March Meet the Maker - "The Type of Art That I Do"

March 1 – Brand Introduction

Since I am an Artist, I am my Brand. Here is an Introduction of the type of art that I do.

What Exactly Do You Do?

March Meet the Maker’s Day 1 prompt is “Brand Introduction.” I am my “brand”, so this post tells you about me and the type of art that I do.

When I tell people that I am an artist, The question that I get most often is,

“So, what type of art do you do?”

When I tell them that I make Reduction Linocuts and Mixed Media Art, I usually get a blank look. Then I try to explain more about Printmaking, and I can tell by their response that they are thinking of their Deskjet printer at home and are wondering “how does she make art with that?” So, in an attempt to clear things up, I have composed the following description:

REAL Linoleum

Linoleum is an integral part of the type of art that I do. For both my Reduction Linocuts and my Mixed Media art, I begin with a piece of linoleum. (Now, I am talking about real linoleum, not synthetic vinyl flooring that many people have misnamed “linoleum”. Real linoleum is made from all-natural materials – solidified linseed oil, pine resin, ground cork dust, sawdust, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, with a burlap backing. It is easier to carve than wood and I can get a nice sharp edge to my carving.) Both mediums start the same: I carve a design into the linoleum with wood cutting tools.

Reduction Linocuts, the First Type of Art that I do

With my linocuts, I use a rubber roller to roll special printing ink on the carved linoleum, and then I press that onto paper. The imprint left on the paper is the artwork.

The ink that I use for the printing process is water-soluble, but is more the consistency of buttercream frosting than the liquid you think of when you hear the term “ink”. (It dries with a matte finish, and is like watercolor paint, in that it needs to be protected under glass.)

My linocuts are true limited-edition prints – I can only make a certain number of prints because I destroy the linoleum in the process of creating the artwork. This is unlike the giclee process, where a machine takes a digital image and can make an unlimited number of “prints” (I call these “reproductions”, as they are as unlike an original print as vinyl is from linoleum!). I mat and frame my reduction linocuts to hang on the wall.

Mixed Media – Carved and Painted Linoleum: the Second Type of Art that I do

In my mixed media work, I hand paint the surface of the carved linoleum with colored India ink (the warm gray of the linoleum is the perfect backdrop for these brightly colored inks!)

Pigmented India ink is my choice for the mixed media pieces. Unlike the printing ink, it is very fluid. It dries with a hard, shiny finish. These mixed media/carved linoleum pieces are one-of-a-kind. Once I have carved and painted the linoleum, I either mount the linoleum to a painted piece of wood with cut nails, or I frame it in a floating frame.

So, “What”?

Okay, that is my “How”. Here is my “What”:

I make bright, whimsical wall art that celebrates beauty through the use of color. Because I love cats, they are often featured in my work. I create art that makes me happy. And, the wonderful bonus that it makes other people smile too! I usually start with a “thumbnail sketch” (a tiny, quick pencil drawing) to get my vision on paper, and then I spend a good deal of time working out my design on tracing paper. Because I have to determine all of the colors in my artwork before I start to carve, it is imperative that I get an excellent drawing before I start to carve. (Once an area is carved away, there is no going back!)

With the reduction printmaking, I determine all of the separate areas of color ahead of time! I love to incorporate flowers, plants, birds, lizards, and butterflies with the cats in my work. I enjoy working with a limited palette (my reduction linocuts), as well as creating colorful artworks where the carving of the linoleum creates movement and texture that become an integral part of the art (my mixed media carvings).