Meet The Maker: Andrea Wisnewski

I'm Andrea Wisnewski, an illustrator & printmaker who lives with my husband and two dogs in rural Connecticut. I love collecting things that inspire me. On a walk through the woods it may be a pretty leaf or a particularly nice acorn. On a stroll through the local flea market it could be almost anything ~ buttons, trims, a beautiful plate or cup. I’m a bit of a magpie and I enjoy surrounding myself with interesting objects. The patterns, details, bits & bobs all end up inspiring my work. I have worked in many different media during my career but have always come back to printmaking.

Describe your printmaking process.

When I get an idea for a print it starts with a sketch. I make a small thumbnail size drawings, very rough in my sketchbook. When it is refined enough I move to working on vellum in pencil, not adding too many details because that will happen during the carving process. The sketch is transferred in reverse onto the linoleum~ I use the harder battleship kind. Sometimes starting to carve can be a bit intimidating so I start with with an easy area to warm up. I carve the linoleum unmounted but when I’m ready to print it gets mounted on a type high block. My press is an etching style one that was hand built by my woodworker husband Chris.  I use oil based inks when printing, mostly because they dry quickly but also the ink will be waterproof so I can watercolor my prints after. The paper I use is Somerset Satin which takes ink and hold up to watercoloring well.

How and where did you learn to print?

I studied printmaking at The University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. I took studio classes in relief printing, etching and lithography.

Why printmaking?

I have always been drawn to the graphic quality of woodcuts and linocuts. When I was a young girl I saw woodcuts by Vermont artist Mary Azarian. I fell in love with her medieval style and her country life depictions. I wanted to create my own work that way. 

Where do you work?

My studio is pretty much all over our house! I do most of my design, drawing and carving at a cluttered desk in the library. My press and printing area is in a large room with lots of lovely natural light and views into the garden.

Describe a typical day in your studio.

Most mornings are spent either drawing or carving linocuts. I take a break to walk the dogs on the wooded trails around our home. Work resumes in the afternoon, filling orders if need be or printing. It is a loose schedule and if I need to do a bit of gardening or shopping I do. I’ll get back to work in the evening hours and do what needs doing.

How long have you been printmaking? 

Gosh, a long time! I started doing linocuts as illustrations back in 1990. I also worked in paper cut for many years, combining paper cuts and printmaking. I cut my black and white line work from paper and then had a plate made. It was then printed on my press and the resulting print was hand colored. I moved back to just using linocuts in 2010.

What inspires you?

I am most inspired by nature; flowers, plants, animals and the landscape. I was lucky to grow up surrounded by fields, farms and woods. We also lived for a time by the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. My siblings and I were allowed to wander and play around this tidewater farm all day. It was a time that really sparked my imagination.  I also loved patterns, which I think came from spending hours with my mother in fabric stores. Walking through all those rows upon rows of colors and patterned fabrics left quite an impression!

What is your favorite printmaking product?

Papers of all kinds! Favorite carving tools are the Swiss made Pheil and the micro carving tools by Flexcut. My favorite ink is Gamblins’ Prussian Blue.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my linocuts on felt ornaments. It is a technique that I taught myself and it took a lot of experimenting to perfect. 

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

You can find my work in my online shop!

What will we be seeing from you next? 

I always enjoy making useful items for the home so I hope to create more things printed on fabrics like pillows, tea towels and more ornaments. Maybe even a wallpaper.

Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?

Just follow your heart and do what gives you joy and it will surely bring joy to others. Try not to be hard on yourself if you don’t have instant success. Finding a style that expresses who you are and how you experience the world around you takes time!

To see more of Andrea, follow her on Instagram!