MOLLY RUSSELL
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The process &
​works in progress

Doorway In Rennes

There are many things that I inherited from my mother and one was an unnatural obsession for doorways. My senior year of high school, we took a trip to France together along with my sister and grandma. I remember vividly my mother stopping to take a picture of every doorway we saw. Some were intricately detailed, some were a vibrant color, and some were the exact opposite - antique and well worn down. It didn't matter. She stopped to appreciate each one. 

This cut is based off a doorway that I came across in Rennes, France while studying there 3 years after I that visit to the country with my mother. I thought of my mother as I took the picture of this beautiful teal door and hope to successfully convey its beauty into a print. 


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Peak

This cut is based off a picture that I took on the top of a failed hike. I call it a "failed hike" because my friend and I made our way up a mountain thinking that our final destination would be a beautiful, clear lake. However, when we reached what was suppose to be our destination, there was nothing - nothing but snow and more upwards climbing. We continued to climb for another half hour before we decided to cut our losses and head back down. 

Before we left I snapped this picture, of just the peak of a mountain, creeping out from behind a mass of foggy, thin clouds. It was quite the conciliation prize.  

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SENIOR CAPSTONE

FINISHED!
The final versions of all three will be shown at PLU's Senior Showcase in the University Gallery
Opening reception: April 25th, 2018  |  5:00 p.m.

Growth
“Whatever happens to you belongs to you. Make it yours. Feed it to yourself even if it feels impossible to swallow. Let it nurture you, because it will.” –Cheryl Strayed 
 
Art has and always will be a powerful outlet to share our stories with others. Stories that have impacted our lives and deserve to be told. Perhaps most important, are the stories of struggle and loss, because these are also the stories that provide the most room for growth. 
In this series of prints, I aim to communicate three personal experiences of growth while marrying image and text. Our ability to connect with others is an essential part of the human experience, which is why this series explores several different languages in addition to image. When we are free to connect with others regardless of culture or spoken tongue, we are able to see how truly alike we are. 
This year-long project has provided many challenges which have helped me develop my style and skill as an artist, while also allowing me to discover my strength and my voice as a woman. One that I intend to use to convey messages of empowerment and hope through each piece that I create.

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My current works in progress is my senior culminating project. ​I have designed a series of three broadsides and will print 20 editions of each using a few different printmaking techniques – linocuts, chine colle, and letterpress printing.


The series will be a narrative on personal growth inspired by three impactful moments from my life that have provided both challenge and have lead to growth in some way. Each moment will be represented by a different anatomical part (as a symbol of moment itself - how it affected me and made me feel) and also by a flower or plant (as a symbol of my growth from these experiences). Flowers, much like art, have the ability to speak for us and to express our feelings to others without using words because of the historic, symbolic properties associated with them. The Language of Flowers, by Kate Greenaway provides a list of these plants and flowers which I will be using for this project.

​As of now, I have designed and completed detailed sketches of all three prints and have also finished carving the first linoleum block.


                                         November 29, 2017

UPDATE: I have now completed carving all three of the linocuts. I have also proofed  them and have started making the necessary edits.
My prints will also contain a text element, which I have attempted to compose as a sort of poetic narrative on each significant event. I have started experimenting with this text and how I want to display it on my piece. I have decided to screen print handwritten text as the background of each piece. Each screen print will cover the entire paper (14x20) using a fairly transparent ink  I also still plan to print an excerpt of each text piece translated into French in one of the corners, using metal type and overlapping the background text. 

                                            February 28, 2018
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Proofing the cuts
Above: Individual cuts
Below: A proof of the heart cut printed on top of a watercolored proof of the hand lettered background with an example of the possible Japanese tissue for the chine coll
é printed element. I will perform the same techniques on all three pieces.
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Screen Printing
I decided that the best way to print the handwritten background that I had been planning would be to screen print them. I will be hand painting each text onto a large piece of plastic which I will then be able to burn into a screen. 

The color of ink I plan to us will be very transparent and fairly warm to provide a nice contrast to the black overlaid print.

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OTHER

Amsterdam                                     12 x 24 in
Linocut


This piece was inspired by a photograph I took while wandering the streets of Amsterdam during the fall of last year. I was inspired by the beautiful and unique architecture lining each and every street in this lively city. 

As with all my prints I began with a small, rough sketch which I then enlarged and transferred onto the linoleum block. My plan is to print in one color and to hand color the tree to add a pop of color, to create a focal 
point, and to add a bit of depth to the print. 


UPDATE: The final version of this print is included on my printmaking "works" page
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Peony
Linocut

I have so far used this linocut in a calendar page of a collaborative project, which you can see on my Letterpress Printing page. I also plan to use it in another print, but have yet to decide exactly how, which is why I consider it to still be a work in progress.
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Influences.

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Gail Kellett
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Di Oliver
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  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Graphic Design >
      • Invitations
      • Neighborhood Clinic
      • The Other Country: The Thea Foss Story
      • PLU Residential Life
      • Mary's Peak
      • Posters
    • Printmaking >
      • Senior Capstone
    • Letterpress Printing >
      • Elliott Press
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  • Contact