Behind every work of art is an artist, an artist who never completely switches off from their creative musings, an artist who views the world differently to the rest of us. This week, I’m joined by Kent based Tina Hagger, a lino print artist who can always be found with one eye on what to print and how to print it!
After seeing the lino cuts of a local artist, Tina’s partner bought her a place on a lino printing workshop in Margate and the love affair with this medium truly began. As Tina says, she became addicted! And I’m very pleased she did. From her first print - a pile of books with the statement “read more books” - to her current project - a vista of snowdrops, Fieldfare, trees and fields - she has perfected her craft to multi-layered colour and texture works built up over weekends of work. Each print is unique and each one is a labour of love. But each print, each layer of each print, is a thrill; you can hear it in Tina’s voice and it’s a beautiful thing to hear indeed!
Tina designs and makes for herself, uses ‘analogue’ techniques (my personal favourite form of working) and always with the environment in mind. From the use of natural lino made from linseed oil and backed with hessian, inks that can be washed with soap and water, to FSC certified paper, nature is reflected in and through Tina’s art. But, as you will hear, the skills of this artist go to further reaches with her Tetra Pak printing and her now-sold-out first course using this material. If you want to see the results, simply follow her here! Artists see the world differently, of that I am quite sure, but they also view materials differently, wondering how textures and surfaces, colours and processes can be adapted and utilised in order to create something new.
As with any self employed person, whether they work a job alongside their business or are able to spend their whole working life devoted to it, time is always the biggest frustration. Spending the week thinking about inking and printing on Saturdays and Sundays, spending working days with designs buzzing around in your head waiting to be drawn or carved, being a creative is an all- consuming state. Tina describes her art as an ‘obsession’, but one that improves her wellbeing and gives her a channel to express herself. It’s a way to let her slow down, observe, be present and create. If nothing else, I think that’s an incredibly important lesson for us all. We are so often consumed by work, stress, external pressures and endless deadlines but maybe just having something that requires total focus and presence of mind, and that brings us joy as a final result, is exactly what we need.
I hope you enjoy this podcast, it was a real pleasure getting to talk to Tina. All the links to where you can follow her, buy her work or join one of her workshops are listed below.
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HandmadebyHaggy
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/haggytea
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/haggytea.bsky.social
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/haggytea
Facebook: http://facebook.com/haggytea1
Newsletter: https://eepurl.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4a58920dd2b644e914f07bb30&id=864fade710
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