show the messiness and imperfection of creating. Skill is important, but I am bored by technicians in every medium. I'm more inspired by people just putting themselves out there fearlessly than by a perfected performance or piece.

How Do You Promote Your Work?

I don't really promote my work. I want to see my work as inspiring to people, just as I'm inspired by people who are doing what they love in the world, whatever it happens to be. I think this attitude is attractive, so hopefully people will be drawn to work that is trying to give back something, not just show itself off.

Are You Currently Working on Any Special Projects?
Right now I'm working on opening a store in Portland called The Merchant Company for crafters and vintage collectors. It will be like an upscale flea market. We have a big back room to have craft nights, classes and workshops. There is a great printing community in Portland and I'm excited to bring it all together into a single space. My newest screen printing project is making screen printed pillow cases and duvet covers from upcycled fabrics. I'm also working on a line of coasters with retro RV's printed on linoleum.

Tell Us One Random Fact About Yourself....

I'm vegan and donate 10% of my profits to animal rights organizations. Being vegan saves 100 animals a year!

Check Out Dunja's Etsy Site and Website

Interview with Gary Thomas of GarThoma Studio

2011-10-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Biography

Born and raised in Muncie, IN. I received my BFA degree in studio art with a concentration on drawing from Ball State University. I then went to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for a Masters Degree in Printmaking. While living in Carbondale I made a living as a window washer. I have been teaching art at the university level since graduating from SIU in 2000. I have taught in Missouri at Culver-Stockton University; in Indiana at Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis and Taylor University. I also worked as a barista while I lived in Indiana. I currently live in Kankakee, Illinois and teach studio art (drawing, painting and printmaking) at Olivet Nazarene University.

Why do you like to print?

When I was a student at Ball State I focused primarily on drawing. I love to draw. I put off the required printmaking class because I felt that printmaking was somehow secondary to drawing and painting. When I finally got to the class and made my first print I was absolutely head over heals in love with the medium. I just connected with the process of creating a matrix and then making multiples to share and trade with my friends. Everything about it is just fabulous to me, especially the wonderful surprise I get when I lift the paper off the block or plate to reveal the image. And, of course, nothing can compare to the smell of a print shop!

Favorite Print Medium, Why?

The woodcut is my favorite. I really enjoy the graphic quality and the unique mark that I can create with the various carving tools. I love the fact that there is no other way to get that kind of mark. I also love the simplicity of woodcut printing. All I need are just a few carving tools and a piece of wood; I don’t even need a press, just an old wooden spoon to rub the back of the paper onto the inked up block.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I have been printing for about 13 years. My work has really just matured over the years, rather than evolved. The choices I make are more intentional. I have let myself make a lot of mistakes and I have learned from them.

What inspires you?

The Holy Spirit

How do you promote your work?

I am still working on that. I am open to ideas that others might have. I am not able to quit my day job yet; that would be nice to do sometime, though. I look for every opportunity to talk about my work: I blog; I tweet; I Facebook. Also, I try to get my work into shows as often as I can. I am an art professor at a university so that takes a lot of the time that I would otherwise be working on marketing and promotion. When I do have extra time, I like to create work.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I am currently working on a series of cuts that tell the story of Christ. Also, I am trying to fill up another sketchbook. I get lots of ideas and inspiration from keeping a sketchbook.

Tell us one random fact about yourself.

I have a 15 mile commute to work which I usually do by bicycle at least twice a week. I love the exercise, being out on the bike, and I love not paying nearly $4 a gallon for gas!

Check out Gary's Etsy Shop and Blog

Interview with Amanda Colville of Mangle Prints

2011-09-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Biography

I live in King’s Lynn, Norfolk in the UK, with my husband and three children. Norfolk is a wonderful county, with wild stretches of un spoilt coastline and rural landscapes to inspire, so it’s not surprising that there is quite a large community of artists and printmakers living here. I’m based at home at the moment, which allows me to juggle my work with the family. I’ve been exhibiting locally for the last couple of years and selling in local galleries and shops too.

Why do you like to print?

There are so many elements to printmaking that I enjoy. There’s something magical about creating a new lino plate and printing it for the first time, never quite knowing what you will get! The whole process of producing a print means that you have to apply a methodical approach to your work, something I really enjoy, plus the challenge of working out how to get the image you want. The whole process can become very addictive!

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Due to space and resources, it’s currently more convenient for me to produce relief prints, mainly lino prints. I love experimenting though, and often sometimes I will add other materials to my pieces, including paper, text, ink and wax. Layers of hot wax are added to the prints, creating a glass-like, translucent effect. I’ve created all sorts of pieces from this technique, including garlands made from paper, print and wax.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

When I stopped work about three years ago, I attended a printmaking evening course. I loved the whole process so much, that I decided I wanted to continue at home. Not having the space or money to buy a traditional press, I found an old washing mangle (wringer) that I could use as a press. Since then I have been constantly been experimenting and working to develop my work-still using the mangle! I love to talk to other printmakers too, to learn and listen to their own experience and techniques.

