The Pink Olive Studio
I love my studio space, a place to lose yourself for hours. The joy creating brings is quite priceless. My space is quite small and intimate (though it does contain a bed for other creative guests).
Sometimes serene, sometimes quite wild, but definitely all mine.
The studio is based in Yando, Boort, in the North West of Victoria. The south-facing bank of windows lets in wonderful light, with a view of the garden for extra inspiration.
While not being an overly big space, I am fortunate to fit all I require to produce and create, or just sit if needed. Having creative control over all you produce is very much a liberating way to work!
The Process
Printmaking, in all its forms, is simply one of the most exciting art forms.
From the creation of plates, to the inking of those plates, to the slight uncertainty of the outcome of the finished print,
this process is incredibly liberating. Gertrude (my press’s name) is a hand crafted press that is
a piece of art in herself that I certainly could not do without.
On completion, each piece is hand signed, titled, and dated. The one-of-a-kind print is complete!
Step 1
Step 1 involves coming up with an image in my head. Once I have an idea, I then sketch the concept.
Next is creating the plates required. This may take the form of an etching, collagraph, or even a combination of the two forms!
Step 2
Once completed, the plates are inked up with etching inks and oil paints. The plates are then wiped back selectively to reveal elements of the plate. The printmaking paper is sitting in a bath of water, soaking.
Step 3
The paper is removed from the bath and the excess water is blotted off. The plates are placed on the press, the dampened paper on top, and this sandwich is rolled through the press.
Step 4: The big reveal!
The paper is carefully rolled back to reveal the print. From here the plates may be reworked or the inking up changed for the next print. They are placed between blotting paper, sandwiched between absorbent boards, and left to dry. Once dry I may decide the print may need “more”. I then add pencil, crayon, watercolour, or even another layer of print. The possibilities are endless. I think that’s why I love this process so much!
The Inspiration
I am, I realise, BLESSED. I live on a property in Western Victoria, and it’s isolated, quiet and quite simply joyful.
The sunrises and sunsets are unfiltered by population and no matter what time of the year, stunning.
The seasons bring a myriad of colours, tones and texture that evoke quite powerful emotions, which inevitably need to be expressed onto paper.
