Creatures of Ink

In spring 2011, I was introduced the art form of etching, and then in fall 2011 the beauty of monotype printing. Immediately falling in love with these ink arts, I have made many pieces between last spring and this spring, across the two mediums, in various sizes, types, and styles. A creature enthusiast, many of my artworks feature animals of all shapes and sizes, including living beasts, extinct specimens, and fantastical monsters. Some of these pieces combine my dual majors, creative writing and studio art, and are illustrative, depicting creatures and scenes from my English Honors Thesis and other stories I have written over my Hollins education. Others, such as the series of extinct animals, were stepping stones as I first learned the technical aspects of etching and monotype. These printmaking projects brought the challenge of bringing outrageous zoology to life—to make unimaginable creatures realistic and believable. Along with coming to master and understand the processes of applying ink, art, and story to paper, I have been able to successfully demonstrate my progression of skill in drawing, printmaking, and illustration within my studio art major.