Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a new podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.
Episode Notes:
In this fourth episode I chat with Emma Jones of Wee Blue Press. Emma is a Scottish printmaker and painter from Berwickshire. We begin with how she started off with a history degree that led her to web and graphic design back in the 90’s. During that time she started drawing more by illustrating and writing stories for her kids. Then eight years ago she received a lino print kit - and things really moved on from there.
We also discuss what it means to be self-taught and finding confidence in what we do as artists. And although we don’t talk about this here, shortly after this episode was recorded I heard the phrase “living master’s programme” and I loved it. It’s about all the courses we do that are the equivalent to doing a master’s programme, but these courses are specific to our needs and wants - rather than governed by an institution. Learning as an artist is much, much wider than the academic world and never ends!
Then we chat about the joys of printmaking, imperfection and starting a creative business. Plus we talk about exploring a wide variety of subject matter and techniques rather than sticking with any one subject or way of doing things. Plus the freedom of painting and how it’s now also informing Emma’s printmaking.
We discuss “feeding the beast”, social media, inspiration and how the outdoors and sea are at the heart of Emma’s work. Plus the wiggly path that we all go down while creating.
We wrap up with Emma chatting about drawing and snorkelling in the sea while sketching! Plus giving up her part-time job and moving full-time as an artist which includes running art and printmaking workshops.
To find out more about Emma’’s beautiful prints and paintings, her courses, and upcoming fairs, click the links below:
Website:
On Insta:
@weebluepress - https://www.instagram.com/weebluepress/
Also with big thanks:
This episode has been made possible with funding from the Arts Council England as part of a DYCP grant I received.