Molly Brown

Name: Molly Brown

Artistic medium: Printmaking

What is it about printmaking that give you joy? Do you have a favourite subject matter?

My work begins with close observation of cultivated and wild landscapes and especially plant life. The slow and meditative processes of printmaking give time for deep reflection, stretching out a moment of close consideration of the natural world.

Where did you get your inspiration from for the prints for the unit?

I drew inspiration from the landscapes of Mid Wales and in particular the places where humans form an important part of the shaping of the environment: farmland and gardens. I wanted to evoke the familiar joy of planting seeds and growing things. The print ‘Ucheldir’ was drawn from memory and imagination of the many small farms, cwtched in to the hill, that merge in to open upland.

Can you describe the process you go through when creating a new print?

Drawing is an important part of my process. I have many sketchbooks and ideas noted down that may eventually come together in a printed image. I work from observation and imagination, the finished pieces are never representative of a real place but always contain close observations made outside. I bring these ideas together in several preliminary sketches and then transfer the image to the lino plate before etching it with caustic soda and carving into the surface. The final image goes through many transferals and often looks very different to the original drawing which is increasingly only a compositional guide. The majority of the mark making is made instinctively on the plate which is then inked up and printed onto paper using  an iron hand press in my barn studio.

How do you hope your artwork will impact the patients, staff, and visitors at the Leri Cancer unit?

I wanted to contribute something that has beauty but also interesting detail for people who might repeatedly be seeing the work. I hope the work reflects the care and attention of the staff and the nurturing and hopeful environment of the unit with scenes of healthy and pleasurable outdoor activity. As I was working I very often found myself thinking of the purpose of the work and imagining the type of image I would like to have around me if I was either caring or being cared for and I hope the images reflect this and bring a soft and uplifting atmosphere to the waiting area. Several of the images have an almost nest-like element with a safe, tucked-away space such as the willow bower or the little farm under the hill. I hope this reflects the safety and healing so many people will find in the Leri Cancer Unit.