What inspires you?

Living in quite a rural part of the world, the obvious inspiration is the landscape and environment around me. But ultimately I’m drawn to line and pattern, and that can come from anywhere, from a simple piece of wood grain to the countryside around you, the list is endless. I’m also drawn to the beautiful natural patterns and elegance of birds and plants.

How do your promote your work?

There’s a great deal of on-line resources that you can use to promote your work. I have a blog, Facebook and Twitter account, which are great, not only for promoting your own work, but for meeting and discovering other artists and printmakers. Flickr is another useful tool too.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I’m also the proud owner of three ex-battery chickens- Betty, Pandora and Florence, who currently reside in my back garden!

Check out Amanda's Etsy Shop and Blog

Sam Gutierrez of White Paper Art Studio

2011-09-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

Biography

I grew up in California. A year and a half ago, I got married and moved to Kelowna, BC.

Why do you like to print?

I love line. I love paper. I love the smell of ink. I love having multiples of my work and being able to always keep one.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Linocut. I love line. Linocut is about exploration and development of line. It is a medium that can really enhance drawing. I also enjoy the physicality of cutting and inking. I love paper and delight in using handmade paper.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I have been printing since 1997. I started when I was in college and took my first introductory printmaking course as an art major. I instantly connected with the linocut medium. I think it was because I grew up drawing and had already developed a love for line. Linocut is a perfect medium to take line to the next level. My work over the past 14 years has been a journey simplification… trying to say more with less. My earlier work was very busy. Lately I’ve been trying to return to strong, simple and purposeful statements of line and occasional color.

What inspires you?

Good music, Good coffee, Good Stories and a Playful Imagination.

How do your promote your work?

I mostly promote my work through my Etsy site. I used to have a blog that had all my artwork on it, but you couldn’t purchase work from that site. Esty has made things so much easier.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I’m working on a series of prints based on the Biblical story of Jonah.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

About 10 years ago, I danced while singing a backstreet boys song on Chinese television. I have a dvd of it. It’s embarrassing.

Check out Sam's Etsy Site.

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-09-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

Interview with Joanna English of Summer Triangle Studios

2011-09-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Biography

I’ve always been artsy, I think because I’ve always been surrounded by artistic people. My dad is an architect and I grew up playing with all the interesting things I found in his drafting table – a mechanical pencil and electric eraser are pretty fascinating stuff to a five year old! My mom started me out appreciating the Art Nouveau movement at a very early age, and those aesthetics have stuck with me all my life. Eventually I discovered the Arts and Crafts movement, and it was this that led me to printmaking. I live now in south Denver, which I am glad of because the mountains are an enormous inspiration to my art. Scenes with pine trees against the sky are my absolute favorite.

My shop, Summer Triangle Studios, is named for the Summer Triangle constellation, which is visible in (of course!) summertime in the northern hemisphere. I have always loved its brightest star, Vega, which is a beautiful blue through a telescope. My business has been around under this name since 2005.

Why do you like to print?

The art of printmaking combines so many disparate skills that I love. I often use elements from my own photographs in my prints – so there’s photography (not that I’m any good at it, but I do love it!). I also enjoy playing around with digital images, which I use in my print design stages. Then there’s the physical process of drawing out the image on the block, carving the block, and finally the ink to paper. I love the hands-on creativity of this.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

I’ve really only done linocuts at this point, as I’m pretty new to printmaking and haven’t yet had the opportunity to try out very many different media. I’m hoping to do a few woodcuts soon, but I really do like the permanence of lino blocks. Even if I finish a print run, I like knowing that all my hard work on the block is still around and hasn’t been destroyed through the printing process!

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I’ve been printing since about the middle of 2010, is all. I’m quite new and still learning a great deal, but my cuts have generally grown more complex and detailed over time. I think my style has also evolved to be evocative of the Arts and Crafts movement.

What inspires you?

Nature, absolutely. I love mountain scenes, trees, night scenes. I love to do detailed work and you can’t get any more inspiring than nature for that. I try to capture a mood with each print also, whether it’s the feel of a peaceful sunny day or the mystery of the moon in the sky. I also love the work of Gustave Baumann – the colors, the detail, the composition – it’s all so full of life.

How do your promote your work?

I tweet, I Facebook, I hand out business cards. I’ve done blog ads and have some of my work in a shop in Wichita, Kansas. My promotion machine is at kind of a slow roll right now because I have a one-and-a-half year old who takes a lot of energy!

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I’m starting work on a new series of “object” prints that will feature things I run across with interesting details that inspire me.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

A random fact… Well, I have hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, spent the night under the stars, and hiked back up! That was years ago and I would love to go back for some fresh inspiration for my prints. This time, though, I think the baby and I would skip the 15 hour hike and admire the view from the rim!

