Printsy Interview - Caroline Pratt

Blog: carolinepratt.blogspot.com
Etsy: www.pinkparakeet.etsy.com

Brief Bio:
Originally from the beautiful valleys of Shropshire I now reside and work in Leeds (UK) where I teach printmaking at Leeds College of Art and sell prints and other goodies through retailers and online.


How did you get started in printmaking?
I have always had a passion for all sorts of beautifully printed and designed images from ceramics, to gift wrap, to illustrations and so by the time I graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Textiles and Surface Pattern I was hooked on producing my own printed goods. Having specialised in screen print during my degree, and subsequently accessing independent print workshops and studios learning other printmaking processes my love of printmaking was well and truly ignited. The more processes I learnt the more I loved it!


Describe where you work:
I have a small set up for relief printing at home, it's not ideal as when I'm having a big printing session it tends to take over the house with prints lying about on every surface while I'm waiting for them to dry, but it suffices. I also use open access studios when I fancy doing some screen-printing or intaglio processes which is always a lovely treat!


What's your favourite printmaking process?
It varies in terms of what I'm working on at any given time. My work tends to be quite bold and graphic in composition so I find lino and screen print to be my main processes. But every once in a while I like to produce an etching or aquatint to mix things up a bit.


What's your creative process for any given print? (eg. sketch first? Pre-planned or free-form?)
I tend to concentrate on designing individual elements and then place them into a composition during the printing process. Every piece tends to evolve quite organically. I use a lot of collage elements within my prints so these tend to determine where the individual elements are placed and I kind of just go from there. I try not to think about it too much and just let the composition create itself.

What do you enjoy most about printmaking?
The final stages when all your prep (be it carving out your lino block or making your screens) finally comes together and you get to see it complete for the first time. The ability to produce the same image in so many different colours is also very exciting as each different colour can alter the overall feel of the image dramatically.


What's your least favorite part of the process?
Cleaning up!!

What are your inspirations (other artists, people, places, events, etc.)?
I take constant inspiration from everywhere. My day job demands that I am constantly updating my artist knowledge and looking out for trends within print and pattern so I am forever seeking out things that can inspire myself and my students. A lot of my work is concerned with nature, especially birds, and is also heavily influenced by 1950's textiles which are another passion of mine. I collect books, magazine cuttings and packaging that inspire me, be it styles or colour palettes so I have lots of boxes and bookshelves full of beautiful images if I'm every experiencing a creative drought!


How do you promote your work?
I think like a lot of creatives self promotion is often put on the back burner in favour of producing more work. At the moment I just have a blog and my etsy shop but am planning on getting an up to date website running in the next year. I exhibit quite a lot and take part in craft shows when I can, I also sell through local shops in the hope that people see my stuff. I'm working on a 'marketing' pack to start sending out to companies/galleries etc. too, fingers crossed something will come from that!

Any other comments or advice for others who want to try making hand-pulled prints?
Get yourself a good book or sign up to a workshop and dive right in! Don't be afraid to have a go and get your hands dirty, and most of all have yourself a good time while you're doing it. Anything on top of that is a bonus!

Printsy Interview - Susan Heggestad

Interviewed by jocreates

Name: Susan Heggestad
Website: susanheggestad.com
Etsy: sheggestad.etsy.com
Blog: suegnu.blogspot.com
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/susanheggestad

Brief Bio
I was born in the small town of Vermillion, South Dakota, but moved out west to Sacramento, California while still a young child. Because I spent my formative years there, but eventually moved back to the Midwest as an adult, I consider myself both a California girl and a true Midwesterner. I have a large family: my two boys (ages 11 & 12), my husband and his three girls (9, 14, and 18). Oh and we have two dogs. I again live in my hometown, which I could only appreciate once I became a parent. I work part-time as an instructor, try to make work as often as I can in my little downtown studio, and enjoy having a flexible schedule to be home for my kids in the afternoons.

