Block Prints
These are are linoleum block prints that are created by hand. I carve a block, roll ink onto it with a roller, lay paper on top of it, and print on a proof press or a treadle-operated 1909 Chandler and Price. Since each is a separate work of art, there is a little variation of texture in each print. All of these prints are limited editions, numbered and signed from me (paypal or venmo) or in my online store.
Faulkner's Trees
These prints are all trees from William Faulkner's home of Rowan Oak in Oxford, Mississippi. They are on display there in the museum until January 2025. Faulkner was a farmer and conservationist as well as a writer, buying and preserving thirty three acres of land for future generations. These trees are both around the house, which is featured in one pair of prints, next to other outbuildings, or along the trail through Bailey Woods that leads to the university art museum. I also typeset a short artist statement for the exhibition using Parsons 30 point metal type and printed an edition of 10.
These prints are all trees from William Faulkner's home of Rowan Oak in Oxford, Mississippi. They are on display there in the museum until January 2025. Faulkner was a farmer and conservationist as well as a writer, buying and preserving thirty three acres of land for future generations. These trees are both around the house, which is featured in one pair of prints, next to other outbuildings, or along the trail through Bailey Woods that leads to the university art museum. I also typeset a short artist statement for the exhibition using Parsons 30 point metal type and printed an edition of 10.
Hints of Gladness
These prints were on display at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, in 2022. The museum is one of my favorite places, and it was a true honor to have my work in their galleries. I did a mix of landscapes for this show, some from around Memphis, some from Washington State, where I spend a good bit of time, and several from the Gulf Coast to honor Anderson's own landscape and legacy. There is an exhibition catalog called Hints of Gladness with all these prints also available.
My Own Places
Prints from my first solo museum show at Dixon Gallery and Gardens in 2015, which was a career moment for me. It's titled after John Constable, who wrote, "Still I should paint my own places best; painting is with me but another word for feeling, and I associate 'my careless boyhood' with all that lies on the banks of the Stour; those scenes made me a painter, and I am grateful."
His practices of painting outdoors, doing sky studies, and painting the landscape of his home instead of painting the grand scenery that was more in vogue at the time have greatly influenced my own practices as an artist. This show was a mix of oils and prints that reflected the places most central to my life and art: primarily my family's farm, where I first began painting, and Overton Park, where I walk daily and paint often.
You can see a video of me talking about this show and my own practices that the museum filmed as an exhibition tour if you'd like know more about my daily work.
WPA style places
I love all the National Park posters done by artists in the 1930's as part of the WPA, so I decided to do smaller places that I love, giving them the same artistic importance. These prints were some of my first multi block prints with separate layers of color after a few years of honing my carving skills with simple black and white prints.
I love all the National Park posters done by artists in the 1930's as part of the WPA, so I decided to do smaller places that I love, giving them the same artistic importance. These prints were some of my first multi block prints with separate layers of color after a few years of honing my carving skills with simple black and white prints.
Figures
After I lost my last dog I went looking for a snuggly dog (priority number one) and a black and white one (if possible). Black and white dogs were made to be printmaker's muses, and Henry obliges beautifully. I also occasionally do portraits of people, usually musicians or dancers.
England
These are linoleum block prints created by hand from sketches done on site during a trip to England. Since each is a separate work of art, there is a little variation of texture in each print. I also printed on a variety of colors of paper for several of the scenes. All of these prints are limited editions of 30, numbered and signed. Most are on 11x15" paper, and the two long ones are 9x22".
Odds and Ends
I wasn't sure what to call this group. Most of my prints are landscapes, but I'm doing some carved and some letterpress (and some mixed) prints that don't fall easily into a traditional landscape or figure category.
Paris
These are linoleum block prints created by hand from sketches done on site when I visited Paris.
Letterpress Posters
Sometimes I find a quote I just want to make art from, and beautifully I have a collection of type to go with my proof press. These posters are typeset with vintage wood type, sometimes mixed with hand carved linoleum blocks, and printed on a Line-o-scribe proof press. 14x22".
The carving process:
Photos by Greg Campbell for FIX Magazine.
All artwork images © Martha Kelly -- All Rights Reserved
All artwork images © Martha Kelly -- All Rights Reserved