Lately, studio time has been scarce, and my attempts to keep things tidy for the Surrey Artist Open Studios have been…well, let’s say “creative chaos.” As a notoriously messy worker, I have a talent for leaving inky fingerprints and clutter on every surface. Yet, paradoxically, I can’t start a project unless my workspace is spotless. So, this forced tidying for Open Studio days has been both a struggle and a blessing.
Welcoming visitors, both new and returning, has been a delight. It gave me a chance to showcase new pieces and demonstrate my lovely “Little Thumper” press, which fits perfectly into my cozy studio. It also pushed me to dig out some of my older mezzotint plates and revisit editions I hadn’t printed in a while.
With time being so precious, it’s tempting to jump straight into new projects—especially when spring and summer are in full bloom. How can I not get distracted by every bird, blossom, and buzzing bee? But taking a step back to revisit my older plates has been refreshing.
I usually ink just a few plates at a time to replenish editions as they sell. This method allows me to approach each plate with fresh eyes, experimenting with variable editions using different colours. Sometimes, I use the double-drop method to layer one colour over another for added depth. Other times, I go for “A la poupee,” carefully applying multiple colours directly to the plate. It’s like a dance, inking each part separately to create a harmonious whole.
This time around, I found myself captivated by watching these prints come to life with the rich green-black Ironbridge ink. I’m a bit obsessed with this ink—I can waffle on about it endlessly to anyone who’ll listen! There’s something so satisfying about pulling those prints through the Gunning press and watching them pile up. Pure bliss.
This journey back through my older work has sparked new inspiration. I can now see how these subjects can evolve, how I might experiment with composition, and explore other intaglio techniques. But now that I’ve had my nostalgic fix, it’s time to get back to the present. Summer is calling, with bees and butterflies aplenty, ready to be captured by my camera and sketched for the next creative adventure.
Stefanie Smith
Painter & Printmaker
You will find me in the woods, listening for birds and looking for the tiny details that each season has to offer, often with a sketchbook in hand.
Born in London and raised in Hertfordshire, I graduated from the University of Hertfordshire in 2000 with a degree in Applied & Media Art and the following year trained to be an Art and Design teacher, specialising in printmaking.
Now settled in Surrey, my work, inspired by beautiful local surroundings, often starts in paint but finishes in various printmaking techniques – particularly mezzotint and collagraph.
I exhibit with Surrey Artists and have been included in the V&A, London ‘Inspired By’ exhibition and New Designers in Islington, London. More recently, I have exhibited with Ironbridge Fine Arts as part of their Printmakers exhibition 2023.