Check out Joanna's Etsy shop and Facebook Page

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-09-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-09-10T17:29:00.001-07:00

Interview with Jean-Marc Couffin

2011-09-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Biography

Born and raised in Bretagne, in the west part of France, in a 2000 souls village. I always loved drawing, that made me decide to go for Architecture studies. During school, I traveled a lot: from Vietnam to Singapore, studying in Louisiana and then in Montréal where I learnt printmaking at the Saydie Bronfman Center for Arts. I came back to France and kept on doing prints, prints, and more prints. I now live and work in Marseille for now.

Why do you like to print?

Finesse.

When you draw on a zinc plate, the line is so thin that you cannot see it without the help of a magnifying glass . I never found this 'finesse' drawing with the usual pencils, ink pens, etc.

Replicability.

The constant tension between the original and its 'copies'. It is always a tough exercise to wipe out your inks from the plate in order to make the perfect copy.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Hard ground+zinc plate+ferric chlorure+lithographic ink+Somerset Paper+My XIXth century Ledeuil Press.

That is a long favourite, It took me a year to find this combination and print exactly the way I want.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I have been doing prints since 2003, while in Montréal. I was testing the limits of the print medium at that time. Trying all sorts of techniques, colors, medium. I ended up back to the basics: etching on metal and printing in Black tones. But if I try to think of an evolution, I really found that my prints and drawings are still 'filled' the same way.

What inspires you?

The fantastic bunch of things that surround me in real life and in my dream. I love to work around 'first shot', 'fresh out of the pencil' thoughts. More generally, the fantastic paintings and the surrealistic ones.

How do you promote your work?

I did my website, display some of my works on etsy (indeed) and I try to participate in a lot of competition and exhibitions around the world in printmaking. I am now looking for some galleries for my works as I want to spend most of my time doing rather than trying to sell my works. The latest 'promotion' that I am most proud of, is the selection of one of my prints to the 'New Prints' exhibition at the International Print Center of New York. Not bad for a small french printmaker to have its print sitting next to works of William Kentridge.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I have a very peculiar project right now: I met with Bruno Gary, the Gary Thibeau french press maker, he is quite a reference, and we came up with the project of making plans for a DIY (Do It Yourself) press for under a 100€. The project is undergoing well. I almost finished the plans, and I got half of my materials. The best thing is that we will put the plans online for free. The press is designed mostly in wood, like Abraham Bosse 1645 press.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I do 20 things at a time. It keeps me sane.

Check out Jean-Marc's Etsy Shop and Website

Interview with Anne Silber

2011-08-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

Biography

I was born and raised in New Jersey, then received a BFA from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where I was first introduced to printmaking. I have lived in the Boston area for my entire professional career, working almost exclusively in the medium of limited edition serigraphs.

Why do you like to print?

For reasons that are difficult to articulate; when I was introduced to printmaking in general and serigraphy in particular, I found myself quite captivated by the idea of creating multiples of my art, seeing them lined up on the drying racks. I also like the fact that prints are somewhat more “democratic” than some other media in that they are real, handmade artworks that are affordable to more of the population. All of my editions are hand-printed by me in small editions.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Serigraphs (silkscreen prints), definitely.

I like the versatility of the medium, the ability to work with hard edges but soft,
transparent colors and the visual blending of colors that give an appearance much like
watercolors. I enjoy working within the limitations of hand-cut stencils (rather than
photo-stencils) and I also like that while working on an edition you see the works as
they will be, not with the image reversed as with etchings or lithographs, for example!

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I started printing in the 1970’s. I think as time has progressed I have become very comfortable with my medium and its possibilities: exploring light and shadow, reflective and translucent
surfaces and other technical and stylistic challenges. When I look at a potential subject
now, I can instinctively visualize how it will evolve in layers of transparent color.

What inspires you?

I work primarily in the realm of still lifes and landscapes. In both
genres I love working with color relationships and the effects of light and shadow. A
still life may take shape from a particular favorite object or interesting color
combination; my landscapes have been inspired both by my love of foreign travel and
local New England scenes -- especially in our colorful autumn.

How do your promote your work?

I market my work aggressively and make LOTS of phone calls (and yes, it can take a ridiculous amount of time)! Over many years I have created a market for my artwork in the entertainment industry, for use on the sets of many feature films and TV series. I also sell my work to corporations, hospitals, residential clients -- almost anyone is a potential customer. As I mentioned earlier, the fact that prints in general sell for less than paintings helps in many cases (though of course, the not-so-healthy economy makes everything more of a challenge).

Are you working on any particular projects now?

At the moment I’m working on a landscape of the Andes, inspired by a recent trip to Peru.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

Years ago I qualified to be on “Jeopardy!” (I passed their test, but was then disqualified to be on the show, due to the fact that my brother worked for a TV network at the time). How’s that for random?!

