“Making an Impression: Newburyport Art Association Printmakers”

In the highly technical world of contemporary print media, where digital images abound, fine art printmakers continue to find inspiration in techniques that are centuries old, often in combination with twenty-first century methods. Many of these print forms will be featured in the ninth annual “Making an Impression” exhibition in the Sargent and Hartson Galleries of the Newburyport Art Association from July 22 to August 4, 2012.

This show will feature fourteen artists.  Although most have been with the group since its inception, several have joined recently.

Niki Orphanos is a wife and visual art teacher in Norwood, MA.  The inspirations for her artwork comes from her family’s love of the ocean, being a mother, growing up in a large Greek family, and vacationing in Cape Cod, MA and Kalymnos, Greece.  She is constantly looking for scenes or circumstances; whether in the kitchen or outdoors, to mentally and visually create a composition that can inspire her artwork.  She loves to work in watercolors and various printmaking techniques

Muriel Angelil of Amesbury explains that her monotypes are often inspired by her childhood  memories of growing up in Egypt.  This year she is also including impressionistic images of trees.  Muriel is also a sculptor and creates site-specific installations in the environment.

Patty deGrandpre works in both mixed media and printmaking. Using multiple mediums she creates one of a kind monoprints. Her work is abstract, colorful with interesting compositions frequently using typography. She has a BFA in Fine Art, and lives with her husband and two children in Beverly.

Cindi Deimantas artwork has consisted of drawing and painting in various media.  The human form and the trees in landscapes inspire her.  Currently her monotypes feature semi-realistic images in black, white and color using additive and subtractive methods often with organic materials such as leaves and flowers.

Susan Dosick of Newburyport creates linoleum block prints using puzzle-like pieces of foam as printing blocks.  Artist’s books form another format for her prints.

Diane Francis’ intent is to produce intensely personal but broadly human images, ones that demand dialogue and reflection. Diane will be displaying woodblock, intaglio and monoprints in this exhibition.

Kate Higley’s work is experimental often combining several types of printmaking techniques.  Her prints are complex, involving layers of transparent color laid over or under organic linear shapes.  A single print can be passed through an etching press between eight and twelve times before completion.

Susan Jaworski-Stranc is a national and international award winning printmaker.  Currently she maintains a printmaking studio at Western Ave in Lowell, MA where she concentrates on the making of reduction linoleum prints.  Her artwork is represented in the Zea Mays Flat File Project, Florence, MA, and the McGowan Fine Art Gallery in Concord, NH and 13Forest Gallery in Arlington, MA.

Barbara Nachmias-Kedesdy lives on the Parker River in Newbury, MA.  A love of gardening and fascination with the history of botanical art serve as inspiration for her prints, which are impressionistic renderings of plant forms and the coastal landscape.

Mary Arthur Pollak works in monotype and mixed media using a Takasch press.  Her loosely representational monotypes are often inspired from the marsh and water around the North Shore and Maine and sometimes include collected paraphernalia from her frequent travels.  She works at her studio, Indigo Studio/Gallery in Newburyport and lives in Ipswich.

Jim Tinguely cuts wood and linoleum.  He prints on his homemade oak platen press.

Mary Tuttle has been experimenting with layers this year. Her process involves peeking through, covering up, pushing down and rising between.  She has been excited about the use of natural materials and exploring the transparencies of the inks.  Her year has been one of artistic exploration and trying things a little differently.

Jen Warren lives in Andover, MA.  Her background in graphic design and experience with antiques from the Arts and Crafts Movement underlie her attraction to woodblock printing.  Jennifer is inspired by her travels and by the natural world in her backyard.

Mary Webber is both a painter and a printmaker.  Her work takes on a more abstractified aspect as the primacy of movement choreographs the elements of form, content and color in a unified whole. Her inspiration comes from the natural world as viewed through the lens of lyrical abstraction.

The opening reception for “Making an Impression” will be held Sunday, July 29^th, from 5.00 to 7.00  PM.

There will be printmaking demos in the Hartson Gallery on Saturday afternoon, July 28^th from 1-3 PM

The Newburyport Art Association is located at 65 Water Street in Newburyport, MA.

978-465-8769; Gallery Hours are 11-5, except Sundays 1-5 PM.