Featured Artist Irene Yesley

Artist Irene Yesley’s abstract monotype prints highlight cutout shapes and underlying patterns. Learn more about this artist by visiting her website.

 

 

This series with cutout openings began when I was inspired by another artist’s painting. As I began working with this new idea, my approach grew and changed until, at some point, it would be difficult to trace the thread back to the original inspiration.

 

 

The piece from which I took my initial inspiration was a pattern that looked like a lot of layers with little holes peeking through to a lower layer. Based on this idea, I decided to make a three-dimensional monotype piece using two layers of paper.

 

 

On the top layer, I cut out two sides of little triangles and bent the third side back to reveal another pattern on the bottom layer. After making a few pieces this way, I found I liked it better if I cut out and removed the entire triangle.

 

 

Then I began experimenting by cutting out larger areas on the top layer. The cut out shapes grew in size from small triangles to wide lines. I am continuing on this path, cutting out different shapes, big and small.

 

 

I had no idea when I started with this three-dimensional thought, where it would take me. To me, the important part of my art—ideas—only come to me when I am working. I don’t get my ideas by sitting and thinking about what kind of piece to make. In other words, I have to use my hands, the materials and my eyes to make progress.

 

 

Sometimes I wonder why I like hard edges. I did my MFA in printmaking—mainly woodcut. Lines made in woodcuts have hard edges with no atmospheric brush work. Did this concentration on woodcut shape my ideas, or did I like it because I felt more successful with hard edges?

 

 

Another question I ask myself is why do I prefer working in a square format? One answer might be that I like balance and equilibrium. Another answer is that perhaps it gives me a feeling of being organized.

 

 

The shapes I use inside the square format are usually not squares. I like to use diagonal lines which, to me, show movement. I find curved lines more emotionally interesting than straight lines.

 

 

Previous to making cutout shapes on monotypes, I have basically used the same idea when working on two layers of plexi, leaving empty spaces on the top layer so the bottom layer shows through. This work on plexi preceded the cutout pieces on printmaking paper.

 

 

People occasionally tell me my work keeps changing; however, it’s my ideas that are actually progressing linearly even though the medium I am using may change.

 

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