Check out Anne's Etsy Shop and Website

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-08-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

Interview with Shannon Kennedy of Sass&Peril

2011-08-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Biography

Hi! I’m Shannon Kennedy and I reside in Long Beach, CA with my wonderful boyfriend and two adorable kitties! In 2004 I founded my own creative studio, sass&peril. I am a freelance Graphic Designer and I also produce hand-pulled screenprints, stationery, journals, pillows and more.

Why do you like to print?

Because I love seeing my designs through from concept to completion. I don’t have to rely on anyone else to manufacture my vision. There are so many steps and processes involved that it is really up to you not to blow it and that’s a lot of pressure! So when you successfully produce a screenprint it is just the most amazing feeling.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Screenprinting all the way. I love my ink and squeegee and I am learning to love (and not curse) my emulsion and reclaiming chemicals.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I’ve got about 3 years of experience under my belt. I learned to screenprint in college and fell in love with the process. Once I graduated and started working as a Graphic Designer full-time I stopped making art with my hands and really missed the process. I took my screenprinting efforts back up a couple years ago and after many mistakes and ripped screens later I felt I was at a point where I could share my work with the world. I would say my work has evolved in that I have carved out a niche for myself with a certain aesthetic that has helped to define my brand.

What inspires you?

Color, shapes, nostalgia, music, movement, good food, fashion, animals, and all things cute!

How do your promote your work?

Besides having an Etsy shop I also blog and post frequently on Facebook and Twitter. I track my views and visits through Google Analytics and those seem to bring in a lot of traffic. I also have the partnerships with my stockists and my customers to thank for spreading the good word!

Are you working on any particular projects now?

Yes! I’m constantly working on evolving the line and lately that has meant screenprinting on other mediums besides paper like fabric for totes, pillow covers, tees, and more. I’d love to have a range of products that could appeal to all ages and genders but while staying true to my aesthetic. I also would love to be able to start pulling larger sized prints.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I’m obsessed with basketball and I can name most of the players on all 30 teams in the NBA. Go Clippers!

Check out Shannon's Etsy Shop and Website

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-08-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Interview with Cassie of Dark Days

2011-08-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

Biography

Right now I'm living in the New York area, but I will be moving to Philadelphia soon. I went to college in that city, and once I left, I found that I really missed it! Philly is a great place to be if you're an artist in terms of community. Plus space is fairly cheap there; I feel like it has the potential for lots of exciting things to happen. A few artist run galleries and the like have popped up in recent years. And of course, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the museum at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art have some of the best shows, not to mention that they're totally beautiful spaces for viewing art.

Why do you like to print?

I'm a very process-oriented artist, and printmaking gives me the freedom to explore the different avenues that pop up during the act of making a print. Most of my prints on paper are monotypes. I like that I can take a structured beginning and go in several different directions and achieve varied results. I also do commercial printing, like t-shirts and the tote bags that you find in my Etsy shop. Printmaking is really versatile in its application more so than other mediums. I find that it helps me bridge the gap between making fine art that may never get seen, and making more commercially accessible (and sometimes wearable) work.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

While I mainly use silkscreen for commercial projects, I would actually say that lithography is my favorite print medium. I had the chance to study with a very talented Tamarind master printer who showed me the amazing range and richness that lithography has to offer. It is more challenging than silkscreen and definitely requires finesse, but the results are very rewarding.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I have been printing seriously for about 4 years now. I started off by making works on paper, and now I mainly do textile printing. Through a lot of practice and trial and error, I finally have a good handle on the printmaking processes that I'm using, and I can get more complex results. Printmaking is really addicting; the more I learn, the more I want to experiment!

What inspires you?

My interests are somewhat all over the place and I could probably go on forever about the things that I like, but one thing I know for sure: I'm a music fanatic. I like all sorts of different music, from obscure female-fronted punk rock groups to 70's soul to Bollywood steel guitar music. I couldn't make art without it! I also draw inspiration from science fiction films and books. I feel like the true aim of good science fiction is to get to the essence of the human experience; its a very existential genre. I also enjoy art and experiences that contain an element of mystery, such as unfamiliar landscapes, ancient artifacts, myths, and so on.

How do your promote your work?

I have to admit that I don't do much promoting. I am fairly new to Etsy. I do hope to fill up my shop with my different print-related pursuits, but as of now I am more concerned with making my items and exploring different ideas. I believe in living a very curated life, and my Etsy shop is just my way of offering my aesthetic to the world.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I do have one other project I am involved in besides Dark Days. Its called Clones and Fashions. Clones and Fashions is a web-based media platform that focuses on past and present punk subculture. I am involved in the merchandise and podcast aspects of this project. Our website is set to launch later this month. We are always on the lookout for fellow punk enthusiasts to feature playlists by, so drop us a line if you have something you'd like to share!

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I have been skydiving. It was a true eye-opening experience.

