About — Mary Down Artist

Quick video where I’m applying gold leaf to one of my etchings

My background is in Fine Art, studying at Birmingham College of Art and the University of Hertfordshire.

My practice now focuses mainly on printmaking and book art. At the same time I always allow the concept to lead me in making choices about the means and materials. There are times when I may make a series of objects, an installation or video or a combination of any of these.

The etchings below, from zinc plates, with chine colle and gold leaf, are from a series ‘My Cup Runneth Over’. Referencing Psalm 23 and echoed by Bob Marley and the Wailers it’s a phrase of gratitude and appreciation rising and overflowing. They are each from a variable edition (e/v) of not more than 15 from each plate.

Variable because the chine colle varies and some are embellished with 22 carat gold leaf and some with gold metal leaf. There should be a acute accent over the e in colle but Squarespace doesn’t support this! It is a technique where the printed image, or part of the image is printed onto a thin paper that is at the same time bonded to a heavier paper

The images below are of work made during ‘Covid19’ Lockdown

The starting point for these prints came out of a series of 3D constructions of house-like objects. Containers, houses and boxes, have featured in my work over many years, these perhaps referring back to periods of my family’s homelessness during my early childhood.

The most recent series of 3D houses, which are covered in lead and were made at the beginning of ‘lockdown’, became the starting point for this series of prints. The lead covering then was flattened and used as collagraph plates.

This work engages with memory and emotion, and with a spiritual dimension, which is also referenced here by the use of lead and gold.

Print with gold metal leaf. Flattened House 39

Print with gold metal leaf. Flattened House 13

Print with gold metal leaf. Flattened House 21

Print with gold metal leaf. Flattened House 23

‘SHRINES’. This image is from a solo show, ‘Landscapes of Memory’, that I had at ‘the salt gallery’ in Hayle, Cornwall in the 90’s. The ash is from burnt incense from a Greek monastery. Click image for a larger version in lightbox

email: marydown@btinternet.com