Jesse Walters
Blockprints, Paintings
Madison Wisconsin

Artist’s Statement

My work explores many of my memories and dreams, some of which include growing up in a very large family. My subjects include abstracts, people and landscapes. I find inspiration by reflecting on my daily life. And, I am greatly influenced by construction sites – the way the raw materials and tools are haphazardly placed about the site, the interplay that takes place with the forms and shapes while the project is in process. When I lived in Chicago, I frequently walked past the heart of a telephone cable center, rode the “L”, and worked in an industrial neighborhood. I took photos of the images that intrigued me. Some people like to go to the beach or a park to find beauty; (and while I think there is beauty in such places,) I enjoy going to construction sites.

As a child, I had more fun painting houses with my dad and taking art classes instead of going to summer camp. My first linocut in third grade not only gave me goose bumps from excitement, but also prepared me for my career as an artist.

I have always enjoyed working with linoleum and wood, due to its tactile nature. And, when I’m brainstorming, it is second nature for me to work backwards, which is the way the image will look upon completion. In the creation of a print, each step presents a new stage; it’s like preparing for a party – the big day draws closer and closer. For me, the big day is when the block is ready to be printed.

As far back as I can remember, the “science” of printmaking has always fascinated me. The layering, the intricate lines, and variation of mark-making have made me stop in my tracks more than once on a museum or gallery excursion. Mostly, I find beauty in black and white images, the images that were printed in black ink on white paper. I am fond of Japanese and Spanish printmaking. In my work, I think about the old masters, how they told a story, and the role printmaking served as a form of communication. I like to tell a story in my work, and sometimes, utilize the play of words by putting different kinds of font into the composition. The font, to me goes beyond telling the story, but becomes another visual form to stimulate and move the eye throughout the work. I use bold and repetitive lines, as well as small detail mark-making. I also like to use the contrast of geometric and organic shapes.