Artist Statement on Green Thumb
The silkscreen process is highly technical and requires skills I have refined through years of dedicated practice. Understanding the craftsmanship behind each piece adds to the beauty and creativity of this art form. I begin by creating an original illustration and then break the image down by color. Each color layer is exposed onto a separate screen, and ink is pulled through these screens like a stencil using a squeegee. This process builds the image, one layer of color at a time on the paper.
Artist Statement on Big Picture
This print pays tribute to Peoria's past historic theaters and future filmmakers. The silkscreen process is highly technical and requires skills I have refined through years of dedicated practice. Understanding the craftsmanship behind each piece adds to the beauty and creativity of this art form. I begin by creating an original illustration and then break the image down by color.
Each color layer is exposed onto a separate screen, and ink is pulled through these screens like a stencil using a squeegee. This process builds the image, one layer of color at a time on the paper.
Biography
Since 2008, I’ve been a silkscreen printmaker working in Central Illinois. My journey began as a collector of silkscreen prints, but my curiosity about the creation process soon grew. With a graphic design degree from Bradley University, I had a strong artistic foundation, but no formal training in silkscreen printing. Determined to learn, I taught myself through books, DVDs, and online resources.
Over the years, my prints have been showcased in galleries both locally and internationally. I’m also passionate about sharing my knowledge of printmaking. Through ArtPartners' Ignite Peoria events and The Peoria Art Guild’s summer youth programs, I’ve had the privilege of teaching children and adults across Central Illinois.
