Name: Alison Headley
Artform: Printmaking
Location: UK
Jacquin: Tell us about your printmaking process.
Alison: I spend a lot of time on designing the image. I usually draw an idea over and over until I feel I have the perfect balance for the Linoprint. When I am finally satisfied I will trace my design onto the block and start cutting. Depending on the size and design, this can take many many hours, not to mention blistered fingers and hands.
Jacquin: How do you select the subject of your works?
Alison: My head is literally brimming with images I want to create on Lino. It can get quite frustrating since I have to be selective, as not everything I think up will work well as a finished Linoprint. Sometimes I’ve worked on a design for ages even traced it onto the Lino and then realised it just won’t work well so have to scrap it.
Jacquin: What is inspiring you currently?
Alison: I am inspired by so many things it’s difficult to pin point just a few things. Matisse is definitely the artist I’m drawn to when ever I need an extra shot of inspiration. His ability to pare down an image to its essential lines and then turn it into something beautifully decorative is awe-inspiring! I also love illustration and often think that some illustrators are in reality true artists! Ana Juan and Olaf Hajek come to mind as artists/illustrators but honestly these are a tiny taste of what inspires me.
Jacquin: What would the perfect day be like for you?
Alison: My Perfect day would have to be a sunny one (something which is rare in the UK). I love love love spending time in London. Definitely going to an exhibition, the Tate Modern is one of my favourites and the shop there is a treasure trove for art books. Then enjoying Dim sum in Soho, a walk by the river and catching a play or going to the comedy store, finished by cocktails and dinner in a small French Bistro near Convent Garden. Perfect!
To learn more about Alison Headley, visit her Artfinder page here.