Working representationally, I love printmaking as a daily practice to describe the land, the people, and the symbols of New Mexico. The versatility of the medium allows me to constantly evolve my personal expression, and I have been fortunate to receive printmaking training in both New and Old Mexico. By using techniques such as hand-cut stencils, woodcut, and linocut I can combine several relief printing techniques and create a visual language that tells a story with shapes and forms. Some of my prints require meticulous planning while other compositions come together spontaneously at the press.
My training in woodblock has taken place largely in Oaxaca, Mexico where most printmaking studios are collectives. I have been inspired by that model, starting a collective here called Herstory Printmaking and teaching many members of my community to make prints as part of Banners on Mountain Road and the Wells Park Community Mural Project.
I believe printmaking should be a collaborative effort with people interacting around the press and taking supportive roles in each other’s projects. It’s wonderful to be a part of New Mexico’s strong tradition of printmaking! Thanks for visiting my site.
~ Julianna