Alice Rolfe prints onto textiles and paper. Here you can see her sporting one of her wonderful t-shirts. Read on to hear about her processes and life as a printmaker in Bristol....
Please
can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work…
What
sort of prints do you make?
I’m Alice Rolfe from Rolfe&Wills – a
Bristol based Print and Upholstery company. I screen print our designs on to
homewears, clothing, a variety of papers and fabric which Chloe Wills uses to
upholster furniture.
What
is your earliest recollection of making a print and what made you to want to do
more?
From the age of about 6 I did printing
workshops with family friends who were artists. We screen printed using stencils, and etched – taking the
plate out into the countryside or the beach and drawing what we saw. I fell in love with the process – each
step just as important as the last, and each step impacting the look your final
piece. It was so much fun, I was hooked!
What inspires you and are there any themes or ideas that often run through your work?
Primarily I’m interested in colour. I love layering and blending colours to
see what comes out. I use a lot of
fluorescent colours against a neutral back drop – it really pops out and
creates a bold statement. I like to let the colours do the work and keep the
designs simple.
Could you give us an insight into where you work – your studio/workspace and where you print?
Currently I print at Drawn in Bristol’s
space at Hamilton House. It’s been
absolutely fantastic, meeting fellow artists and keeping it affordable. I wouldn’t have been able to grow the
business with out it… But as the business has grown so fast in just over a
year, it’s time to move on and have my stock, printing table, and desk all in
one place, so I’m currently converting a garage in Easton into a studio
space. It’s a massive space and
therefore a massive project but I’m hoping to move in there by mid
September. I’ll miss the space at
Hamilton House, but I’ll be renting out spaces in the new studio, so hopefully
there will be a creative vibe there also.
The work of which other printmaker/s do you admire?
I’m always drawn to Lizzy Cox’s work, a
screen printer who lived in Somerset – her work is unique and some of the most
beautiful I’ve seen. She would take a printing kit out into the fields and
document the plants by printing onto them. I think about this a lot and am sure they will influence my
ideas in the future.
Printmaking
is made up of lots of different processes, which aspect do you enjoy the most?
Well, it’s got to be the big reveal! How
is it going to come out… It makes me nervous and excited every time – no wonder
I’m totally exhausted after a day of printing! It’s a very emotional process as
well as physical.
Can you share a little printing trick or secret with us?
Hummm well a lot of people ask me how to
get the blended technique – but I’m not sure I should tell you...? It’s
actually very simple, you just need all the colours on the screen at a time,
and a steady hand.
How would you like to develop your printmaking skills in the future?
I’m still at the very early stages of my
printing career – I don’t really consider myself as a professional printer yet
as I still have so much to learn.
Every time I print I learn something new, and I’ve probably only
mastered about two techniques out of about 300…. So it’s a life long thing
really. I guess I just want to get
better – more accurate – more experiential.
Which printed publication do you most look forward to thumbing through?
I have a few books ‘The Drawing Book’ by
Tania Kovats – my old tutor, and a book of ‘Rachel Whitereads Drawings’ are two
of my faves I love to brows through.
I have a slight wayward rout to a final idea – colourless drawings seem
to inspire my brightly coloured prints…????
Monochrome or multi-coloured?
For me… My prints – super multi coloured
all the way!
Thanks Alice, we love the colours you use and the range of products that your designs can be found on.
Alice Rolfe's work is currently featured in the second volume of The Print Shop, which runs until September 29th. If you can, please do pop by the shop to see all our printmakers' work for real... the computer images never really does their work justice!
The Print Shop
Unit 6
Quakers Friars
Cabot Circus
Bristol
BS1 3BU
Open Daily
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Sun 11am - 5pm
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