Check out Cassie's Etsy Shop and Tumblr Site

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-08-13T22:52:00.000-07:00

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-08-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

2011-08-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Interview with Mirka Hokkanen of FinnfactorArts

2011-08-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

Biography

I was born and raised in Finland, which affects a lot of my choices for colors and themes as an artist. I moved to Rockford, Illinois in 1998 to go to college and finished school in Dallas Texas with an MFA in 2006. I have taught classes at all levels from universities to my garage and now work as a full time artist, illustrator and crafts person. My husband is in the Army, which is a challenge with constant moving around. A couple of years ago we were in Georgia, then in Dupont WA, and now we live in southwest Germany.

Why Printmaking?

Since I could hold a crayon, I have always drawn and when I took a printmaking class my first year in college I was hooked. Making prints are like making a glorious drawing and instead of getting only one you get as many as you can bare to print. I love that more people can appreciate my work because there is more of it to go around and I can sell it more affordably than an original drawing or painting.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

My favorite has always been etching, I think because it is the closest to drawing and less cumbersome than lithographs. The deep blacks, variety of mark making and the ink that actually sits in relief on the paper are irresistible. Relief printing would be a close second. I like the manual work of carving into a plate.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I have been printing since 1998. The main focus has always been animals and nature with very little deviation. My work has gone through two major themes. The first series was about factory farming and its hazards to our health, the animals and our earth. Imagine lots of pictures of cows, chickens and pigs. Now I am working on a whimsical series of animals that are being displaced by sprawling suburbs. In the series the animals are spying on us and plotting how to take their land back. Imagine lots of woodland creatures in suspicious activities.

What or Who influences your work?

The variety of creatures that God has placed on this earth is astounding to me. There are so many colors, patterns, shapes and sizes out there to discover. Nature itself is my biggest inspiration. Outside of nature, Instead of a specific artist or a movement, I am drawn to subject matter. I have a box where I collect magazine clippings, cards and paraphernalia of things that spark my interest. A lot of time it is art with animals in it, work that has very interesting lines, or earthy color combinations. Out of all artists, Joseph Cornell has always been my favorite. I like vintage looking things that look like they are in some state or disrepair or decay.

How do your promote your work?

This is always a challenge with constant moving. Whenever we move, I do my best to get to know the art community. My work gets promoted in person through exhibitions that I am in and though craft fairs. Through those I get featured in newspaper articles and recently even a TV interview. Online, I have a website, blog, Etsy store, twitter and send out new and upcoming events to an email list. Every once in a while I’ll do something else to spice things up, but so far referrals from others and word of mouth seems to work the best for me.

Any good printing tips or funny printing stories (or both??)

You can find lots of printing tips on my blog where I post videos and how-to’s. Something silly- I was just doing a visiting artist residency in San Antonio, and made some copper plate etchings there. They had two large vertical tanks for etching, so I went ahead business as usual and etched three plates over the course of a week. At the end of the week, I actually looked down and realized that one of the tanks was for the ferric chloride and the other one was meant to be a rinse for plates before going to the facet. For the whole time, I had been etching my plates in the rinse bath, but apparently it was so used, that it had enough ferric in it to etch my plates just fine… I was a little embarrassed, since I was supposed to be the etching expert. But no one noticed, since I was there by myself for most of the time.

Check out Mirka's Etsy Site and Website

Treasury!

2011-08-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

Screenprint Treasury!

2011-08-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-08-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

Printmaking Treasury!

2011-08-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

Treasury!

2011-08-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

Treasury!

2011-08-02T11:42:00.001-07:00

Interview with Nicholas Wilson

2011-07-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

Biography

As a professional wildlife artist, I’ve been painting, sculpting and printmaking for over forty five years. While growing up, my greatest fascination involved animals which lead me to drawing initially. Without any formal training in art, I was able to pursue my interests as opportunities arose during my life. I was hired as staff artist at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson AZ where I learned anatomy and behavior in the native species of my area. As a result, I have my work in many museums and collections including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., The Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma, the Booth Museum of Western Art in Georgia, The Leigh Yawkey Art Museum in Wisconsin to name a few. I’ve also been enabled to travel extensively abroad in pursuit of subject matter for may artwork. I currently live with my wife, Debbe, in Tubac AZ.

Why do you like to print?

Printmaking remains one of my primary means of expression in my art. It allows me to get to the core of a thing in the most essential, graphic terms. A limited edition of images fulfills a certain kind of satisfaction for me.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Most of my printmaking involves copperplate etching however, I’ve also produced some editions in stone lithography and serigraphy. Currently, I’m deeply involved in wood engraving which I find especially interesting. It is certainly my favorite.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I started with linocuts while still in high school but then began my etching seriously back in the 70’s. From simply experimentation and many failures, I’ve gradually learned the various steps and fine tuning required to create successful editions.

What inspires you?

I see myself in certain animal types and express myself through them.

How do your promote your work?

