Praeterita

“ It's Not Black and White ”, (interior/open), Book board, mulberry paper, used typewriter ribbon, canvas, hemp cord, 2021 Part 42 of an interview series in which artists reply to the same six questions. Debra Disman makes sculptural objects from a combination of materials that can be read as fiber art, yet also imply book forms. Her work is  a mesmerising combination of materials, textures, and forms that are combined with exceptional skill. You can see more of her work  here . Other interviews on this blog are available  here . Philip Hartigan: What medium/media do you chiefly use, and why? Debra Disman : At the present time, I am working primarily in what you might call fiber: cloth/fabric/textiles/, including canvas, jute, lace and ribbon; and thread/string/cord, along with book board, paper, such as watercolor and mulberry papers; acrylic paint and adhesives. I interweave other materials such as used typewriter ribbon, varnish and plaster gauze into the works---whate...

Leaf Stack #43 , 2021, hand dyed fabrics, thread, 24” x 18” mounted on stretcher bars Part 41 of an interview series in which artists reply to the same six questions. Lisa Flowers Ross is an Idaho-based artist working with fabrics and other materials that she combines into pieces that emerge as semi-abstract recollections of natural forms, or as more formal abstract pieces. Lisa has been awarded several artist residencies including at Playa in Oregon, Brush Creek in Wyoming, Flathead Lake Biological Station (through Open AIR) in Montana, and in May 2022 she will spend a couple of weeks at the Holly House in Shelton, WA. In June 2022 her work will be shown in Baker City, Oregon, and in 2023 at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego. You can see more of her work  here . Other interviews on this blog are available  here . Philip Hartigan: What medium/media do you chiefly use, and why? Lisa Flowers Ross : Currently, my main medium is fabric. I started creating artworks with fabric in...

Chain of Events , encaustic monotype on Sumi-e paper Part 40 of an interview series in which artists reply to the same six questions. Michelle Hernandez, based in New Jersey, USA, works with encaustic to create monotypes and mixed media work that take full advantage of the rich range of mark making and depth of surface made possible by those materials. You can see more of her work here . Other interviews on this blog are available  here . Philip Hartigan: What medium/media do you chiefly use, and why? Michelle Hernandez : My primary medium is encaustic painting and encaustic monotype printing which I then turn into mixed-media collages (usually). I practiced as an interior and industrial designer for years and wanted to embark on a medium which really fed into my need for tactile manipulation. I’m a very hands-on person. As I researched different mediums, the encaustic process intrigued me; it’s a 4,000 year old medium once used by Romans and Egyptians in various forms. It’s a...

A Consolation , acrylic on panel, 12 inches x 18 inches, 2022. Part 39 of an interview series in which artists reply to the same six questions. Anna Wetzel Artz is an artist and educator based in the Seattle area. Her visual art, inspired by nature and landscape, consists of accumulations of beautifully spare and sensitive marks that suggest natural forms while retaining a keen semi-abstract sensibility. You can see more of her work  here . Other interviews on this blog are available  here . Philip Hartigan: What medium/media do you chiefly use, and why? Anna Wetzel Artz : I move back and forth between painting and drawing, mostly acrylic on panel and ink or colored pencil on paper. I’m interested in creating layers of expressive marks that evoke natural textures and landscapes, and appreciate materials that dry quickly and allow me to attend to several pieces simultaneously. I also create out of my home studio, working around teaching and parenting roles, so it helps to have ...