LinocutMemberPrintmakingSolo artist

Curiousinkyme

posted by POP Members January 6, 2023

Clare Morgan is a fine artist and printmaker based in the East Midlands working under the name Curiousinkyme. She found her love of printmaking while studying Fine Art at Derby University. After graduating in 2005, Clare joined Green Door Printmaking Studios to learn more print techniques and develop her artistic practice. She tells us; “I love the process, preparation, paper tearing and creating the plates. It’s a process and a discipline with an element of unpredictability that is addictive. The thrill of the first reveal of a new plate, or the last layer going down on a reduction is full of excitement and suspense.”

The artist has always had a love of drawing, particularly figures, and intaglio processes were the mainstay of her practice for many years allowing her to further develop her line work. This practice is still evident today in her linocuts through the intricate lines made with very fine Pfeil tools. In 2018 Clare became interested in colour and moved towards screen printing to really embrace this. The layering of colour is still a key feature in Clare’s linocut prints.

She began to work in lino out of necessity; unable to access the print studio during lockdown yet wanting to print, Clare bought some basic tools and a piece of lino, first carving a portrait. From this point, over the last 3 years, Clare has been exploring how to bring her intricate style, use of colour, and love of movement into the medium. It is now her main printmaking practice. Currently working from her home studio, Clare still enjoys using a barren to hand burnish each print which works parcitularly well on the thin Awagami factory papers she prints on.

Fascinated with the concept of embracing the growth that can come from change and uncertainty, Clare’s work explores what it means to be human through the lens of having been diagnosed with blood cancer in 2016 and receiving a life-saving donor stem cell transplant.

“The lotus flower is a reminder of the beauty that comes from change, the magic that a new beginning brings, and the seed of potential that’s buried in the most unlikely places.” – Jennifer Williamson

This work led Clare towards the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. It is the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. Nature is a good reminder of this and is incorporated into the artworks alongside portraits that inspire and empower.

Clare believes that art can slow us down, allow us to be more present, and let go of the need to have complete control. Her figures show strength, hope, and vulnerability. Clare’s use of colour, expression and composition are selected to act as reminders, allowing us to reflect and take from it what we need.

She concludes; “Working in lino, I love leaving evidence of the process, marks create life and energy. I want to share work that celebrates strength and vulnerability, acknowledging that everything is impermanent, imperfect and incomplete and that is beautiful.”

www.curiousinkyme.com
@curiousinkyme

POP Members

You may also like