Jewell Riano-Bradley

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Artist's Statement:

I find great pleasure in exploring printmaking, particularly collagraphs. My artworks, whether realistic or nonobjective, are filled with images inspired by the art media and process itself. I begin my collagraphs by making a series of prints from collaged shapes (from cut paper, cloth, string or other textured surface) on a large press. When the ink is dry, the images make their presence known - reminding me of the childhood experience of discovering shapes in the clouds. Then, I work to define and enhance these images, making a drawing and adding additional color by inking with a brayer through stencils. I pay close attention to composition and design, and finally, finish the work by rendering details with colored pencils. Each design seems to trigger ideas for another design - truly a creative process.

Artmaking enables me to immerse myself in the experience, a rather self-centered process, to act on the impulse to create, and to manipulate paint, pencil, pen, and ink into visual order - all of which make