It's always easy to tell who lives and breathes what they do, and it's always great coming across new artists, who's work is intricate and inspiring. So when I came across Victoria Clare Gray's instagram (scattered with inky drawings, processes and prints) I was delighted.
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Do you feel limited by the methods of print compared to drawing, if so why? i.e difficulty, precision etc
Yes! haha if I'm honest. It's more difficult to me...but then more simple in so many other ways. It's like, if you get the composition just right before you start cutting away into lino/wood it's far more simple than drawing. I guess it depends how detailed you go with printmaking - I'm still keeping it pretty simple! Wood is just very hard if you're impatient like me. It's easier to slip and mess up which is terrifying when you have sharp tools! I think I'll stick to lino for larger pieces in future because it's just a joy to carve. I wish I was better with wood, it's earthier and just suits my style more (I believe so anyway!) but lots more practice and I'll hopefully get better. Sharp tools are a must!
Do you feel less or more detail on the plate makes a better print?
There's no right or wrong, both are great, I've seen incredibly detailed printmaking that is just sooo enviable, but also the most simple things that are so effective and you're like 'why does that look so good and so simple at the same time'. Chris Pig is great. He does a lot of detail and there's a few simple ones in there too. Check out Tugboat Print Shop for detail, layered prints - oh my word they are just too good. Also check out Lice 4 Life for the best compositions (I think) they're so simple and so effective and really pleasing to my eye - even asymmetrical prints just seem to look symmetrical to me if that makes sense! There's a harmony to his work- and also a good tattoo/ printmaking style cross over.
Finally, I know you're also pretty new to printmaking but do you have any tips that might help me and other people who've never really printed before?
Always use sharp tools! Like I said before. You'll get a cleaner cut. Always cut away from yourself! Haha simple but really - it's important! Patience patience patience - from getting the write drawing down before you start cutting, to getting the ink on correctly, to making the final print and then even waiting for drying! I'm so impatient so I've made so many slip ups from just rushing. It's taught me to work slower.
There's some great printmaking videos on Youtube that have helped me so much. I was totally clueless and I'm still learning tons as I've not found the right paper yet (It's hard to use nice thick paper when relief printing without a press I've found) I always hand press all of my relief prints (it's better to use a press so you really get the ink on there - doing it by hand takes a lot of rubbing and pressure but I just don't have access to a press unfortunately)
These MOMA videos on youtube are great for learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjymxow3TVQ
The best advice I can give is just play and experiment and don't be disheartened, ever. It's so important to fail with printmaking. Sometimes interesting things happen, sometimes they don't and you make a massive mess and hurt yourself :).
Victoria graduated Lancaster University in 2010 with a degree in Fine Art. Since then, she has moved to the Lake District where she 'makes lots of cups of tea and draws stuff'.
Her work was featured in 3 exhibitions this year, and is retailed in 4 places currently (and that's only 2014!) Other than that, her piece 'Birds and Butterflies of the Scottish Highlands' was the Open Up North Emerging Artist 2014 prize winner and has been featured in Out of Step books' 'Feathers of Inspiration'. After falling in love with her drawings and prints and having a little chat I decided to e-mail her a couple of questions on her printmaking. My current uni project is to be done in black and white print so being fairly new to it all I thought it'd be good to have some artist insight as part of my research.
Her work was featured in 3 exhibitions this year, and is retailed in 4 places currently (and that's only 2014!) Other than that, her piece 'Birds and Butterflies of the Scottish Highlands' was the Open Up North Emerging Artist 2014 prize winner and has been featured in Out of Step books' 'Feathers of Inspiration'. After falling in love with her drawings and prints and having a little chat I decided to e-mail her a couple of questions on her printmaking. My current uni project is to be done in black and white print so being fairly new to it all I thought it'd be good to have some artist insight as part of my research.
Victoria Clare Gray Q&A 08/12/14
What inspires you to create?
I've always drawn and painted from a very young age. Sometimes ideas for drawings just pop into my head when I'm wandering around or late at night in bed! I find I have to write them down or do a sketch straight away so I don't forget, sometimes these drafts turn into final sketches and sometimes they don't! But, playing around with different compositions and ideas is always good practice for me. Going out and doing things I think is the biggest inspiration, random things just come to you that way and I feel drawings that have come completely from my mind seem to be more interesting than the ones that have been inspired by other peoples work or photographs I've found. Having said that, one of the things that makes me WANT to work is looking through blogs like tumblr and finding incredible work that, kind of intimidates, but inspires me. Even learning about the ways people photograph their work inspires me - the whole final composition of an idea being presented to the world.
I've always drawn and painted from a very young age. Sometimes ideas for drawings just pop into my head when I'm wandering around or late at night in bed! I find I have to write them down or do a sketch straight away so I don't forget, sometimes these drafts turn into final sketches and sometimes they don't! But, playing around with different compositions and ideas is always good practice for me. Going out and doing things I think is the biggest inspiration, random things just come to you that way and I feel drawings that have come completely from my mind seem to be more interesting than the ones that have been inspired by other peoples work or photographs I've found. Having said that, one of the things that makes me WANT to work is looking through blogs like tumblr and finding incredible work that, kind of intimidates, but inspires me. Even learning about the ways people photograph their work inspires me - the whole final composition of an idea being presented to the world.
