In the first of a mini series of blogs introducing the Sonsoles Print Studio team, meet the wonderful Ann-Marie.
Describe your role at Sonsoles and other projects you’re working on:
I’m in at Sonsoles on Monday evenings, Fridays and Saturdays. I teach the introduction and basic/intermediate courses and am an open access technician the rest of the time. I pop my favourite apron on and help members print, fill lots of inkpots and clean lots of screens!
Away from the studio, I work in a photographers’ agency three days a week. Around all of this I try to make my own work, get my head around my Spanish learning (¡Dios mío!), cycle a lot and do my best to keep my house plants alive.
What got you into screenprinting?
My eyes were opened to the print world when I headed to Stafford College for my foundation course. We had incredible tutors there, and I remember feeling so at home in the print room. It all kicked off from there really, I loved the idea of building up to the final print and watching the progress from first pull to final layer.
What was your first work like?
I was doing a project about history and personal memories, so there were lots of screenprints of old family photographs and important historical events printed on little squares. I still have them and it’s very obvious that I was awful at registering!
Describe screenprinting in three words:
Incredibly (and) unexpectedly versatile.
What’s your number one screenprinting hack?
Can I have five?
Go on then.
1) Preparation is KEY (boring but so true…)
2) Mix more ink that you would expect to use. Always best to have excess to go back in the pot than run out of a specific colour half way through!
3) Most issues can be solved if you have parcel tape, newsprint and a hairdryer by your side
4) Don’t wear new clothes…
5) If textile ink is going a little bit clumpy, adding a little bit of table salt should get it running smoothly again. (Soni let me in on this little secret a couple of weeks ago!)
Who’s work are you loving at the moment?
In terms of screenprinting, I absolutely love the work of Ronny Hunger (Comet Substance) and Atelier Bingo. Their compositions and colours are always bang on.
I am an avid follower of Malin Gabrielle Nordin, who makes gorgeous collages with interesting shapes and textures.
Finally, I have the greatest respect for Vija Celmins, Agnes Martin and Christiane Baumgartner. There is a meticulousness and subtlety at the heart of all of their practices that really speaks to me, the idea of being able to make an impact without being brash.
And when you're not in the studio?
I’m berating myself for getting yet another new item of clothing covered in ink. I never learn!
Have a look at Ann-Marie’s work on her website
