Artist Statement
Seeing the ink roll as the squeegee passes through the mesh screen is a very satisfying process to witness. Printmaking, particularly silk-screening, is a very tedious process but very satisfying when everything aligns. Silk-screening is burning an image into a mesh screen and using it as a stencil to print an image. It is a way to turn digital work into something tangible, and with this new perspective gives a new life to the work. Multiple coloured prints are the best example of this because of the variety of inks and experimentation when it comes to mixing the inks and colours. And the colours that can physically be seen on the paper are different than what is seen on a computer screen. Another printmaking process I am drawn to is Riso printing, and funny enough it is like silk-screening. The printer burns an image into rice paper and uses it as a stencil to print an image onto a piece of paper. And the appeal it has over me is the grainy saturated colours it gives when it prints. Overall, printmaking is a very versatile process and there are so many fun things that can be done with it.
Editing photos and printing them out physically, either silkscreen or Riso, is the process I tend to fall back on. I tend to take photos of my living space and my yard, I still live in the home I grew up in, and it means a lot to me. I like the idea of appreciating everyday sightings that are overlooked and sharing them. I feel like there is a common ground there that is relatable, and I would like my work to feel warm and inviting.
Printmaking is very versatile and there is so much that can be done with it. With my work I want it to feel lived in, to have atmosphere. And with the process of printmaking, I can achieve that. With Riso printing I can get a grainy and moody feel, and with silk-screening I can get a soft dreamy feel.