What printmaking medium do you most often work in?
My favorite, by far, is collograph. But I also love relief printing, monotypes, and intaglio.

How did you get started in printmaking?
Oddly enough, I attended a summer printmaking workshop before I even really understood what it was all about. I was studying in the art department at the University of South Dakota, and took an advanced drawing course with Lloyd Menard. Lloyd had been, for years, organizing a zany print workshop out in the Black Hills, called Frogman's Print & Paper workshop. Needless to say, I met all kinds of wacky, but lovable printmakers, and decided that I had to become one, too... I went on to attend 7 more workshops (although they are now hosted here, in Vermillion), and to get my BFA in prints, and my MFA in prints at University of Buffalo, NY.

Describe where you work.
I have a small, office-sized space up above my favorite coffee shop downtown. It's crammed top to bottom, and side to side with all of my art, supplies, equipment, etc. - including two presses. I cannot work very large, due to the constrained space, but I will be expanding after the holidays, and am REALLY looking forward to being able to stretch out a bit, so to speak.

What's your creative process for any given print? (eg. sketch first? Pre-planned or free-form?)
I do keep a sketchbook, and I often jot down simple ideas for images I tend to see in my head. That's often as far as I get with planning. I really enjoy being somewhat spontaneous in the printing process; in other words, choosing what sorts of textures and colors the print will be composed of as I go. I have, on very rare occasions, sat down and planned a multi-plate print very meticulously, before-hand. These weren't necessarily bad experiences (as a teacher, I appreciate the usefulness of planning), but this way of working just doesn't satisfy me as much as the surprise of improvisation. Of course, I've often wasted a lot of paper and ink this way...


What do you enjoy most about printmaking?
The potential for endless variations on a theme.

What's your least favorite part of the process?
Cleaning up.

What are your inspirations (other artists, people, places, events, etc.)?
Science. Especially the place where science and spirituality meet.
The expanse of the universe; the micro-expanse of our bodies.
Poetry and music.
Water.
Artists like Joseph Cornell, Magritte, Kiki Smith, Anselm Kiefer, Antoni Tapies, Marc Chagall, Leslie Dill...

How has your work changed and evolved since you started?
I'd like to think that I have more confidence now in creating my own imagery; in trusting that my ideas are worth pursuing... and of course, that I've got a much better handle on printing processes now. I'm learning to love color, which has taken me quite a long time to be comfortable with.


How do you get past creative slumps?
Everything happens in cycles, especially creativity. A creative slump is really just a downturn in the cycle, a time when your creativity needs to be nourished - you know, taking in, rather than just putting out. I try not to feel bad about simply indulging that need... reading, looking at things, finding new and interesting materials, collecting odds & ends, and of course, organizing all of my ephemera, sleeping...


How do you promote your work?
Well, I'm not really sure how well these things are truly promoting my work, but I do maintain a website, as well as my etsy store... I have some really great business cards that I got from moo.com (I put a small stack into all etsy packages I mail), I blog... I enter juried exhibitions a few times a year - and am generally fairly successful. I'm certain that I could do a whole lot more - but promotion is just not my strong suit.

Any other comments or advice for others who want to try making hand-pulled prints?
Get a book! You don't have to take a class to learn something about printmaking... although some of the fun of being a printmaker is the social aspect; working in a printshop with other folks around to chat with, learn from. But of course, anyone can sit down with a piece of linoleum and start carving. Or heck - with a potato! I've seen some gorgeous potato prints! Printmaking is an area that is just sooo open to experimentation, to playfulness. The best book to look for is The Complete Printmaker, by Ross and Romano. Making your own prints will help you truly appreciate just what it is that printmakers do; might even turn you into a collector!

