Thursday the 2nd of August
Joanna came to Heriot Watt towards the end of the first semester and gave an inspiring talk on her practice and her career. Her talk stuck with me and upon graduating, trying to sort out a path for the next stage in my career, I sent her an email asking if I could visit her studio.
She kindly agreed and I went hoping to find out what a professional studio based around a small number (one or two) of people working would look like.
Interesting to see how a screen printing studio works on an artist’s level, rather than a university level. I am trying to understand how studios can be set up and run, with the aim of managing my own in the very near future.
Joanna is clearly on top of her game when it comes to screen printing, she told me that by having the work underpinned by the technical expertise and testing that it gave her the opportunity to be more creative, experimental and free with the printing itself.
Her meticulous methods allow her to recreate every element of her work and use screen printing as a tool, to be a master of her craft. So when something happens by chance and is beautiful, it can be repeated and used again in different work, screen printing can be full of surprises and recording them is essential. It was this principle which inspired me most in Joanna’s talk last year.
She also explained as she showed me each element of her studio that equipment and furniture builds up. You acquire things over the years, she pointed out various things that she had found on the street or been given.
As your career and work grows so does your studio and the equipment, and accoutrements of your trade. Joanna is now self contained; her studio is something she hasn’t acquired over night but something she worked towards, an example of where I could be if I work towards it.
Even though my visit was just a short one which lasted around an hour, I learnt so much just by seeing the arrangement and range of equipment. There will be many things that I have to learn for myself and make on my own, but that feels like part of the challenge and the fun.
I am really looking forward to helping her out with her summer school programme at the end of the month.
http://www.joannakinnerslytaylor.com/courses-for-summer-2012/