Ruth Thomas

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Printmaking

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Gwneuthurwr Printiau

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I feel immensely fortunate whenever I walk into my studio. It's a wonderful place in which to work. I have my etching press, ample worktop space to spread out, excellent natural light and inspirational views of the Clwydian hills. I am often joined by either our cat, Ruby, or our Welsh terrier, Charlie. This is where I plan my images, mix inks, make and print my printing plates, store my papers and all materials, have work in progress on display. This is where I create my work. It's not always an easy process; there are many frustrating times when things don't go right but it's a battle I enjoy, and when a piece turns out well, that is, when it seems to strike the right chord in terms of atmosphere, composition, concept and technique, there is no better feeling.

I've been making my work since I graduated in 1985 with a degree in Fine Art. At that time, I concentrated on painting, collage and drawing. My work has changed over the years and since the early 1990s I have specialised in printmaking. I've made etchings, screenprints and drypoints but the process which allows me to express myself best, is collagraph, a print from a collage. Virtually any materials can be used as long as they are fairly flat - fabrics, papers, threads, carborundum - and these days I mostly use found natural materials. I do also take direct impressions from these objects without making a plate, to create monoprints.   

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Rwy’n teimlo’n hynod o ffodus bob tro y byddaf yn camu i mewn i’m stiwdio. Mae’n lle bendigedig i weithio ynddo. Mae gen i fy ngwasg ysgythru, digon o ofod ar yr wyneb gweithio i ymestyn, golau naturiol rhagorol a golygfeydd ysbrydoledig o fryniau Clwyd. Yn aml, rwy’n cael cwmni gan un ai ein cath, Ruby neu ein daeargi Cymreig, Charlie. Dyma le rwy’n cynllunio fy nelweddau, cymysgu inc, creu a phrintio fy mhlatiau printio, storio fy mhapurau a’r holl ddefnyddiau, ac mae gen i waith ar y gweill ar ddangos. Dyma le rwy’n creu fy ngwaith. Nid yw’r broses bob amser yn hawdd; mae llawer o adegau rhwystredig pan nad yw pethau’n mynd yn iawn ond mae’n frwydr rwy’n ei mwynhau, a phan fydd darn yn troi allan yn dda, hynny yw, pan fydd yn taro’r nodyn cywir o ran awyrgylch, cyfansoddiad, cysyniad a thechneg, nid oes teimlad gwell.

Rwyf wedi bod yn creu fy ngwaith ers i mi raddio ym 1985 gyda gradd mewn Celf Gain. Bryd hynny, roeddwn yn canolbwyntio ar baentio, collage a lluniadu. Mae fy ngwaith wedi newid dros y blynyddoedd ac ers dechrau’r 1990au rwyf wedi arbenigo mewn creu printiau. Rwyf wedi creu ysgythriadau, sgrinbrintiau a gwaith sychbwynt ond y broses sy’n caniatáu i mi fynegi fy hun orau yw colagraff, sef print o collage. Mae modd defnyddio bron unrhyw ddeunydd cyn belled â’u bod yn weddol fflat - ffabrigau, papurau, edafedd, carborwndwm – a’r dyddiau hyn rwy’n defnyddio deunyddiau naturiol wedi’u canfod yn bennaf. Rwyf hefyd weithiau’n cymryd argraffiadau uniongyrchol o’r gwrthrychau hyn heb wneud plât i greu monobrintiau.

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