1. Do you remember the first print you ever made?
I don’t remember the very first print that I made but it was a mono print in a night class I attended. The earliest print that I remember making was a linoprint, I turned up to the night class with a small drawing and I was very intimidated when the tutor blew my image up by about 10 times but as soon as I started cutting the lino I was hooked.
2. Are you a trained artist ~ do you think that’s important?
I am self taught apart from a night class that I attended for a few months and a few workshops. I originally trained as a jeweller which helps with creating the plates, particularly engraving. I think that training as an artist must be helpful and inspiring but there is no substitute for practice.
3. What type of printmaking techniques do you favour and why?
I enjoy both relief and intaglio techniques. I am currently focusing on wood engraving because I love the detail that can be achieved but also produce linocuts for their graphic imagery and drypoint prints for their tonal quality.
4. What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on plans for a series of work based on plants, gardens and their stories.
5. What drives you to make prints?
I love to make prints because I am drawn to the quality of the images achievable. I love making the plates and drawing the image using engraving tools, gouges or scribes.
6. Who has been an important mentor in your life?
I have been blessed to have two mentors. Margaret Jarvis, a Wolverhampton (England) based artist and retired art lecturer has had a huge influence on me, she has been so encouraging and given me a push to step outside my comfort zone. Hilary Paynter, an exceptional wood engraver has been a wonderful teacher and mentor for my wood engraving practice.
7. Which art materials do you favour and why?
When engraving I prefer to use wood and if possible boxwood, wood is a joy to work with, I love its tactile quality and the sound it makes when I cut into it. For linocuts I tend to use Japanese vinyl because of the detail that can be achieved, although I do use traditional Lino as well. I like to use oil based inks which although they take longer to dry, I think that they achieve a better finished print quality.
Thank you so much Julia! www.juliatimmins.co.uk
