Melanie Clarke
My work explores the idea of the hidden and undiscovered; the invisible and the temporary within the landscape where marks left by human interventions sometimes harmonious and often antagonistic, record attempts at control.
The landscape shifts and changes and appears different all the time. Past scars of earlier industry and need can reappear following weather events such as drought or flood or the discarded remnants repurposed and beautiful wearing the evidence of time.
My prints are layered and often heavily worked to reflect these thoughts including manipulating the paper itself by burning, cutting, folding or piercing resulting in almost sculptural forms.
The starting point is being outside, collecting information by observation, sensation and drawing. Collecting ephemera and taking photos, making collages and arriving at a point where a print method suggests itself. I use relief, intaglio, collagraphs and stone lithography – what ever seems appropriate and rarely have a plan or make repeat editions letting the image evolve and resolve in the making.
The retrieval of temporarily abandoned 'plates' reworked and reprinted incorporate an element of time. A process that can perhaps take place over a period of years, recording events and wandering thoughts and sifting out irrelevancies which in turn relate to a much longer timescale that is evident in the landscape.
The landscape shifts and changes and appears different all the time. Past scars of earlier industry and need can reappear following weather events such as drought or flood or the discarded remnants repurposed and beautiful wearing the evidence of time.
My prints are layered and often heavily worked to reflect these thoughts including manipulating the paper itself by burning, cutting, folding or piercing resulting in almost sculptural forms.
The starting point is being outside, collecting information by observation, sensation and drawing. Collecting ephemera and taking photos, making collages and arriving at a point where a print method suggests itself. I use relief, intaglio, collagraphs and stone lithography – what ever seems appropriate and rarely have a plan or make repeat editions letting the image evolve and resolve in the making.
The retrieval of temporarily abandoned 'plates' reworked and reprinted incorporate an element of time. A process that can perhaps take place over a period of years, recording events and wandering thoughts and sifting out irrelevancies which in turn relate to a much longer timescale that is evident in the landscape.
Contact Details:
Melanie Clarke is located at Studio 35 on the Open Studios TRAIL MAP
Glenthorpe
Hang Hill Road
Bream
GL15 6LQ
Tel: 01594 562106
Email: melanieclarkeruston@gmail.com
Melanie Clarke is located at Studio 35 on the Open Studios TRAIL MAP
Glenthorpe
Hang Hill Road
Bream
GL15 6LQ
Tel: 01594 562106
Email: melanieclarkeruston@gmail.com