Prints & Printmaking

My curiosity to explore a new medium led me to learn relief printmaking around 2015. I had long been interested in the Mexican cultural roots of printmaking, going back to José Guadalupe Posada in the 19th century and continuing with the Taller de Gráfica Popular (“People's Graphic Workshop”), founded by Leopoldo Méndez and others in 1937. For these artists, printmaking had a strong connection to social commentary and activism. I also appreciated the contributions of women artists like Elizabeth Catlett and Käthe Kollwitz. 

I started taking classes with a local Chicago printmaker, and since then printmaking has become my favorite medium to work in. I love having to think in almost black and white terms as I shape the image through negative space. Carving is irreversible, and the act of carving is like meditation, demanding complete focus and attention. I take pride in keeping the tools sharp and well maintained. And then the printing process is so unpredictable – Printmaking is all about problem solving,getting the image just right depends on temperature, humidity, ink texture, the paper thickness, the amount of pressure, and so much more. And yet the possibilities for creation are endless. With the same matrix I can create a series of prints, each one slightly different and unique, even varying the color to make subtle changes to the mood.