Brian Fisher Print, Paint and Sculpture Blog

Bonnie Wilkins's approach to monotype print is unique and inspirational.  Her work has a timeless quality that embodies a joyful calmness and meditative stillness.  Bonnie says about her work- "The appeal of making monotypes is, for me, the joy of being surprised and delighted by the intricate complexity and beauty that shows up as a result of layered process."  "The collage aspect of the work gave me the opportunity to indulge my love for the “treasure hunt.”  I was always seeking the exquisite fallen leaf, or the beautiful accident on a piece of my disassembled monotypes."  Below is Bonnie's pieced monotype, "Pastorale", 30 x 31 in. "Pastorale"  monotype by Bonnie Wilkins

QMP, Quartermaster Press, was founded in 1993 when artist Valerie Willson moved to Vashon Island, Washington with a very large etching bed press.  The press was new.  Valerie had commissioned Ray Trayle to build it two years before when her second story studio in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon could easily accommodate it and two other presses. Valerie's new, smaller, Vashon Island studio could not accommodate the press and so she and a handful of Vashon Island artists came together to form Quartermaster Press.  The new cooperative shared a press, studio, ideas and friendship. Twenty five years later those foundational ideals are still common denominators of Quartermaster Press.  Below is a 1995 publicity photo of QMP artists Jill Stenn, Valerie Willson, Sue Grant, Bonnie Wilkins and Ilse Reimnitz.  Valerie Willson has been the constant in this artistic equation.  Thank you Valerie for your dedication and contributions to the exploration of pri...