I’m represented in galleries as well as on Etsy.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I’m constantly trying new things in an effort to improve my work and provide a substantial statement in my life. Right now I’m focused on my paintings and printmaking.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I’ve painted gigantic murals in New York, huge bronze sculptures for an Art Museum in Georgia plus numerous paintings in all mediums yet I find myself constantly returning to my printmaking for the shear joy of it.

Check Out Nicholas' Etsy Shop and Gallery

Interview with Richard Pendry of Beyond Thrilled Screenprints

2011-07-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Biography

I trained originally as an illustrator, but when I left college I found working freelance and the process of selling my work quite dispiriting. Now the internet makes it much easier to get your portfolio of work in front of people. I got sidetracked several times, travelled a lot and ended up in a variety of different jobs. For the past 10 years I’ve mostly been designing games for the web using Adobe Flash. It’s fun but does result in staring at a laptop or PC screen a lot of the time. I’d always wanted to get back to illustration and particularly printmaking, so I splashed out on some basic screenprinting equipment last year with the aim of doing something more hands-on.

Although the early stage of the process may still involve using a computer, I really enjoy the physical, inky side of the printing process - pulling the squeegee across the screen. I’m learning fast by making mistakes and starting to be happier with the results. I recently returned to live in London, where I print out of my spare bedroom, though I’m hoping to be able to use the great facilities at Print Club London in Dalston over the next few months to produce some larger prints.

Why do you like to print?

I like the physical process of printmaking - it contrasts with my other computer-based work. I also like the way that very often laying down the final colour of a print can make all the difference - an image you were starting to have doubts about can suddenly come together when you add the final colour.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

At the moment I’m very much into screenprinting, which I think has huge scope for experimentation. I’ve done a fair bit of printing from linocuts in the past, which suits my graphic style. And I’m intrigued by stone lithography which I’d love to try at some point in the future.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I did some basic printmaking years ago on my degree course but I’ve only really been getting into screenprinting over the last year. I’m naturally most comfortable working in black and white so I’m having to learn a lot about the use of colours and adding transparency to the inks to create new colours in overlay. I’d like my work to loosen up a little now, and I plan to experiment with drawing straight onto the screen and using resists next - I love the way David Weidman used glue and touché to create his painterly screenprints.

What inspires you?

At the moment I’m inspired by the work of David Weidman, Jim Flora, Charley Harper, Little Friends of Printmaking, Sasha Barr, Neither Fish Nor Fowl, 1950s cartoons and their background art (check out the beautiful “Cartoon Modern book by Amid Amidi), Mambo Graphics, Saul Steinberg, Ronald Searle, Tim Biskup, Rex Ray, Bjorn Wiinblad...

How do your promote your work?

I’ve only recently started promoting it really. A couple of shops in London are selling my prints and I’m looking for others, but I’ll be putting some effort into promoting my Etsy store over the next few months, and making more and better use of my blog.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I have some ideas for a series of prints - I’ve just produced a print called “Jazz Angel with Saxophone” which I’m quite pleased with and I think there’s definitely scope for a whole series of similar images. We’ll see.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I just moved back to London after living in Barcelona, Spain for 8 years - I miss the mountains and beaches!

Check out Richard's Etsy Site and Website

Interview with Larry Vienneau of Raven Stamps

2011-07-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Biography

I received my BFA in painting from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMASS Dartmouth) in 1977. I took a year off after undergraduate before heading to Southern Illinois University where I earned a MFA in Painting /Printmaking in 1981. After finishing school I actually made a living as an artist on Nantucket Island! I opened a shop, sold in local galleries, taught printmaking and painting at the Nantucket Artist Association. I met my future wife on Nantucket and followed her to Hong Kong where we married and lived for the next year. We returned to Massachusetts where I taught Printmaking and Drawing at Bridgewater State College. In 1989 I was hired at University of Alaska Fairbanks. I loved Alaska and created large scale landscape paintings. I also met an Alaskan Native Writer and formed a lasting friendship. I illustrated several of his books on Alaskan Native Culture. That is where my fascination for Raven began. My first child was born in 1997, an Alaskan baby. In 2001 my wife (a documentary film maker) was offered a position at a large market PBS station in Minnesota. So kicking and screaming I left Alaska. My second child was born, a Minnesota baby. In 2006 I was offered a teaching position in Florida. So we packed up the family and moved to the land of sun and palm trees. We live in Lake Mary Florida and I teach at Seminole State College of Florida in Sanford Florida.

Why do you like to print?

As soon as I pulled my first print, I feel in love with printmaking! It felt like I was opening a present and I still get excited when I pull a print. It is one of the things that keep me addicted to it. I enjoy painting and drawing but the process of printmaking intrigues me. It is indirect. It is both craft and art. The unexpected and the accidents of printmaking are the things I look forward to the most. I am a teacher and I think my favorite experience is watching a student pull their first print. I know I have passed on my addiction to a new generation!

What is your favorite print medium and why?