Printsy Interview - Jan Allsopp

Interviewed by shesbattydesigns

Etsy shop: The Little Shop of Horus
Website: www.janallsopp.com.au
Blog: janallsopp.blogspot.com
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/janallsopp

Can you give us a brief bio of yourself?
Born in a county town, grew up in another country town, live in a country town. All this regional living means I can choose my own pace, live right near the beach, walk to the shops, post office (very important for an Etsian!) and restaurants. A bit scarce on the cultural front though so regular trips to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have always been important for seeing exhibitions, shows and keeping in touch with what’s current. The best of both worlds really!

What kind of crafting and art practices interest you the most?
I’ve a passion for art with painting and drawing having been my main pursuits for many years. A couple of years ago I did a semester of printmaking and I found it a real struggle to think like a printer rather than a painter. I think that is part of the reason I’ve become obsessed with printing, I enjoy trying to think in a totally different way while creating. I chose a Print Gocco and had a lot of fun learning with it. I think I am much better at thinking – and creating – as a printer now and I have added lino and collagraphs to the mix. I really became excited about the potential of printmaking when I started making artists books. So far I’ve only made unique artists books (one of a kind), but I have a couple underway that will be printed and editioned. Art as a book object! I love the idea.

When did your love for creating art start?
I have always made things right from when I was a young girl. I have short straight fine hair and when I was 3 my friend Cathy had thick curly long hair. I was so envious. My solution was to make the hair of my dreams. Wool, paper and sticky tape were my materials of choice, (I remember making many many things with them!) in fact I wore my ‘wig’ for a long time, shopping, to Sunday school and especially when I was playing with Cathy! If I didn’t have it, I made it and it’s still the same today.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by the everyday and my art is about drawing attention to the extraordinary that inhabits the ordinary. I mean how important is a cup of coffee!? Our everyday environment is full of beautiful, useful and pleasurable objects that we take for granted. I love to take these objects and instil them with meaning so they make us look at them afresh, layering them with other objects, people, animals and pattern, the pattern of the everyday from fabrics, wallpaper and even doodles. I also love looking at the work of other artists. At the moment my favourite artist is South African William Kentridge. In many ways I see he is also interested in the everyday objects and books – I love books!

When did you decide to start selling your work?
When I finished my first art course I decided to take the traditional road and begin exhibiting. I began exhibiting locally and then extended that to take in towns in adjoining regional areas. Breaking into the Sydney scene is much more difficult. It’s very clique-y and competitive with art galleries. It took me a long time to get my work hung but I finally had the opportunity to join a group show a few years ago. But I found that the time between exhibitions was long and sales hardly made it worthwhile. I also found it very stressful and began to think about what the exhibition goers might like to see – before I had even begun to paint the works! That was when I decided there must be a better way for me, one where I could exhibit and sell in a way I can enjoy. Ah, then I found Etsy!

How did you make the transition?
I opened my Etsy shop in January this year with only 6 works. I had a good initial reaction to my shop from my long time blog readers which really helped to keep me going. Since then I have expanded my shop to include my rebound journals. I began making these for myself as travel journals and posted about them on my blog. They got a lot of attention and it was then I realised others wanted them too. I buy old books at the local Bookfest each year, choosing ones with interesting titles, illustrations or great covers – yes, I judge books by their covers! Then I carefully disassemble them, separating the pages from each other and the covers. I select high quality art papers and cut or tear them to the right size for the book. I throw a few of the original pages back in with the new ones, chosen for their illustrations or content, and then I sew these all together and rebind them into the original covers. These books are great for journals as the original pages make great prompts or the basis for unique journal pages while the new art paper pages can take just about any type of media you could want to use in a journal.


How do you find time for your craft?
I am lucky enough to have a part time job that I love and the rest of the week to work on my art. I am continuing my studies and am currently part way through a Bachelor degree in art which I am undertaking online. It competes with my time for creating for my shop, but it also feeds the ideas that end up in the shop anyway, so it works well.

Do you have any upcoming shows? and what has been your experience with shows/gallery openings, etc. If you haven't participated in any, why not?
A few years ago I decided I wouldn’t exhibit any more and since then I think I’ve had more exhibitions than when I was trying to get them! At the moment I’m talking to another printer and artist book maker about sharing and exhibition locally next year. I would be thrilled if that worked out. Other than that I’m happy to just ‘show’ on my blog until the next exhibition finds me!


