Wanting Solitude and Closeness, Female Nude, Linocut Original Print, Unframed, 2020

"Wanting Solitude and Closeness" is an original linocut on Kozuke paper by Ellen Von Wiegand. Image size 23.75 x 15.75 inches / 60 x 40 cm Paper size 30 x 20 inches / 76 x 50 cm Von Wiegand typically uses organic and traditional Japanese and Chinese papers in her work. Each piece is sold Unframed. A solitary female nude is seen in each of Von Wiegand's prints. Simple lines, elegant patterns and soft hues create spaces of calm for her figures. Meanwhile, a contemporary colour palette and cool patterning create an ethos of modern and contemporary style. About the process of Linocut Prints: As opposed to digital prints, lino prints celebrate the long tradition of handmade editioned art that has been practiced for nearly two millennia. While woodblock printmaking goes back thousands of years, linocut was popularised by artists like Picasso in the early part of the 20th century because of the wider availability and softer texture of linoleum. All parts of my process are done by hand, from the original drawing, to the carving, and final printing, which is achieved by applying pressure to the back of the print with the use of a spoon. In order to produce a work in multiple colours, separate blocks need to be carved and printed for each hue. As a result creating a limited edition of colourful prints is quite time consuming and requires a great deal of patience. And while there are multiple prints created from the same plates, each one is truly an original work of art. ELLEN VON WIEGAND (b. 1987, San Francisco, CA, USA) Linocut printmaker Ellen Von Wiegand places her battle with shyness at the centre of her work. By featuring her own nude body, she confronts her lifelong fear of being seen, and uses this insecurity as a tool for expression and connection. While it is notable that it is Ellen’s own body we see in her prints, she doesn't view her work as self-portraiture. Rather she hopes that viewers can find pieces of themselves in each image. Most important is the sense that we can recognise our perceived flaws as powerful instruments for teaching and growth, and not simply as defects to be overcome. Ellen Von Wiegand has a background in Art History. She completed her Masters degree in Contemporary Art at Christie’s Education in 2011, and received her BA in Art History from John Cabot University, Rome in 2010. She began to develop an interest in printmaking while studying the linocuts of Picasso and Der Blaue Reiter during her time at Christie’s, and she is largely self-taught in the craft. Recent exhibitions include the 2018 Summer Exhibition at Number Four Gallery in St Abbs, Berwickshire, the 2018 Contemporary Craft Showcase at the Copeland Gallery in London and the ‘Windows’ exhibition at GX Gallery London, 2018. Her last solo show took place in 2017 at cueB gallery, London.