I am most attracted to all intaglio process although I love relief printing. I enjoy getting my hands dirty; printing an etching plate is good and messy. I have done many color intaglio prints but I LOVE black and white. Like old black and white movies, my prints allow the viewer to use their imagination. Rich bold values can be very powerful and beautiful. Black and white allows the viewer to be more interpretative.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I first printed in graduate school in 1979. Then I was using traditional techniques of zinc or copper, acids, grounds and solvents. I knew these were not healthy so I did not dive full bore into printmaking but worked as a painter and did teach printmaking courses. In the early 1990’s I became aware of new technology of light sensitive polymer plates. Though I wanted to experiment with them the cost was very high and I was in Alaska so the cost was doubled in shipping. In Florida I finally began to experiment with these new plates and was soon hooked. Though I still love to work on traditional techniques I am now nearly 100% polymer. I always spend at least 20-40 hours to create the perfect intaglio plate. Now I invest that same amount of time into doing my drawing on paper in preparation for the polymer plate. I find inspiration from a traditional or historic account of the raven, next I decide on my title. I spend hours drawing with traditional gouache, ink and charcoal, and then I scan the drawing and rework it with Photoshop. I repeat this process several times so the traditional and new technologies merge seamlessly. I use a photopolymer process to transfer the original drawing to a printing plate from which I can hand print an edition. The new technology has allowed my work to evolve in new and exciting ways.

What inspires you?

As my son will attest, I am a history nerd. I love the stories and belief systems of our ancestors. Raven has played a pivotal role in most ancient creation stories. Raven is a "trickster" in Native American stories and myths. He's sometimes a hero, a troublemaker, a glutton, a buffoon, a destroyer or a creator. The Trickster alternately scandalizes, disgusts, amuses, disrupts, chastises, and humiliates (or is humiliated by) humans. He also is creative force, transforming the world, sometimes in bizarre and outrageous ways. In some narratives, he is the evil antagonist, the “Devil”; he is also “Creator”, the father of mankind, and a potent conductor of spiritual forces in the form of sacred dreams.

Black Birds in Greek mythology sometimes have the ability to speak. These talking birds, often sources of wisdom, may be deities in bird form or simply messengers of the deities. Their advice is generally reliable, and humans ignore it at their risk. Birds warn of dangers ahead, reveal secrets, and guide heroes and travelers on their way. In Nordic legends Raven appears as the first God of premonitions.

The blackness of a raven is interpreted as the symbol of death and an omen of evil. However, ravens are the most intelligent bird on the planet, the most playful of bird species. They slide down snow banks, apparently for the fun of it. They chase the cars of anyone who struck a member of their flock. They even engage in games with other species, such as playing with wolves and dogs. Ravens are known for stunning acrobatic displays such as flying in loops or interlocking talons with each other in flight. They have intricate vocalizations that borders on language. They also use tools and will even joust with each other with sticks or leaves. I lived in Alaska for a dozen years and my most lasting and powerful memories are of these majestic birds. By creating these images I feel, somehow, connected to “The Great Land”

How do your promote your work?

Unfortunately I have very little time for self promotion. Teaching and family keep me pretty busy. I use any available time for the creative process. Discovering Etsy has been exciting. I have been able to reach a wide audience and have seen my raven prints fly all over the globe.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I continue to develop my raven series, there are still images left to create. I also continue to illustrate stories and books for my Alaskan Native writer friend. I recently finish preliminary versions for a book cover. We are also going to collaborate on a children’s book. (Also two of Larry's prints have been selected as a finalist in the Animal/Wildlife category of The Artist's Magazine 28th Annual Art Competition appearing in the December Issue.)

Tell us one random fact about yourself

I am the oldest of seven children. At sixteen I broke my neck in a diving accident. I did fully recover but that event changed my life. Drawing helped during recuperation and I soon realized I wanted to be an artist.

I love to make my own artist tools. I make my own oil, water color, and acrylic paints, charcoal, and pens. I make drawing ink from chicken bones and from acorns. I have made several relief presses and have restored etching presses.

I love fly fishing and have built a few fly rods. I enjoy tying my own flies. We camp as much as possible.

Check out Larry's Etsy Shop and Facebook Page

Interview with Stephanie of Extase

2011-07-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

Biography

I attended the Ontario College of Art and Design for a few years. I went there to study drawing and painting and was soon introduced to printmaking. I decided to buy my own small press when I discovered it cost the same as the fees for one course. I've recently stopped using that press in favor of a traditional Japanese-style wood table-top that allows me to register multi-coloured prints. I still live in Toronto and make things and sell them on Etsy and at local shows.

Why do you like to print?

Every print is different and you never know what the final outcome will be. Lifting the paper from the first test print of a block is still exciting! I love the craft that goes into the art form. I find this combination of craft and fine art very satisfying.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

Linocut. For the reason listed above - I love to carve. It's my favorite part of the process. I enjoy carving wood too, but am not as familiar with it as I am with lino.

