Residency Wrap Up

This summer has been a dream as a Resident at the Prairie Center of the Arts in Peoria, Illinois. In many ways I’ve been able to marry who I am as an artist and who I am as a designer through the screen printing process. And I cannot believe I have just a few short days left here. 

Creating and making for two straight months has proven to be a giant success and a failure all at once. The expectations were high to come out with a body of work, but the work has been too internal to show on the outside. 

I have learned about myself, as an artist, as a designer, more than I ever anticipated. And know that this residency will have a lasting impact on my work moving forward. 

Designing intentionally with layers, I had not thought through carefully before. Thus, after my first attempt screen printing — these coffee cups — I would have considered taking a different route. 

Inspired by the 70’s and their textile patterns I dreamed up some pears and Brown Eyed Susans. 

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I printed a million of these on an over-exposed (which was accidental) screen. 

To my dear artist and designer friends out there, if ever you get the opportunity to do a residency do it. Even if you don’t have a plan. Or leave with a body of mature work. The toil. The staring at blank walls. The processing. It’a all worth it. 

And a again. A huge, HUGE thank you to my friends at Prairie Center of the Arts.