Currently Exploring: Inside my art studio in Winter 2022
Inspiration isn’t something I often go searching for. When I slowly adapted my creative processes to reflect my inner landscapes and seasons, I learned inspiration would become a natural part of my creative practice. I would make space to welcome it upon its natural arrival.
Currently Exploring—Inside my art studio, Winter 2022
The past few months this exact thing happened. Out of the blue, I decided I was finally going to experiment with something I’ve had on my mind for a long time - monoprints. I’ve had an affinity for printmaking since my undergraduate studies. I have vivid memories of the printmaking studio, my laughable mistakes, and the surprisingly beautiful prints I would pull. I fell deeply in love and gained an entirely new perspective on my work through printmaking. As a result, my body of work became more complex and I better understood my subjects, the landscapes.
I had all the supplies I needed to get started in my studio. So, doing what we all do best, I typed a few words into Google to ensure my monoprint muscle memory served me well. From one rabbit hole to the next, I came across monoprints that sat with me for weeks. Hundreds of browser tabs, all full of inspiration, waiting for me to explore. Below is just a snapshot of what I am currently inspired by.
Edgar Degas
Yes, Edgar Degas, known for his ballerinas, extensively (and almost obsessively) explored monoprints. Just like many people who first experience monoprints, Degas quickly fell in love with the endless joy of working in this way.
Hercules Segers
Another example of a great experimental printmaker, Hercules Segers pushed color palettes on the plate. His perspective challenged my own admiration for black and white prints in a really good way.
Andrew Wyeth
Though not a printmaker, I’ve always admired the way Andrew Wyeth used watercolors. They are heavy and warm - in all the best ways. I’m looking at his use of color, his palette of choice, and his brush application.
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner's compositions are bold and beautiful. He combined real and romanticism. From pencil sketches to illustrative movement.