JOAN MULLARVEY
Joan often uses her paintbrushes as much as the ink rollers. By painting directly onto a printing plate, an impression can then be made onto the paper by hand-pressing them together. Joan will repeat this process, building up an intensity of colour over numberous layers.
The above image shows drawings that are often created on-site by Joan which are then developed further in her studio along with reference photographs. Once a composition is ready, the drawings is transferred to the plate and then cut-out by hand.
A view of Joans' studio with her press in the centre.
Lino-cutting tools, paints and a variety of natural forms often inhabit Joan's desktop.
An open sketchbook with the incised 'lino-cut' printing plate on the right hand side.
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Biography
Joan has always had a passion for art and has been drawing, studying and collecting visual inspiration for as long as she can remember. In recent years, Joan re-invigorated her creative side by graduating with a high distinction for Printmaking and Painting. Joan discovered she had a deep affinity to printmaking, particularly because it afforded the opportunity to try multiple versions of a composition. In her own words:
"Printmaking is mysterious and unpredictable. It is my voice; it takes me on a journey to explain my connectedness to something bigger. By using traditional and experimental techniques I tell stories that are influenced by my love of history, travel and my local environment."
Joan uses a great deal of visual symbolism in her art and thoughtful titles are provided to start the viewers mind wandering. Joan often looks to a variety of cultures for her symbols and she enjoys the notion that different people will see different things in her works.
The concepts which Joan explores are often visually altered and influenced by the printing process itself. Joan states, 'One is never quite in control of printing' and she revels in trying out alternative renditions of her art. Joan produces her work in limited print runs. On occasion, she is known to create a series of 'varied editions' rather than a regular edition – due to her constant experimentation with the process.
Joan won the Mansfield Spring Arts Open Visual Section in 2013 and 2012, was winner in 2011 A Feast of Art 2D Visual Art, Milawa and also in 2010 was winner for Works on Paper at the King Valley Art Show.
Her work has also been recognized and Highly Commended by judges at numerous festivals and exhibitions, including the 2010 A Feast of Art in Milawa, the inaugural artVision of Mansfield Spring Arts in 2011, the King Valley Art Show, the highly regarded Hume Building Society $5000 Acquisitive Contemporary Art Prize and a finalist in the 2013 Myrtleford Art Exhibition.
Education
2016 - Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, Goulburn OvensInstitute of TAFE ongoing
2011 - Diploma of Visual Arts, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
1989 - Fabric Printing, Corowa College of TAFE
Skill Development
2019 - Collagraph workshop with Sarah Ross Thompson
2019 - The Collagraph Master Course with Susanne Clark
2018 - Monoprinting with Marian Crawford
2018 - Mixed media with Vanessa Ashcroft
2017 - Workshop - Sarah Amos - Printmaker
2017 - Extreme Composition with Jane Davies
2016 - Workshop - Angela Cavalieri - printmaker
2014 - Acrylic painting with Jo Davonport
2013 - Japanese Woodblock Prints with Ema Shin
2013 - Dark Field Monotypes with Brent Harris
2013 - Monoprint with Anita Laurence
2013 - Contemporary drawing with Beth Randell
2012 - Etching with Bill Young & Anita Laurence
2011 - Embossing, etching with Treahnna Hamm
2011 - Acrylic painting with Kate Gorman
2010 - Printmaking and painting workshops with Stephen Anderson
2009 - Acrylic painting with Kate Gorman
2009 - Oil Painting with Glenda Cornell
2008 - Drawing and soft pastel with Beryl Guy
2007 - Life Drawing with Alan Phillips
2007 - Contempory Art with Helena Gibson
2007 - Oil Painting Milawa Art Group