What can we expect to see from you in the future?
I’ve really only just begun working with artists books. I’d love to get a few editioned ones done and available in my shop. I love the experience I’ve had with my shop so far and I am going to be concentrating on adding variety and keeping interesting art, prints and books in it over everything else. The Little Shop of Horus is my main focus for the future right now.

Anything else you'd like to add? a favorite quote or words of advice perhaps...
I do have a favourite quote that I put on my blog and in my signature, on my fridge and on the wall of my studio. It is by Anais Nin, "Life shrinks and expands in direct proportion to courage." I hope it helps others, but mainly I put it up everywhere to remind me of what I need to keep in mind. I’m not naturally courageous and this quote has really helped to keep me focused
on what I want to achieve.

Prinsty Interview: Marissa L. Swinghammer

Interviewed by: Annie Bissett

Websites:
mleefineart.com
mleeprints.blogspot.com

Brief Bio:
Grew up around Chicago, now living in Boston for the past five years. I've been an artist ever since I first picked up a crayon. Something I try to still do today, keeping a box of them on hand in my studio. Art school was a drag but I learned a lot after all that I didn't even realize at the time. Only seeing it years later when I finally realized my dream to be a working artist.

How did you get started in printmaking?
Printmaking was a required class at college and I fell in love and never painted again. In school it was lithography for many years until three years after I graduated I took a woodblock printmaking class that changed the direction I was going as a printmaker and as an artist.

What media do you work in most often?
Woodblock printmaking.


Where do you do your printing, and what are your tools?
I share a studio in my house with my young daughter, often printing or carving while she plays nearby. As a result I have to keep my studio very clean, use non-toxic solvents and keep my carving tools and inks out of reach. I use blocks of shina plywood, Japanese steel carving tools, ink and my beloved printing press. These days I print every Tuesday.


Your method is very fluid and allows you to use your blocks over again in various combinations. How did you develop this way of working?
It developed from my love of the medium combined with my short attention span. This short attention span led me a seek a way for me to make prints without doing editions yet still reusing blocks.

What are your inspirations (other artists, topics, places, etc.)?
My instructor from Mass Art Annie Silverman has been a huge influence. As have so many artists on Flickr and on blogs that I read. The walks I take around Boston with my daughter every morning are a daily inspiration.

How do you work with creative slumps?
I don't. I suffer through them and try to get myself to draw my way out. I find that if I keep a sketchbook and draw even if it isn't any good eventually I will feel inspired again.

Congratulations on the birth of your first child! How has being a new mother affected your work as an artist?
Since having my daughter in September 2007 my work has expanded to include collage and mixed media. This work allows me to incorporate scraps of prints from the past, Japanese washi paper, pages from old books, and screen printing into my work. This came in part from the lack of having large blocks of time to print and still needing to create. These days I am at least able to print once a week.

You were an early member of Etsy. How has Etsy impacted your life and work and how has Etsy changed since you started?
It has grown and then grown some more. When I joined the art category was so small I remember thinking how it was too small to attract many buyers. You didn't have to work to get seen in the same way you do now, but you needed to work to draw people to the site even harder. Etsy had a huge impact on my life giving me a venue to show and sell my art while staying at home. I have a network of friends both local and not from the site that are my daughter's adoptive Etsy aunties.

Assuming a perfect world, what would you imagine yourself doing 5 years from now?
Hmm, I always struggle with questions like this because I know reality can be just as rewarding as a perfect world. But I will give it a shot. In five years I would like to have another child and still be making art and selling on Etsy while putting more attention on showing and selling locally as well. That is the direction I have been heading in this summer and I can see it continuing.

Any advice for aspiring printmakers?
Love the medium and let that love show through your work and through discussion. Defend printmaking with passion.