How do you go about developing an idea for a piece? i.e your sketchbook drawings, instant inspiration, looking at other artists etc
All of the above. I have to say I'm not a great sketchbook keeper. I wish a was. I was thinking of starting a project to improve my journaling skills as it's the BEST way to practice. I usually make the roughest of sketches to get down the basic composition - and I mean rough! - and then I like to make the final drawing straight after that! I think perhaps I want them to look perfect straight away? and I just hide the old messy sketches away without really enjoying the journaling side to art. So as a result I have a lot of loose final sketches all over the place!
Instant inspiration is a biggy, some of my compositions just come to mind and some of them come into mind after looking at other artists. I've been inspired a lot by traditional tattoo compositions this past year. There's something about the perfection of them (when done well) the bold lines, lots of ink. A lot of them have great, pleasing compositions as well as they have to look good on a body! Tattoo artists like Scott Move are pretty damn good at this. Japanese art and ancient printmaking was also an inspiration before I even started my own printmaking. I think I just love ink as a medium and that inspires me so much.
All of the above. I have to say I'm not a great sketchbook keeper. I wish a was. I was thinking of starting a project to improve my journaling skills as it's the BEST way to practice. I usually make the roughest of sketches to get down the basic composition - and I mean rough! - and then I like to make the final drawing straight after that! I think perhaps I want them to look perfect straight away? and I just hide the old messy sketches away without really enjoying the journaling side to art. So as a result I have a lot of loose final sketches all over the place!
Instant inspiration is a biggy, some of my compositions just come to mind and some of them come into mind after looking at other artists. I've been inspired a lot by traditional tattoo compositions this past year. There's something about the perfection of them (when done well) the bold lines, lots of ink. A lot of them have great, pleasing compositions as well as they have to look good on a body! Tattoo artists like Scott Move are pretty damn good at this. Japanese art and ancient printmaking was also an inspiration before I even started my own printmaking. I think I just love ink as a medium and that inspires me so much.
What led you into print making?
A lot of what I've talked about in the last question brought me to print making. For example, many tattoo designs translate to lino/ wood cutting very well. Check out Bryn Perrott's woodcuts. She's an obvious but great choice. I like that with the printmaking techniques I use (lino/ wood cutting and screen printing) I'm now adding the areas of light to a composition instead of the dark. When carving away into a piece of lino I have to think the opposite of what I would when drawing. I find it new and exciting to be honest. I guess wanting to carry on using ink in new ways led me to printmaking.
I also found this little page with a guy just answering some questions about printmaking which I found useful especially for when you're just starting out and everything is going wrong! http://linocutboy.com/linocut-technique-notes-and-queries/
A lot of what I've talked about in the last question brought me to print making. For example, many tattoo designs translate to lino/ wood cutting very well. Check out Bryn Perrott's woodcuts. She's an obvious but great choice. I like that with the printmaking techniques I use (lino/ wood cutting and screen printing) I'm now adding the areas of light to a composition instead of the dark. When carving away into a piece of lino I have to think the opposite of what I would when drawing. I find it new and exciting to be honest. I guess wanting to carry on using ink in new ways led me to printmaking.
I also found this little page with a guy just answering some questions about printmaking which I found useful especially for when you're just starting out and everything is going wrong! http://linocutboy.com/linocut-technique-notes-and-queries/
Do you feel limited by the methods of print compared to drawing, if so why? i.e difficulty, precision etc
Yes! haha if I'm honest. It's more difficult to me...but then more simple in so many other ways. It's like, if you get the composition just right before you start cutting away into lino/wood it's far more simple than drawing. I guess it depends how detailed you go with printmaking - I'm still keeping it pretty simple! Wood is just very hard if you're impatient like me. It's easier to slip and mess up which is terrifying when you have sharp tools! I think I'll stick to lino for larger pieces in future because it's just a joy to carve. I wish I was better with wood, it's earthier and just suits my style more (I believe so anyway!) but lots more practice and I'll hopefully get better. Sharp tools are a must!
Do you feel less or more detail on the plate makes a better print?
There's no right or wrong, both are great, I've seen incredibly detailed printmaking that is just sooo enviable, but also the most simple things that are so effective and you're like 'why does that look so good and so simple at the same time'. Chris Pig is great. He does a lot of detail and there's a few simple ones in there too. Check out Tugboat Print Shop for detail, layered prints - oh my word they are just too good. Also check out Lice 4 Life for the best compositions (I think) they're so simple and so effective and really pleasing to my eye - even asymmetrical prints just seem to look symmetrical to me if that makes sense! There's a harmony to his work- and also a good tattoo/ printmaking style cross over.
Finally, I know you're also pretty new to printmaking but do you have any tips that might help me and other people who've never really printed before?
Always use sharp tools! Like I said before. You'll get a cleaner cut. Always cut away from yourself! Haha simple but really - it's important! Patience patience patience - from getting the write drawing down before you start cutting, to getting the ink on correctly, to making the final print and then even waiting for drying! I'm so impatient so I've made so many slip ups from just rushing. It's taught me to work slower.
These MOMA videos on youtube are great for learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjymxow3TVQ
The best advice I can give is just play and experiment and don't be disheartened, ever. It's so important to fail with printmaking. Sometimes interesting things happen, sometimes they don't and you make a massive mess and hurt yourself :).
You can check out more from Victoria Gray at http://victoria-clare-gray.com
Instagram @victoria_c_gray
Twitter @VictoriaCGray
Shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/VictoriaClareGray
Twitter @VictoriaCGray
Shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/VictoriaClareGray
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