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I've been printing for about four years. At first, my prints weren't very planned out and I would draw directly onto the linoleum. Over time I've learned to develop an image before transferring it to the block - paying more attention to composition and, more recently, colour and multi-colour composition.

What inspires you?

I love learning new crafts and working at refining my craftsmanship. In terms of general inspiration or subject matter, I'm most inspired by animals and the relationships between animals and humans. Isolation, imagination, dreams and nature. There are some lovely paper and yarn shops in Toronto I love to visit that never fail to inspire me as well. Finding random things on walks like a gnarled piece of tree branch or bones or things people throw away that still have lots of life left in them.

How do your promote your work?

I haven't been actively promoting my work at all. I really have no idea how to go about it in a way I feel comfortable doing.

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I've been doing a lot of painting recently but I have a strong hankering to get back into printing. I'm thinking about a new series that focuses on the relationship between natural and manufactured objects.

Check out Stephanie's Etsy Shop

Danielle's Paper Wonderland

2011-07-09T06:23:00.001-07:00

Danielle Arden, one of our lovely American Printsy members, is about to embark on an artist residency - in England! The plan is to create an interactive environment of "disgusting, creepy creatures that oddly stimulate either childhood nostalgia, or feelings of strange comforts". To raise some financial support for her project, Danielle's got a Kickstarter Page with a great little video showing her work and where it's going. The amount of drawing she does is amazing. Show her some love!

Interview with Margaret Rankin of magprint

2011-07-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Biography

My name is Margaret Rankin and I live in Toronto up on a hill about 1 km north of Lake Ontario. I can see the lake from the top floor of the house. I have yet to make a print of that lake - maybe someday.

In my day to day working life I am a landscape architect, but I started to make prints over twenty years ago. I didn’t think I was very serious about it – you know – just sort of a hobby, but as I have been doing it for so long, I have to admit I am serious about my prints.

Why do you like to print?

In a nutshell - total creative freedom! Making prints fulfills an unspoken creative need in me. There are almost always ideas floating around in my head and making prints of them really, really satisfies me.

What is your favorite print medium and why?

I work exclusively in relief, partly because I do not have a press and partly because relief is a medium that has so many visual possibilities. Maybe I just like underdogs. I think relief is a slightly neglected process now – too low tech!

How long have you been printing and how has your work evolved?

I vaguely remember making prints in high school and then forgot all about them until 1987 when I was living in Vancouver. One late summer day I bumped into my former boss on the corner of Davie and Burrard and we had a very short conversation that changed my life. The next thing I knew, I found myself at Emily Carr College (now University) of Art and Design signing up for a Relief Printmaking course. That course taught me basic techniques and I have been printing ever since.

My work is restless. I don’t stick to one idea for very long, but I am slowly training myself to work along more cohesive thematic lines (I hope).

I started out printing the human figure, until someone asked me why all my figures were missing a part of their anatomy – head, leg, arms. I didn’t know why then, I still don’t and I have rarely printed figures since.

My main concentration has been landscape. First I made prints of the beaches and hills near Mabou, Cape Breton where my father came from. Then I started to make prints based on combinations of rocks and water. Lately I have been printing windblown or heavily pruned pine trees in black and white.

I also love pattern and have made prints based on my grandmother’s quilts, bamboo forests and most recently, prints inspired by the colourful mayhem of Hundertwasser’s work.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by beautiful clean design and the landscape, especially if the landscape has been manipulated by man (must be the landscape architect in me). I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Japan in 2008 and some of the landscapes I saw there brought me to tears.

I love Naoko Matsubara’s woodblock prints. They have a strength and freedom that I aspire to, but have not achieved.

How do your promote your work?

I have to admit, not very consistently.

I do have a blog that went on hiatus for a couple of years so I am not sure if it really promoted my work, but is up and running again and getting a decent number of visits. My Flickr account concentrates almost exclusively on my prints and people can find my Etsy store link there. To become more visible, I am participating more on Etsy in terms of keeping abreast of the Teams I am on, searching out and connecting with other printmakers. I participate in local outdoor juried art shows here in Toronto and my work is also shown in a local gallery called Upstairs at 111 Bathurst.

At one point, almost everyone in the office I worked at had at least one of my prints – this promotional tool is known as ‘Gentle Bullying’ –it works!

Are you working on any particular projects now?

I have started a series of prints based on an urban park in Toronto on the Ryerson Campus. The park is called Devonian Garden and features a pool/skating rink with almost impossibly huge granite boulders weaving through the design. The juxtaposition of water and stone against architecture is stunning. I am trying to portray that contrast of mad-made and a natural in large scale prints.

Tell us one random fact about yourself

When I visited my sister in Paris, she promptly lost me in the Metro system a few hours after I arrived. This was before cell phones. I hadn’t memorized her address or phone number and my French is pretty poor, so I was stuck. But I managed to find my way back to her apartment and got there just as she was about to get her boyfriend (a policeman) to launch a search for me!

Check out Margaret's Etsy Shop and Blog