Gail Gwinn

In art and nature, there is magic.     " I take a walk everyday and by allowing my imagination to overlap the edge of reality, I see where storytellers find the imagery of myth and fable.   things I find and the path; bones, antlers, feathers, and even sticks take on special significance simply because they may not have been there the day before.    In the last days of winter, I can't help but attach a story of enchantment to the sudden appearance of trillium blooming in the woods.  I hope my etchings provide a way for the things found in my path to also be found in yours.  Maybe after you view my work, you'll have your own story to tell.      Life drawing has been the basis of my art training.  I studied at Santa Monica College and the University of California at Long Beach, which I chose for their emphasis on life drawing and painting.  Even though I have moved away from the figure as subject matter in my work, the drawing skill that I acquired has been the cornerstone of my work.  Drawing dictates the look of my work.      What I like about etching is that drawing for it's own sake is allowed to show through and take the lead role in the image created.  When I add to that, the richness of tone that can be achieved with layers of aquatint, I find in the completed print what, as an artist , I've been looking for for years; an artform that best expresses my style and ideas.  I'm somewhat astonished that I'm only now discovering the possibilities of intaglio printmaking for my work."      Gail Gwinn began her career as a painter when she moved to Seattle, Washington in 1978.  She now lives on Whidbey Island in the Northwest corner of Washington State.