artist statement
A year and a half ago, I fell in love with woodcuts. I love the raw beauty of the print and block, but after trying it out myself, I found that I loved the process of woodcutting even more. The experience of pulling the first print off the block is deeply satisfying. The carving process is very therapeutic for me—I love the way the wood smells, I love brushing the chips off the block, I love the personality of the grain and exploring the image in it. The grain of the wood is something I have learned to respect and work with instead of imposing my own ideas on it.
My love for woodcuts led me to seek out new ways to create them. I like combining different media to create a cohesive whole. I wanted to make my own mark as a printmaker and be more experimental with my own works, so I started to print my woodcuts on fabric instead of paper. I am inspired by the skin-like quality of the cotton, and it’s stretch and pull led me to the idea of incorporating thread into my prints. Embroidery adds texture, color, and dimension to my pieces, making them more vibrant and unique. I like the idea of using recycled or used materials and giving them new life by integrating them into my pieces. All the fabric I used was from reclaimed t-shirt material, I used discarded picture frames to stretch the fabric over, and many of the woodblocks I use for carving are made from found wood.
