About the Artwork
I start by going out into nature. I'll hop in my car, lace up my hiking boots or strap on my snowshoes and depart in pursuit of intimate places and open vistas. I'll choose a space I can feel; one that activates my senses and pulls me into it. I’ll embrace the hyperfocus and time blindness that are symptoms on my ADHD, completely immersing myself in my surroundings. I'll sit on the ground to document with pencil and watercolour; chosen because they are gentle, immediate, and portable. These field sketches give me time to reflect in nature, questioning my place here while connecting with my surroundings through observation.
Sometimes I swap the wilderness for a field of horses, interacting with them before documenting their features and dispositions. I’ll reflect on how my family history as a descendant of European settlers and historic ranch owners affects my connection to both the horses and the land.
Select field drawings are reworked into prints at the studio, where I combine woodcut and intaglio printmaking techniques to create an image that further delves into the feel of these spaces, allowing me to emphasize poignant aspects of my experience.
The result is a body of work: small pencil and watercolour sketches paired with prints rich in woodgrain texture that invite the viewer to consider their own sense of place and reflect on the relationship they want to have with nature.
Hardwood Intaglio Prints
My hardwood intaglio prints are created using a combination of woodcut and intaglio methods. First, the wood is burned and carved with a Dremel. The plate is then printed in the intaglio method of applying ink to all the lines and grooves of the plate and wiping off the excess. This contrasts with the woodcut method of rolling ink onto the surface of the plate before printing. Using this method creates a simple image with a complex woodgrain to sustain it.
Silkscreen Prints
My silkscreen prints take on a lighter approach yet are still steeped in a desire for connection with nature. Here I describe my perception of the human personification of wildlife, presenting animals in whimsical and humorous (albeit unlikely) scenarios. These prints often take the form of greeting cards, alluding to our desire for connection with nature by acting on our need for human interaction. The objective of these prints is to facilitate connectivity by enticing the viewer to interact with others via story telling, discussions about wildlife and conservation, gifting, or simply sharing a laugh.
Atelier Imago
My prints are created at Atelier Imago, a Francophone printmaking studio housed at the Aberdeen Center in Moncton, New Brunswick. Imago has been open to local printmakers for over 35 years, hosting events, artist residencies, and their annual Valentine’s Day Fundraiser, Art en Boite. I have been an active member of Imago since she moved to Moncton in 2009 and has been on the board of directors since 2021.
Local artists enjoying an ink making workshop, hosted by Carole Deveau and Vanessa Moeller (2021).
Want to learn more about printmaking?
Check out my blog post about the basics of printmaking here: