I am a Printmaker engaging drawing, design and print as a catalyst to contextualize and represent everyday occurrences, historical ephemera, cultural myths and narratives. My art practice is a visceral response to everyday life and the stimulus of situations. Key to my process is exploring the past and finding inspiration through offbeat trailblazers and those who flew under the radar or challenged the mainstream. Through a funky irreverent approach, my work questions my values and those of the culture around me, reflecting ways to cope while attempting to be unrestrained and honest. I use found images and my own drawings to collage, contextualize, and transform their meanings. Applying unconventional approaches is a crucial part of my practice. I am captivated by the play and process of print manipulation. I approach printmaking with non-traditional materials and use them to manipulate the printing matrix, such as applying fabrics and creating texture with everyday objects. I further push the printed image by drawing and painting directly onto the prints, each print evolving into a unique image. The community nature of printmaking, as well as print’s role in the history of ephemera, has drawn me to pursue an Master of Arts degree. Printmakers have a common language that is manifested through communal print shops and a willingness to share and nurture visual experimentation. Leading community workshops in print and exchanging ideas and techniques with colleagues, has provided an invaluable experience growing into an engaged creative. Creating mixed-media art with print reflects the Printmaker ethos but also pushes boundaries and spans a larger audience. As an MA candidate, I’d like to explore the connection of community between artists in collectives, such as print shops and its impact on surrounding communities. It would also be an exercise in documenting, preserving, and archiving a thriving community.