Lizzie Mabley recently won the Jackson’s Art Supplies Twitter competition to find an image for our campaign to get get more people making their own linocut print Christmas cards.
Lizzie is a printmaker who not only creates flat relief print images, but she also uses her printmaking abilities to handprint fabrics for clothing, bags and decorations. After we learned of her victory we wanted to get to know a little more about Lizzie Mabley’s art work and her inspired garden studio, the Blue Shed.
Lisa: Can you tell us a bit about your winning entry to the competition?
Lizzie: I always like to make my own Christmas cards, there is something lovely about receiving a handmade card. This year my designs are influenced by the Scandinavian folk style, which I really love. I chose to print them all in red because it ties them all together and nicely simplifies the bold shapes.
Lisa: What is your artistic background?
Lizzie: I have always been crafty; as a child I was always making things. My Mother is a garden designer so the drawing, shapes and colour involved in that had a strong influence on me. I have always loved pattern and look for it everywhere. My children tease me when I take photos of railings and tiles! Attention to detail is important to me and I always like to make things look pretty. I graduated in 1998 with a BA(HONS) in Textile Design and Surface Decoration, and I am delighted to be doing exactly that now, after a long gap bringing up my two children.
Lisa: What is the process from idea to finished product for one of your pieces of work?
Lizzie: I start with my sketch book, I think this it is very important to keep drawing. All my ideas get scribbled down, either in lists or sketches. When I have a finished design, I trace it and transfer it to lino. I find cutting the lino very therapeutic and quite addictive! When it is done, I always print a proof immediately, I usually can’t wait to see how it has turned out. The lino can then be tweaked if needed before either printing onto paper, cards or fabric. I sometimes transfer the design onto a silk screen too by printing onto acetate and exposing it on to a screen coated with photo emulsion. This is useful if the design is going to be used to print lots of bags and tea towels for example.
Lisa: What is the most frustrating thing about being a printmaker?
Lizzie: Waiting for ink to dry!
Lisa: …and the best thing?
Lizzie: The satisfaction of being able to create lots of prints in a ‘low tech’, computer free way. Being a lover of pattern nothing pleases me more than to see a line full of drying prints.
Lisa: Where do you find your ideas?
Lizzie: All around me, much of my work is influenced by nature. I am a keen gardener and love growing flowers and veg. Happily my studio (the blue shed) is at the top of my garden so I have a great view! My family always give me ideas too and some of my prints were originally for them – ‘I love my bike’ and ‘I am a cat who likes to sing and dance!’
I am really enjoying Twitter and have connected with many other printmakers. It is fascinating to see what other people are doing. When I began lino printing I had no idea there were so many of us!
Lisa: What are your top 3 art materials (medium and brand)
Lizzie: Permaset Aqua fabric printing medium for screen printing and lino printing on fabric.
Caligo Safewash Relief printing ink for lino printing on paper.
Speedball photo emulsion kit for screen printing.
Lisa: Do you ever create work in other media?
Lizzie: In the past I have done mixed media work and machine embroidery. I will try my hand at anything really, but predominantly print at the moment. I need more hours in the day!
Lisa: What are your creative hopes for 2015?
Lizzie: This year I have held several successful workshops, it is fun passing on the skills and also great to see what ideas other people have, I would like to do more workshops in 2015.
I would love to increase my online sales, being a lover of ink and paint, sitting at the computer is always my last priority, but I will need to overcome this!
I also need a bigger Blue Shed so I can do more printing!
Lisa: Where can we see more of your work (online or in the flesh?)
Lizzie: My Blue Shed has a shop on folksy www.myblueshed.folksy.com
You can also follow me on facebook and twitter @myblueshed
If you live near Stroud, you can see my work in the ‘Made In Stroud’ shop, I also have a stall at Stroud farmers Market once a month.
If you live near Wantage, Oxfordshire, the Dolphin Art Gallery stocks selected prints.
