About me
My name is China and I am a Printmaker and Illustrator based in Pittsburgh, PA.
I graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a BFA in Illustration in 2014. Upon graduation I enrolled in an extension course at City College of SF and learned various printmaking techniques, including intaglio etching and relief linocut printmaking.
I gravitated towards linocut printmaking and never turned back. At one point I tried focusing on digital Illustration, but didn’t experience the same satisfaction and meditative state as hand carving a linoleum block. It’s a time intensive process, with a gratifying feeling when the print is complete.
My work is often inspired by my experiences in nature; Mostly Animals, landscapes and florals. I grew up in Hawaii and a lot of my work is inspired by ocean life and tropical fauna. I enjoy using dramatic color palettes that include dark colors that contrast with bright colors. I am also interested in the symbolic meaning of animals and connecting them with our lived experiences.
When I'm not drawing you can find me jamming on my electric guitar, reading, or enjoying nature.
Process
My process involves first drawing an image and then transferring it to a linoleum block (A hard rubber surface traditionally used for flooring).
After an image is transferred then I will carve away the block and apply ink to the surface with an ink roller. Once the ink is applied, I set down the paper and roll it through an etching press. The parts of the image that are raised show the ink and the carved areas show the layer or paper tone underneath.
The multi-color prints that you see are either made from one block using a reductive process where the block is carved away after each layer is printed, leaving the block completely carved away at the end. I will also carve multiple blocks for my 2-3 color layer prints and layer them on top of each other.
All my prints are printed on %100 cotton rag paper, with non-toxic oil-based printmaking inks.