1.Do you remember the first print you ever made?
I fell in love with printmaking the first day I learnt to make monoprints using leaves and seedheads. Before then I was adamant that I wasn’t going to do printmaking because my brother and niece are great printmakers and I wanted to do something different. But it must be in the blood!
2.Are you a trained artist ~ do you think that’s important?
I studied art at Stroud College, I learnt so much! But the most important things I think are just to keep on making work, and to surround yourself with other creative people to bounce ideas off.
3.What type of printmaking techniques do you favour and why?
My first love is drawing. I love making detailed line drawings using ink. I find that photographic screenprinting allows me to make affordable editioned prints of these drawings. But I also like drypoint etching and monoprints using natural materials. And I love experimenting!
4.What projects are you currently working on?
Always too many projects on the go! Drawing a hedgehog and an owl, making more prints onto clay and getting very excited about recent experiments printing onto fabric…
5.What drives you to make prints?
I love the results! I always make a mess and wonder why I’m doing this and then…wow, something goes right and I am so happy and can’t sleep because of the possibilities!
6.Who has been an important mentor in your life?
My tutors at Stroud College, especially Mark Mawer and Helen Smith (sadly neither of them are there now…) but inspiration is just everywhere if you keep your eyes open…!
7.Which art materials do you favour and why?
Ink pens, unipin especially. Schmincke watercolours (favourite colour of all time is Paynes grey bluish! ) and Cranfield relief inks which I have recently discovered to print onto fabric.
If you’d like to send us your answers to ‘Seven Questions for a Printmaker’ please do! printdayinmay@gmail.com We would be delighted to publish your images and links to your own website or social media pages.
You can find more of Carol’s work at @fern_cottage_studio on Instagram.