Karen Menarry

My work for this exhibition concentrates on lino cuts, in particular the method of reduction lino cuts. I find this challenges my logical thought processes as well as my artistic ones. The need to do both seems crucial to my creative process.
My subject matter is the landscapes of Scotland, especially
its coastline but in particular the South West region of Dumfries and Galloway, where I live. I’m inspired by its gentle rolling hills and forests and its own beautiful, stunning coastal regions.

I visit each site I wish to use, on various occasions in different weathers and at different times, to see what the light does to the landscape. I take sketchbook and pens and will quickly draw scenes to see which composition looks best and take photographs to work from in my studio. The photographs are used for composition, but the colours are more from my own observations.
Reduction lino cuts are limited editions by their very nature and so once the final layer is cut and printed, I then have to start planning and researching the next piece. I think this helps to keep my work interesting and original, to myself and hopefully to the viewer.