I interviewed Mariann Johansen-Ellis about her nature-inspired prints that she works on passionately, intensively and intuitively. Marriann says about her art, “I love printmaking because it is a very democratic art form.”

Leslie: As a printmaker of 20 years’ standing, how have your images changed, developed and evolved from your first attempts to today? Did you choose lino printing or did printing choose you?

Mariann: My work has changed quite considerably as I am self-taught. I had an artistic language right from the start, I think, but it has evolved quite a bit as I started creating art mostly for children. I was using printmaking and paint to tell stories; filling canvases and print plates with animals in all kinds of fun situations. At the time I lived in Singapore and worked with a large gallery http://www.Redseagellery.com and there was a market for my work, as many expat families have lots of kids and money. At Red Sea Gallery I had my own room showcasing my art, and it was great fun creating work where you’re allowed to be playful because it’s art for kids.

When I in 2012 moved back to Spain, I did start a kind of turnaround, translating my images into images for adults, but still with a lot of humour and playfulness as I believe it is better to never really grow up when it comes to making visual art to be enjoyed.

Printmaking definitely chose me, the first time I tried it I was hooked, the practical side of it with tools etc, really appealed to me, and the possibility of making multiples of course means it is easier to make a living at art. I started making etchings – linocuts came later as a result of my curiosity and desire to learn new techniques. Now I find that etchings satisfy my love of detail and linocuts my love of size, the perfect combination for me.

Leslie: In your work you are trying to drill down to capture the detail of living things using strong lines and soft colours. Can you explain why you choose the subjects you choose and how you work on them as a technical challenge? Which of your preferred subjects is closest to your heart – and why?

Mariann: I love colour, and most of my prints are colourful. I am not, and never was, really interested in making anything look exactly like it looks, I prefer to take what I see, in my head, and put it down on a plate; reality, is not my strong suit. I love animals, nature, and maybe not so much people (tricky things that they are) so most of my work circles around the natural world. I am not a natural multiple drafts person, but also accept that and try to instead capture expressions and details. I do that repeatedly, using automorphism, as I feel a deep and very emotional connection to animals, and believe they have an inner life just like us.

Leslie: How much do you pre-plan your art and how much does it develop as you work at it?

Mariann: I am a stickler for self-discipline, I go to my studio every day, In fact, if I have a day off, I prefer spending it in my studio making something I might not have tried before, experimenting with techniques and subject matters…. who said abstract is not difficult? I don’t really think all I do is so great, I discard much of my work, as I am an intuitive worker

Leslie: How do you change/revise/adapt work (or an idea) that turns out to be less successful than you hoped?

Mariann: I rarely sketch, but prefer to work freehand, doing the drawings directly into the lino, or etching plate. This means a lot does not come out all right, but that is fine with me, if I sketch and try to “work it out” much of the freshness of the image goes away, I feel, and I get a bit bored before I have even started.

Leslie: What makes what you create art, rather than simply ornament or a commercial product? Do you aim to please a target audience, or create something that offers a personal vision?

Mariann: Now that is a tricky question to answer! I do art because that is what I do, and the very simple and quite commercial answer is, that if you can hang it on the wall, you can call it art, hence, a higher price. If you paint a wooden box, it is not art and you can’t charge any money as it is not “important”. Correct or not, that is my experience of many years working as an artist. 

However, I love printmaking because it is a very democratic art form. Everybody can afford to buy an original print and I love that. A painting is much more of a considered purchase but most people would have 100$ to spend on a print. It always is a source of amazement to me that people would prefer a poster, a reproduction, when the world is full of printmakers who with their own hands craft and print works to hang in your home. Tthe constant onslaught of reproductions is of course also a source of income, but I am a bit old-fashioned and prefer to carry on making original prints with my hands. Luckily a lot of people agree with me and I have many very loyal customers that I in turn appreciate enormously. I often include a little fun something for my most treasured clients when they shop with me.

Next week I interview Katy Wimhurst about her latest book An Orchid In My Belly Button.

ABOUT LESLIE TATE’S BOOKS:

1. Love’s Register tells the story of romantic love and climate change over four UK generations. Beginning with ‘climate children’ Joe, Mia and Cass and ending with Hereiti’s night sea journey across Oceania, the book’s voices take us through family conflicts in the 1920s, the pressures of the ‘free-love 60s’, open relationships in the feminist 80s/90s and a contemporary late-life love affair. Love’s Register is a family saga and a modern psychological novel that explores the way we live now.
   • A signed copy of Love’s Register is available in pounds sterling here.
   • The paperback in other currencies is available here.                                                 
   • Ebook for Kindle in £s here and in $s here.                                                           
   • For other ebook reading devices here (all currencies). 
2. Heaven’s Rage is a memoir that explores addiction, cross-dressing, bullying and the hidden sides of families, discovering at their core the transformative power of words to rewire the brain and reconnect with life. “A Robin Red breast in a Cage / Puts all Heaven in a Rage” – William Blake. You can read more about/buy Heaven’s Rage here.
3. The Dream Speaks Back, written by Sue Hampton, Cy Henty and Leslie Tate, is a joint autobiography exploring imagination and the adult search for the inner child. The book looks at gender difference, growing up in unusual families and mental health issues. It’s also a very funny portrait of working in the arts, full of crazy characters, their ups and downs, and their stories. You can buy a signed copy of The Dream Speaks Back here.
4. Ways to be Equally Human tells the inside story of coming out as a non-binary person, from being ‘othered’ in gendered toilets to stepping up on stage & radio and taking action with Extinction Rebellion. Full of lyrical writing, humour and quirky insights, this is a book for lovers of language, nonconformists and passionate thinkers. You can buy a signed copy here.