Ben Capp, untitled, woodcut
Recently, I have been drawing and producing prints of the potted plants in my home, sometimes including their surroundings and sometimes letting them stand alone. I find the live drawing process very grounding and it connects me more deeply to my everyday surroundings. Because I have spent a long time drawing many of my plants, I have come to notice the way that they grow and change over time. My home has become more alive.
Woodcut prints were my first printmaking technique and carving woodblocks was my first love. My latest work uses a mixture of intaglio and relief. It allows me to achieve the dramatic lines and textures of etching and drypoint, but still leaves time for carving. I love printmaking because when I get tired of one technique, I know that there’s always another process to try out and another set of materials to experiment with.
Highpoint has been central to my development as a printmaker. I caught the printmaking bug at the tail end of my time in college, and I have learned so much since as an intern and co-op member. I started my membership three years ago right in the middle of COVID, and it has been such a joy to see the community emerge again since those shut-in and quiet times. As an artist, I think it’s absolutely essential to constantly engage in conversation about the working process and the intentionality of an art practice, and Highpoint is an excellent place to do that.
- Ben Capp
