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Rachel Osborn – Artist Statement
“Art is the signature of civilizations.” – Beverly Sills, American opera singer.
As a water lawyer, my job was to defend the rivers and aquifers of the Northwest. Now retired from the law (thankfully!) the art I make is largely self-taught, with the help of generous advice from Vashon and Seattle master printmakers. I am particularly grateful to be a part of the Quartermaster Press studio collective.
I am absorbed by patterns and silhouettes found in nature. Vegetation/detritus from my garden, or from travels beyond the Northwest, often serve as stencils for monotype prints, with a focus on strong color. The process of making monotype prints can be random and improvisational. This makes an ideal mirror for the natural world, not to mention my own undisciplined but enthusiastic efforts in the studio.
In addition to spontaneous printmaking, my “Climate Crisis” series responds to the drastic environmental changes now developing across the planet. And a new series – “Cosmos” – explores the extraordinary imagery of the historic universe, beaming back daily from the Hubble and Webb space telescopes.
Rachel’s works are at Quartermaster Press, stop #25, on the 2022 VIVA Holiday Art Studio Tour, Dec 3-4 & 10-11, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 am – 4 pm. For more information on the free, self-guided tour and an interactive map, click here.
