Elizabeth Gilfilen | Oehme Graphics

By Teddy Benson Elizabeth Gilfilen May 7, 2013

Elizabeth Gilfilen of New York City came to Oehme Graphics this April for the second artist residency at Oehme Graphics. The artist residency program is focused a bit more on independent studio work, so Beth did some of her own printing along side of the OG printers. She created seventy-four beautiful monoprints and monotypes in a whirlwind of plate-making and frenzied printing. Her colorful prints embody this strong energy, with mark-making that ranges from dramatic gestures to soft, fluid and airy washes.

Beth wiping a solar plate

During such a snowy April in Steamboat Springs, Elizabeth Gilfilen’s residency was a breath of color for Oehme Graphics. We had nearly two weeks of snowy days during the beginning of the project. Fortunately, the sun came out in time to make solar plates for Beth’s monoprints, which require strong UV light to expose and develop (also fortunate for our mental health)! Basing her images on ideas in her large scale oil paintings, she created countless watercolor vellum plates which were then matched together in numerous layers, moving towards the addition of drypoint plates and solar plates. Evocative of landscape and somewhat figurative, her prints explode with intense color and soft delicate nuanced plate tones.

working hard during a snow storm

Beth, Sue, and Christie printing

Elizabeth created four series of prints during her stay at Oehme Graphics. The first series of watercolor monotypes is titled “Murmur.” She also created a series of drypoint and carborundum monoprints titled “Restless Topography,” and a series of solar plate monoprints titled “Gathering Moss.” These series are quite large scale at 33″ x 26″ (image size at 24″ x 18″), printed on Arches 88 white paper, and are priced at $1600. Finally, Beth also produced a smaller series titled “A Stone’s Throw,” which are 23 1/2″ x 26″ and $1300.

Murmur 12 – watercolor monotype, 33″ x 26″, $1600

Restless Topography 15 – watercolor monoprint w/ drypoint, 33″ x 26″, $1600

Gathering Moss 17 – solar plate ethcing, 33″ x 26″, $1600

A Stone’s Throw 6 – watercolor monotype, 23 1/2″ x 25 1/2″, $1300

The shop was bustling with activity throughout Beth’s residency. On top of printing, we hosted Hayden High School’s twenty-five young artists for a tour of the studio and demonstration, and prepared to send ten framed works to the AMoA 600 Biennial: Printmaking in Amarillo, Texas. OG artists Eva Bovenzi, Diane Cionni, Jeffrey Keith, Patsy Krebs, and Laura Wait will be on exhibition there at the Amarillo Museum of Art from May 17 – Aug 11.

Art Santa Fe is also coming up soon. Oehme Graphics will be exhibiting and giving printmaking demonstrations during this July Fair (the 11th – 14th). We even got a new “portable” press to take with us! This will also be the first fair that Elizabeth Gilfilen’s prints will travel to. Come and be one of the first to see these beautiful prints in person! Watch for upcoming announcements about Art Santa Fe.

Oehme Graphics full of activity

Beth signing her prints

Elizabeth Gilfilen’s residency ended with just as much energy as it started with. We were all printing almost to the last second, and we hosted a signing party the last day to celebrate her intense work, and to introduce her to our growing Steamboat arts scene.

To see more of Gilfilen’s prints visit oehmegraphics.com/artist/elizabeth-gilfilen.
And don’t forget to look at her website bethgilfilen.com.