Phoenixville, PA

I grew up in Conshohocken, exploring factory relics along the Schuylkill River. That interest in the ever-changing landscape has continued into my adult life. My work is influenced by the sociological shift in the communities that were originally built around industry and the remnants of places that no longer exist. I photograph buildings that are in some way imperfect, or have a humble, almost forgotten quality. Through the repetition of the printed image, these structures create an implied narrative and a metaphor for the human condition.

My work is a combination of painting, photography, and printmaking techniques. The process of making a print has always intrigued me: not only because of the immediacy of the medium, but also because it is that which remains when the plate or screen is removed. In this way, I think of my creative process as a meditation on the transient nature of reality.

WHY GILLIAN JOINED THE SPEEDBALL DEMO ARTIST PROGRAM

I am thrilled to partner with Speedball, because I use their products all the time in my own work, as well as in my classroom! With over a decade of teaching people from 3-83, in schools, art centers, and community groups, I rely on the consistency and quality of the Speedball line. As an art educator, it’s my mission to have each of my students experience the joy and confidence that comes from mastering a new skill, having that “eureka” moment, and creating a work of art. Speedball’s products are accessible enough for the classroom as well as archival enough for me to use them in the works I create in my studio. As a huge fan of these products for years, I can’t wait to show you how to make these work for you in your art!

AVAILABLE DEMONSTRATION FORMATS

Tabletop / Open to Public Events
Lecture Demonstrations
Workshops

View Artist Website

Images of Work

Techniques

Screen Printing
Linocut
Intaglio

Favorite Products

My work starts with my photographs, which I burn to a silkscreen. I then print the photographic imagery over my paintings and combine multiple images to create a sense of a place. I use the Speedball silkscreens because I prefer to keep the image once it’s developed and the Speedball screens have the cord that allows me to replace the mesh. At this point, I have several hundred images in my bank of images that I can pull out, stretch back onto a screen, and reuse should the mood strike.

To develop my imagery on a screen, I use the Speedball Diazo Photo Emulsion Kit, because it works! I’ve used it with my exposure unit, using the lamp method, and have also successfully made exposures in the sun. There’s a bit of a user-friendly margin of error, which comes in handy when teaching DIY screen printing classes to my students!

Once I have the burned screen, I use Speedball screen printing inks on my paintings and the textiles I create; I have a line of scarves and textiles for the home, and the inks hold up after multiple washings.