Julie Sola
www.fatcrowpress.etsy.com
www.fatcrowpress.com
My interest in printmaking was originally sparked when a friend showed me some of her wood cut prints. Since finding the medium, I have continued to explore the creative options available in printmaking and have taken a few classes from local printmakers. I find printmaking to be the most successful way for me to express my ideas. My ideas first take shape in a sketch. Once my drawing is fully developed, I transfer it to linoleum where the drawing goes through changes as I carve it. At this stage I am able to edit the drawing as I wish. Since I am working reductively, taking away linoleum to create white areas to make texture, shape and line, I am able to see my simple idea be transformed into something that looks totally different. I am very passionate about printmaking and I have not lost the excitement I get when I am pulling a print. You never exactly know how it is going to turn out once the ink is on the paper.
Drawing on early childhood memories of my grandparents and their Mexican culture and heritage, my work becomes a whimsical and positive interpretation of various periods of my own life. I am especially inspired by my own experiences working in animal husbandry and ranching. Many times in Mexican folklore animals were often used to teach right from wrong or to explain the current political events. This was one way to keep the rural population informed since many of them were illiterate. Animals often assume human characteristics in my work and I strive to create an open-ended narrative that allows my viewers to create their own story. In some of my current work I am writing and illustrating children's books. This is a wonderful new challenge that pushes me to look at my work from a different perspective.
FAT CROW PRESS STUDIO & MERCANTILE
I moved back to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2020 to be near my family, my husband and I bought a beautiful historic building built in 1900 in Las Vegas, NM. This is now home to my print shop, Fat Crow Press, it’s a bit of a commute but it is where I continue to carve and print my art and teach classes throughout the year.
Sola-Pretty Boy - Lino Cut - 8x24"
Spring Dance - Lino Cut - 14x24"
Crazy Ride - Lino Cut - 18x24"
2 Crows - Lino Cut - 24x24"
Spring Run - Lino Cut - 18x24"
Orange Poppies - Etching - 8x11"