Clare Morgan has been printmaking for over 20 years. She first started to explore print while studying Fine Art at university, and has been obsessed ever since. Having experimented with many processes, Clare’s recent love is linocut printmaking; “I adore the energy in the carved marks and the strength of lines that can be created”.
Her practice explores the transient nature of the seasons. Created at the start of 2023, her series, Transient, features portraits of women adorned with floral elements and incorporates symbolism through circles and arches. Clare tells us; “I love the decorative motifs of the art nouveau style and the arts and crafts movement, and this has been becoming a more noticeable feature of my work. I hope to draw upon traditional elements while adding a touch of modernity to the artwork.”
The printmaker works with Linocut; using 2 blocks she creates a 1-layer monochrome version that is graphic in nature, and a colour version. Clare uses a jigsaw method of cutting up the second piece of lino to be able to use contrasting colours, as well as a reduction technique on the leaves and flowers to get a range of colours in the intricate areas.
Transient includes some of her biggest pieces to date. Printed on 40cm x 50cm paper, Clare put them through an etching press rather than hand printing with a barren as she usually would. The thinner papers she normally uses would crease with this method, but the masa worked very well without getting too thick. The paper is also bright white which makes the colours pop. “I love working with Japanese papers where I can, as I like the strength in something that appears fragile,” comments Clare.
“The way the portraits blend into the environment around them symbolizes the need to be one with nature and embrace its constant changes. The use of seasonal elements in the paintings, such as blooming flowers and falling leaves, emphasizes the transient nature of life and the world we live in.”
Another key feature of Clare’s Transient series is the use of arches and circles. Archways are significant in these pieces because they represent a crossing over; a gateway to a new stage of life. They are associated with the passing of time, representing an individual’s progress through life. Clare implements archways as a framing device to enclose the portraits and create a sense of unity and balance. Circles have also featured in many of her pieces over the years. Representing completion and unity, they emphasise the importance of finding one’s place in the world.
Clare seeks to create artwork that brings us to the present moment, thus, when printing, she chooses a colour that is often associated with growth, harmony, and renewal, reflecting the natural world and inspiring feelings of tranquillity, balance, and vitality.
“I hope to create beautiful and thought-provoking artworks that showcase the importance of finding and embracing one’s place in the natural world and going with the ebb and flow of nature rather than fighting against it,” concludes the printmaker.
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