Part of an art practice is research. so I set myself to it on Day 7 of my residency at Urban HQ in Swansea. I’d been having some problems trying to represent dark skin through lino printing so I turned to my book* on the African-American artist Elizabeth Catlett. She was a prolific printmaker, as well as sculptor, and I sat and studied her linocut portraits, how she made her cuts, what marks she made into the lino. Of course, it’s not the same, drawing with graphite and black pen onto white paper, instead of carving into lino, but by studying and drawing her image, I learnt so many lessons that I hope to carry into my next lino block. Some people think it’s quite old-fashioned to study from great artists, but I always say, learn from the best!
*Elizabeth Catlett An American Artist In Mexico by M. A. Herzog (2000) University of Washington Press
If you’re visiting the city centre, please pop in and have a look and pick up a free postcard of my work. The dates and times of my residency are below. It would be lovely to see you.
Tuesday (9.30 – 3.30) 14th / 21st / 28th
Wednesday (9.30 – 3.30) 15th / 22nd / 29th
Thursday (9.30 – 3.30) 16th
Friday (9.30 – 3.30) 17th / 24th
Saturday (10.30 – 3.30) 25th
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