Printmaking, collage and woven paper

you will find Becky and her work at Emma Jane Royer’s studio where they will be featuring a collaborative series of paper weavings, prints and collages entitled LEMONADE.

The line, shape and hue of common household vessels—bowls, bottles and vases—are imprinted in my mind from a long career in interior design. As an artist I have employed these same qualities in printmaking as I once advised clients to do: with simplicity and restraint. My monotypes are intentionally spare compositions, in the same vein as well-curated interior spaces. Shapes stand alone or are joined with other companionable shapes. Lines are smooth, rough, tenuous or both—but never overplayed.

Whatever my subject matter, I strive to make every line matter and every space count. I work reductively from the standpoint of potentially excess mark-making. I consider, shape and pare away forms until they are resolved as compositions undisturbed by visual noise.

Working closely together, but without a specific vision of what we would produce, we chose to combine the visual language of each artist: Becky’s colorful and painterly monoprints that reference the comfort and delights of home; and, Emma’s graphic and textural relief prints that focus on the mass and texture of landscape. Woven and collaged together, the different languages balance moments of complement with those of contrast.

By weaving strips of prints together, we produced a series of grids that we then arranged into larger works. Visually, the pieces reference the logic and language of patchwork: bits and pieces that are collected from previous projects and pursuits, reconsidered to make something new and unplanned. By focusing on bold, tart yellows alongside the oranges, greens and pinks of citrus groves and sky blues we want to highlight the delight in using the collaborative process to transform established patterns and methods into something that is fresh and invigorating.

We started this body of work in February 2021. Having spent nearly a year in various states of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, amidst a global crisis, national unrest and yet so much isolation, we were propelled to find ways to make the most out what we had on hand; to discover safe and invigorating ways to work together; and, to create moments of sweetness amidst a bitter and challenging landscape.

Becky has a new collaboration with artist David Traylor that will debut in June at SHIFT Gallery in Pioneer Square.

Becky began to study Printmaking after a 40 year career in Interior Design, which in many ways influences her work. After taking numerous classes at Pratt Fine Arts Center and many hours in the studio she became a member of SHIFT, a cooperative gallery in Seattle, WA. Becky also shows work at Museo in Langley, WA and 1+1+1 Gallery in Helena, MT. She loves being a part of the Printmaking community here in Seattle.