BugGirlArt

Printmaking since 1995, I have always used insects as my subject matter. They continue to fascinate and inspire me.

My work is not digital. The images are all hand-drawn (from life or photographs), hand-cut, and hand-printed.

What is hand-printed? It's not a poster or a copy. It means a block is individually inked, then a piece of paper is placed on the inked block, and by press or hand the ink is transferred to the paper. The printmaker then creates an edition of the work.

I often limit my series to 10 prints, with perhaps a few additional prints, proofs or variations. In fifteen years of printmaking, I've never made more than 20 of any one image... and I probably never will. It's much more fun and exciting to create new pieces than to reprint the old ones.

I graduated from the College of Charleston in 1996 with a degree in Studio Art, then again in 2001 with degrees in Biology and Anthropology. This led me to a Masters degree in Environmental Studies (also from the College) and finally a PhD in Governance and Sustainability from Universiteit Twente in the Netherlands.

Now I teach at the University of Hartford in Connecticut and write fiction with an environmental twist for middle grade and young adult audiences.

And it all began with my love of insects.

As a printmaker I've explored many different media. Though occasionally I may post a vintage item (made by me in my younger days), these days my home studio (no press, all hand-printing) allows only wood and linoleum block printing.

In my shop you'll find original hand-pulled prints featuring insects and the occasional arthropod.