The Wild Atlantic Way
the wild atlantic way
In September I made my first trip to Ireland. I concentrated my visit on the west coast, the Wild Atlantic Way: Tralee, Dingle, Galway, Sligo and Ballycastle. In Sligo County I visited the oldest collection of neolithic tombs (dating back 6000 years!) at Carrowmore, and the Sligo Abbey 13th century ruins. While in Sligo, I reached out to an artist I follow via social media who uses Eco printing. I asked if she would be willing to share some of her processes and techniques. Naomi Griffiths of thewildthings.ie, was incredibly generous and invited me to her home and studio. I marveled at her poly greenhouse, baskets of drying flowers, boxes of pressed blossoms and leaves, and thriving gardens. She shared her knowledge of mordants and pre-treatments on fabric, methods to print fresh and dried flora. She shared delicious homemade scones, clotted cream and jam, tea, and then homemade soup and bread. It was a day I will never forget and feel I have made an artist friend in the process.
Next, I went to The Ballinglen Artist Foundation, nestled in the tiny, rural town of Ballycastle, in Mayo County Ireland on the northwest coast. During a field trip we experienced Down Patrick Head, a spectacular vista rising on 126 foot cliffs above the roaring ocean. The views, cliffs, rocky beaches, farm and coastland were awe-inspiring. On the same day we visited Céide Fields, recognized as one of the oldest and largest stone age farming sites
Artmaking away
printing with Jeff Hirst
At the Foundation I took a week-long printmaking workshop with Jeff Hirst. I’ve known Jeff for years and he is a terrific teacher. I reveled in devoting my time, attention and energy to explore experimental and traditional printmaking techniques while using water-based inks. I created Carborundum plates and mixed, matched and experimented with layering, amazed at how easy it was to wipe the plates and cleanup afterwards. I was so excited that I ordered a half sheet tabletop press for my studio!! Having a press in my studio will allow me to continue my print making practice at home while pursuing large scale and experimental projects at The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP) in Norwalk, CT.
Ballinglen is a mile from the beach, where I walked every day, finding fossils, multicolored seaweeds and yellow cockle shells. Blackberries grew wild by the roadside while lush green farms with grazing sheep and cows stretched in every direction. And the weather! Sun chased rain, chased misty fog, chased wind, chased scudding clouds, in unending atmospheric shifts throughout the day. Ireland spoke to me and I will be back!
“...in unending atmospheric shifts throughout the day. Ireland spoke to me...”
Back in my home studios
Upon my return, I jumped into more printmaking participating in CCP’s annual Monothon. It is one of my favorite events of the year, as well as a fundraiser for the center. Artists pay a moderate fee to work with a master printer and press assistant, who handle and facilitate all printing, cleanup, and anything necessary so that the artist concentrates solely on creating original prints. At the end of each session, the center chooses a monoprint for a silent auction and the artist retains the rest. I was working in oil-based inks with Brian Garner, new staff member and collaborative printer at CCP. Working with a collaborative printer always offers insights, ideas and methods that open ways of thinking in approaching my work.
Already, my creative spirit is sparking. I feel energized and excited about the months to come. I am rejuvenated by the natural beauty I experienced, the deep-dive into material/process explorations, the colors and tastes and space that Ireland offered my tired soul.
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