Julia Finzel: January 2024
Meet Julia Finzel:
The process of etching and drawing has always fascinated me. The power created by line, light and tone made a particular impression on me when I looked at the work of Durer, Goya and Rembrandt. As a child I used to copy Durer prints. I first learnt etching at La Bottega Del Tintoretto in Venice with Roberto Mazzetto where I printed from 1990-1991. I had my first solo exhibition in Venice in 1993 at La Galleria Mnemoisine. I continued printmaking at The Dartington Print workshop with Michael Honnor for almost 30 years and here at The Double Elephant for about a decade. During myM.A. Photography course at Newport University I experimented with Photo-etching and now often combine photography and drawing. I also experimented with printmaking on my Graphic Design Degree Course at Middlesex University.
Nature and the Animal kingdom has held a particular fascination for me and I hope to enable the animals to communicate with the viewer. I always had a strong connection to animals and made drawings and paintings of them since my childhood on our farm. I make etchings, mezzotints, photo-etchings and mono-prints as a more immediate form of printmaking. Through this process, in line and tone I hope to capture the essence of those wonderful creatures.
As the animals emerge in the creative process, I become aware that I am being observed with the same curiosity and humour. I use copper plate mainly and have recently been experimenting with aluminium plate which has a freer and less predicable line. I have also made limited edition handmade books of etchings. I made my first book of etchings called ‘The Dancing Matador’ which was exhibited at The Devon Guild of Craftsmen in September & October 2016, as part of a printmakers’ book exhibition celebrating 40 years of printmaking at Dartington print workshop with Michael Honnor. The hand printed book A Printmakers Flora was exhibited at the Thackery Gallery and bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1996. I had a solo exhibition at The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter in 1998 and have also exhibited in Japan and America. In 1991 Harper Collins published my childrens book ‘Large as Life’.
In 2001 two other artists and myself were chosen to represent The Association of Illustrators at the Design and Copyright World Congress exhibition in London. In 2011 my work was included in the ‘Art of the Traditional Circus’, a book by Robert Fountain and the exhibition at the James Harvey British Art Gallery, London.
Printing at The Double Elephant Print Workshop has been a very rewarding experience for me. I am continually grateful to the dedicated and focussed team who keep this gem of a facility and community alive, especially Lynn Bailey, George Barron and Simon Ripley. It is a haven for me, in spite of having a Rochat Etching Press of my own in my studio. It is a hub of creativity and a privilege to be a member. The organisation, presses, tools and set up is outstanding. It is great to be part of this wider printmaking community. I would highly recommend the Double Elephant print Workshop to new printmakers.
I am currently working towards a solo Easter show at Birdwood House, Totnes Sunday 6th April to Sat 13th April 2024.
