Elaine van Dyk

I had a bit of spare time today so I thought I’d go through the artworks in my most favourite group of all time, “Printmakers & Printmaking”. It never ceases to amaze me what fantastic art there is in our world, and this small group of printmakers is no exception. There are only 15 pages of works posted, but what an exciting 15 pages they are! Printmaking doesn’t seem to be all that popular with those viewing artworks on RedBubble, and it seems these works are rarely on the feature pages alongside the bright and glorious digital artworks and photography, or drawings, which is a major pity because printmaking can produce really unique results. Printmaking requires a different set of skills and more often than not produces effects that artists would be hard-pressed to get (if at all) in other forms of artwork. Printmakers often work in black or monochrome, so perhaps this is what makes them less interesting to others – I don’t know.

After leaving a few comments on some of the works I particularly admired, I received a response from BillyLee. In her response regarding Sierra Woman she said it is not often people comment on black and white prints. I have noticed the same thing. Yet her’s was a very beautiful work of art that would have taken a great deal of time and effort to create. The detail she managed to carve into a woodblock, and the skill required to achieve such a relaxed and tranquil setting, is amazing. There are others in this group, equally brilliant. So I would love whoever reads this journal to take a trip into the Printmakers & Printmaking group and to give them all the credit they deserve.

Most of all, I would love to see the guru’s of RedBubble making some special effort to recognise and promote this unique band of artists. How about a feature page of printmakers’ works? How fantastic would that be!