An Interview With Carol Lyons |
| Here at "Hand Pulled Prints" we want the potential clients,
as well as any one interested, to get to know the artists' featured
here. These prints are created by hard working folks and we try to
provide a little background on the printmakers and why they do what
they do. |
| |
| 1. Where are you from?
CL: I am from Irvington, NY, the home of Washington Irving, but more influential
to an artist, the home of the Hudson River painter, Albert Bierstadt.
In fact, we live on what was once his property. I fool myself into thinking
there is some osmosis going on here!
2. When did you start printmaking?
CL: Printmaking around 1990 and woodblock printing 1997.
3. Where did you learn how to make prints?
CL: Workshops in the area, but from the very beginning I put my own spin
into the process, shortcuts motivated by experimentation with "Less
work for Mother"
4. What is you favorite style of printmaking?
CL: My favorite printmaking style is woodblock right now. I've had years
when it was monotypes, then unique ink prints.
5. Can you describe this printmaking technique?
CL: I most often do variants of one simple geometric, composed in a square,
layered and printed by turning the paper and possibly printing on both
sides. A light box is indispensable for this. Among the infinite possibilities
I will choose several to work on. All work is waterbased and handprinted.
6. Do you currently have your own printmaking "area", such as
a studio or class room?
CL: My studio is in my home and my husband built a little table next to
the laundry sink for printing.
7. Who would you say is your favorite printmaker? Both living or dead?
CL: There are so many that make me breathe heavily that I can't enumerate
.Mostly they are contemporary clever geometric or figurative woodblock
images.
8. How do you find your subject matter in your work?
CL: Subject matter-- I am curious to see what will happen if I overlay
simple original compositions. Also like humor in my prints.
9. Is there something in printmaking, whether it be a style or process,
that you do not like?
CL: What I don't like is sharpening tools!
10. Are you a neat and orderly person or messy and like to "spread
out"?
CL: I spread out. Starting with a clean table, I soon have crowed myself
into the lower right hand corner. My work will fall off if I don't straighten
up again..
11. Was there any one person or artist that was the reason you started printmaking?
CL: April Vollmer's class at the Conn. Graphic Arts Center, Norwalk, Conn.
12. What would you say is your favorite print that you have ever made? And
do you have a picture of it?
CL: It's Bijou woodblock print, the first I ever made , the first
I ever sold, and the beginning of the square woodblock prints, 1997.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRINT
13. How would you describe yourself as a printmaker?
CL: Enthusiastic, obsessed, experimental.
14. How often do you make prints?
CL: 6 days a week.
15. Do you think that your printmaking will change much in the next five
years? Why or why not?
CL: I hope my skill will always improve. In 5 years I still won't be able
to finish the ideas on my "to do" print list.
16. Do you teach at all?
CL: No teaching, but I have been doing art "gigs". I call them
gigs because they are entertaining and instructive. In L. A. they call
them gigs and I like that.
17. Are you active in any printmaking organizations or artist groups?
CL: Barenforum.org, Albany Print Club
18. What advice would you give to those people just starting to get into
printmaking?
CL: Learn the fundamentals, then fly with them.
19. Is there something that you find fulfilling when you have finished a
print? What is it? or Can you describe this feeling?
CL: When I finish a print I'm breathless if it seems successful.
20. Would you say you have been successful in printmaking? Why or why not?
CL: It makes me happy, so I am successful.
21. What other forms of artwork besides printmaking do you enjoy?
CL: I draw--hands.To pass the time on plane trips over the years I have
been drawing my husband's hands and have quite a collection. I don't have
any desire to convert them to woodblock prints. the same goes for feet--but
not on planes!
22. Who are your "heroes"? (they do not have to be printmakers)
CL: Heroes--Winston Churchill, Patrick Moynahan, Lionel Lambourne ( He
acquired my unique ink prints for the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Has written books about Japanisme.)
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