Materials, process, and manipulation.
These three elements are the foundation of my work as a printmaker and encaustic painter. The rich black lines, textures and tactile responses of the printmaking process have inspired me since I first discovered printmaking in college. I found that I could experiment, playing with the materials and challenging myself in ways that other art mediums did not offer me.
I approach both printmaking and encaustics in a similar manner. Imagery is created through the development of many layers in an additive and subtractive way. I find the possibilities for both mediums are endless. I love the often-unexpected outcomes in each and working them into the final image.
My collage work is a natural outgrowth of my printmaking. When creating a collage, I cut prints apart and then put them back together in a whole new way. I look at shapes, colors and space while deconstructing an image. Creating the collage then becomes an additive process of reconstruction.
My work is greatly influenced by my instinctual responses to my art materials and chosen mediums. I am inspired by nature – its organic lines, shapes, forms and movements. Atmospheric changes in color and light and the resulting patterns and shadows they create are a rich source of subject matter for me.
Over the past few years my work has become figurative based on drawings and photos of my family. This a return to my roots as an art student at Boston University which was a figure based program. Since graduating 40 years ago my work has come full circle. Aging and Covid is now influencing my choice of subject matter in ways I would never have expected.
All images copyright © Felicia Touhey 2023
These three elements are the foundation of my work as a printmaker and encaustic painter. The rich black lines, textures and tactile responses of the printmaking process have inspired me since I first discovered printmaking in college. I found that I could experiment, playing with the materials and challenging myself in ways that other art mediums did not offer me.
I approach both printmaking and encaustics in a similar manner. Imagery is created through the development of many layers in an additive and subtractive way. I find the possibilities for both mediums are endless. I love the often-unexpected outcomes in each and working them into the final image.
My collage work is a natural outgrowth of my printmaking. When creating a collage, I cut prints apart and then put them back together in a whole new way. I look at shapes, colors and space while deconstructing an image. Creating the collage then becomes an additive process of reconstruction.
My work is greatly influenced by my instinctual responses to my art materials and chosen mediums. I am inspired by nature – its organic lines, shapes, forms and movements. Atmospheric changes in color and light and the resulting patterns and shadows they create are a rich source of subject matter for me.
Over the past few years my work has become figurative based on drawings and photos of my family. This a return to my roots as an art student at Boston University which was a figure based program. Since graduating 40 years ago my work has come full circle. Aging and Covid is now influencing my choice of subject matter in ways I would never have expected.
All images copyright © Felicia Touhey 2023
