Artist Statement
My work is reactionary to the environment, both psychological and physical. Each person interacts with space in a unique way, and those interactions trigger deeply personal sensations. Through the process of printmaking, I respond to these sensations by creating meditative, structured compositions. Repetition and form offer a kind of sanctuary, one that I build layer by layer, navigating between chaos and calm.
Printmaking, with its deliberate and tactile nature, allows me to reflect on the human experience of navigating space and relationships. Just as we constantly adapt to our surroundings and to one another, I adapt to the challenges of the printmaking process, transforming them into something more cohesive and whole. My choice to work primarily limited color, invites closer inspection of form, surface, and nuance. Each layer becomes a space to explore, a place to get lost.
Although my work could be created more precisely using new technologies, I intentionally preserve the artist’s hand in every element, from the carving of the matrix to the inking of the plate and the pull of each print. I use a method originally intended for mass production to create singular, intimate works of art.
Biography
Originally from Sacramento, California, Chanel lived and worked abroad for ten years before returning to her hometown. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied at Central Saint Martins in London. She completed a postgraduate program in printmaking at the Wrocław School of Printmaking in Poland, where she also co organized exhibitions and curated portfolios of fellow artists in residence. She later spent eight years living and working throughout Australia.
Alongside her studio practice, Chanel has worked with artists including the Haas Brothers and Michael Schmidt in Los Angeles, gaining experience in metalwork with silver and copper. While based in Sydney, she worked out of The Workshop Arts Centre in Willoughby and was actively involved in the local printmaking community. She served as Acting Secretary of the North Sydney Printmakers Association and supported exhibitions and community building. She now works out of Myrtle Press in Sacramento and is a member of the California Society of Printmakers.
Photo Below: Action shot from Final exhibition for Residency in Wroclaw Poland.
