Abstract Expressionistic Printmaking with C.A.P. Studio Chiang Mai
11 years ago, I majored in fine arts and printmaking was my focus in Uni.
My style back then was representational, it had figures, recognizable things in it, everything was sketched and planned.
I have been painting abstract now for 4 years as my job and haven’t made a print since I graduated Uni in 2009. I paint in a very intuitive way. Not really knowing what the work will become. I play and create one mark or pour at a time. I make a mark and then respond to it with the next mark or layer.
When C.A.P. Studio in Chiang Mai invited me to make a run of prints, I was so excited and curious to see how my new style and practice could be explored in etching.
The master printers at C.A.P. Studio helped me to translate my current style and ideas into etchings. The process involves making marks on metal plates, use acid to etch into the plate, filling the etched marks with ink, wiping away the excess ink from the plate, then putting the plate on paper and pulling it through a press.
Each print is individually printed. They may vary an unnoticeable bit, but these printmakers are serious professionals. Serious about what they do, but also a lot of fun to hang out with. “Hi Am, Dream, and Liam!”
This is a two-color print. One plate had marks in blue and the other had yellow. The white circles are cut out of the plates and that’s what makes the raised, embossed effect. The C.A.P. team, inked, pulled, and printed. Kitikong Tilokwattanotai, the director, gave input on the processes I could use that would be similar to my painting process. I made the marks, color choices, approved the printing, signed and dated each print. It was such a wonderful experience. So easy, they know every way to create any effect you could dream of.
They also know and appreciate the beauty of etchings, there is a gorgeous amount of visual noise in the white parts of the print where the plate has little scratches marks that pick up the ink. Can you see that in the detailed shots? Kitikong encouraged me to make my prints special and do something that I can’t do in my painting studio. That was when we decided on doing a circle cut out on the plate to create white space and that beautiful embossed detail. I am so grateful to have worked with C.A.P.. We made a total edition of 30, 1/30-30/30. The studio has 15 of my prints which they will give to their annual donors, and I got 15.
I released these prints here on my website two days ago under “Paintings” and only have 5 left as of today. If you are interested in a pair please head over there or contact me to put in your order while there are still a few in stock.
I am looking forward to the next time I will be able to be back in Chiang Mai so that we can do another print or two. I can really imagine this being a long term collaboration.
Thank you to C.A.P. Studio in Chiang Mai for hosting me this year in your studio.
Thank you to you, for reading and supporting me in this artist life.
Take care, stay healthy,
Anna