Today's interview is with Printmaker, Marilyn Syme. Since graduating from Oklahoma State University with degrees in Art and Clothing, Textiles and Merchandising, Marilyn has pursued a career that encompassed both. Marilyn's career in art has spanned forty years with many awards and much recognition in national publications. Retiring from her business, led to a new career studying different styles of printmaking. The year 2008, found her studying woodcuts in Tuscany, Italy with Sabra Field and Marie Weaver. The technique studied was the traditional Japanese multi block woodcut. She has had the great opportunity to study with Kathryn Smith the granddaughter of Ferol Sibley Warthen, one of the accomplished early Whiteline Printmakers. Additional study was a private Master's Class with Bill Evaul helping solidify her skill and master this American technique.
MLAC: Please tell us about Whiteline Printmaking.
MS: Whiteline Printmaking got its name from the white line that appears when the prints are completed. The Whiteline Woodblock is also known as a "Provincetown Print" because it was started in Provincetown, Massachusetts by a group of seven artists. This true American art form started in 1915. It utilizes one block of wood to create the image with V cuts into the wood to separate the color areas. The watercolors or printing inks are brushed on the wood plate. Around every single color there's a white line created from the V cuts. Sometimes you will see the grain of the wood carry through.
MLAC: What is your technique for creating each original piece?
MS: To find my ideas and inspiration...I sort of run into them. I just live and then all of a sudden ...there's an image in front of me. I sometimes photograph them or sometimes I sketch them. I look at the grain of the wood first before I start cutting. I use Bass Wood because it's a bit harder than pine and the grain is tighter. I do a small area at a time because the paint drys quickly. Each printing requires a complete repainting of the plate. This means each print is an individual with no two being exactly the same. I only do up to ten pieces per woodcut...so there are ten and under of each print which makes them more valuable and special. Traditionally the watercolor is transferred to the paper by rubbing with the back of a spoon. I have developed my own approach to this technique...painting with printing inks, dampened paper and a printing press which embosses the image. Because each print is unique, they are marked with consecutive numbers with the title and signed editions remain small.
For more information, go online to msyme.net. To contact Marilyn Syme by email: paperjds@aol.com and by phone: 802-763-7777. Studio and Gallery are by appointment in North Pomfret, Vermont.
