Meet the Maker: Andrea Brown

Hello! My name is Andrea and I am a printmaker from Plymouth in Devon. Plymouth is a coastal city in the southwest of the UK, but also neighbours the beautiful Dartmoor. I live with my husband and 2 sons. During the day I work as a Speech and Language Therapist, but in my free time I love to create linocut prints.

Describe your printmaking process.

I start by sketching initial ideas, then I research these ideas in more detail, typically on the internet as it's difficult to get close to whales and sharks! When I was designing my ‘Whale circle’ print, I researched all the different varieties of whales and spent a lot of time sketching and planning how they could be combined to make a well balanced print - this involves lots of trial and error! When I have completed a design (on tracing paper), I transfer it onto lino - I don’t always include every detail in my drawing, just the general idea of where each object/animal will be, I like to add the detail afterwards, such as patterns and texture of animal skin or shell. After I have carved the design into the lino, I do a test print, then I can decide which changes need to be done before a print run.

How and where did you learn to print?

I began printmaking in 2020. I was given an Essdee linoprint starter kit for Christmas 2019 so in January 2020 I thought I would give it a try. I had a great time experimenting with the kit and made a few prints. During the first Covid Lockdown I was made redundant from my day job (Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist), so suddenly I had a lot of time on my hands (in between homeschooling!), so I was able to dedicate more time to printmaking - which I absolutely loved!

Why printmaking?

I have always loved printmaking, one of my earliest memories as a child is potato printing with my Mum. It’s such a magical process, from start to finish. You start with an idea, sketch it on paper, transfer it onto lino, carefully carve it (which is such a wonderfully mindful process in itself), ink the block and then print it - every time I peel back the paper it's like magic! I find printmaking very relaxing so it’s a wonderful way to unwind after a busy day at work.

Where do you work?

I print at home in my utility room or at my dining room table - which illustrates that you don’t always need lots of space to get printing! I have made the most of the space I have got, with space saving driers, shelving and plenty of storage drawers and boxes.

Describe a typical day in your studio.

A typical day in my studio (or utility room!) would involve me first packing away prints which have dried on my wall mounted drier. Then I will either spend time carving and printing new designs or topping up stocks of cards and original prints for my Etsy shop or stockists. My day is supposed to end with a big clean up, but I must confess, sometimes my clean up isn't as thorough as it should be…

How long have you been printmaking?

I have been print making for nearly 6 years now. I feel I have changed my style during this time and I have learnt a lot about the process.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the world around me. Living in a coastal city, I can't help but love the sea and the creatures that live in it. I love swimming in the sea, paddle boarding on it, the smell of it, collecting treasures from it (shells, sea glass, driftwood and seaweed) and just looking at it - it is so beautiful, even on stormy days. So unsurprisingly, lots of my work is related to the ocean. Some fantastical ideas also pop into my head too, like a hot air balloon hitchhiking octopus or an underwater rock band!

What is your favourite printmaking product?

Good quality ink and rollers were a game changer for me! When I first started using Cranfield inks and Speedball rollers I could see a difference straightaway. I would love to try some other inks and rollers though to see if they would make a difference to the printmaking process and overall results!

What have you made that you are most proud of?

I have completed a couple of pieces of work that I am particularly proud of - the first one is my Circle of Life series, where I have researched different species of ocean creatures, such as whales, turtles and sharks, and composed them harmously in a circular shape. The second piece of work I am most proud of is my Ocean Alphabet - for this project I researched sea creatures which begin with each letter of the alphabet and then incorporated them into the form of the letter they begin with. Some letters were overflowing with creatures, for example, m is for manatee, mackerel, Mahi mahi, mantis shrimp, moray eel, monk fish, mud skipper and Mulloway fish, whereas the letter x was more difficult!

Where can we see your work? Where do you sell?

I sell my prints in a few shops in the Southwest and also on Etsy. I put a lot of my process pictures and end results on Facebook and Instagram so people can see how designs are created, it’s a lovely way to connect with people.

What will we be seeing from you next?

Currently I am experimenting with making paper - which is a fun process to do. I try to recycle materials as much as possible - it's a shame to throw away paper scraps when they can easily be repurposed. I am also designing sea creatures which when viewed from afar look as they are supposed to, but up close reveal that they are made from different objects, such as a turtle made from different seashells. I am looking forward to creating more sea creatures this way. I will be continuing to design art featuring sea creatures and people enjoying the ocean, such as sea swimmers and paddleboarders!

Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?

If anyone were to ask me for any advice about getting creative, I would just say ‘give it a try!’ Try different techniques, don't worry about getting things ‘wrong’ - you might discover a new way of making something! Create things you love, someone else might love them too. I have found the creative community to be really supportive, so don’t worry about sharing your art with other people, someone out there will love it!