JUNE 2014

I’m now a graduate of Baylor University! And, surprisingly, adjusting to a new life of no school has been remarkably smooth. Graduating from an arts school is difficult because there aren’t any more strict deadlines; I am my own taskmaster now. I was leery of this new self-employment at first, but the transition has been pleasant.

After my BFA Senior Exhibition, painting has been put on a backburner. I had to paint two giant panels (4x8’) in less than a week, and I was exhausted. I love painting, but a break needed to happen. So, after graduation, I dived into several new projects I’ve wanted to get into for years.

One is papermaking. I have always found the art of

handmade paper to be an intriguing and mysterious process, and I’ve always wanted to be the complete creator and controller of my art. My ultimate goal is to make large sheets of paper from natural materials found on my land, and pull prints or paint on the sheets. My work is, in essence, an exploration of what agrarianism means to me. I am holistically connected to the land I inhabit, and I want my work to show this connection as much as I feel it. Having prints or paintings on papers formed by the actual land is an idea I am deeply attracted to, and I’m going to see it through. The picture to the right is of me and the sunflower stalks I had harvested the fiber from; soon I’ll be pulling a small post of sunflower paper!

And, while I don’t have my own printing press for intaglio or lithography, I’m exploring the art of woodcut. I have a limited grasp on the concept of woodcut, but I’ll get the hang of it. Printmaking is an integral part of me, just like painting; without one or the other I feel incomplete and lost. Pictured to the left is my current printing space: a glass slab fitted into my worktable. I had been working on a 5” block of grass patterns, and finally pulled my first proof print today! I still have more supplies to pick up before I can pull off a complete edition.

So I’ll do what I can, with what I have, which is a table in the basement, and 40 acres

of untilled earth. I’m on the lookout for grant money to help with renovating a barn into my ultimate studio & apartment, as well as raising funds for a press bed and better papermaking tools. And while I’m trying to find money to support my art, I’m attempting to find galleries that would be interested in supporting my work. My goal for this year is to create a strong portfolio, to be represented in a gallery, and to get into a few shows. If you have any ideas, please let me know. I’m excited for what’s ahead!

-Katelyn Adele