I fell in love with printmaking in high school. The first piece of art I ever sold was a linoleum print of a rabbit, which I carved when I was 15 years old, and my art teacher out on display at the local community college. Someone saw the print, contacted my teacher, and asked if they could purchase it. I think they paid me $15 and I was thrilled. 🙂 I moved away from print making for years, working primarily in watercolors, and then transitioning into surface pattern design- creating art for wallpaper, fabric, toys and more. I never want to art school but my grandmother was a watercolorist and so I had the benefit of generational knowledge passed down from her. Several years ago I recalled how much I had enjoyed the carving process and invested in some printmaking tools for my studio. My work soon gained popularity, and I began printmaking as a full time job.
As a printmaker, I specialize in place-based design. My work centers on Southeastern United States- the ecosystems, biodiversity, places, and local culture. I’m a small batch printmaker, which means for each block I carve, I sell fewer then 100 imprints. Within those 99 prints, i’ll often have editions in several different colors, and some experimental artist proofs. I work in both linoleum and dense rubber carving substrates, with a preference for recycled materials when possible. My inks are all made right here in North Carolina, and my papers are all archival, sustainably forested, and manufactured using energy.