I started my printmaking journey over 20 years ago in San Francisco, CA, at the Mission Gráfica Printmaking Studio. By dropping in once a week for a period of about five years, I learned the basics of screenprinting. My teacher at the time, artist and printmaker Calixto Robles, continues to be a source of inspiration. One technique that I learned there was to create stencils out of Rubylith printing film. Working with stencils is still one of my preferred ways to create images.
After moving back to the Twin Cities right before Covid, I learned about Highpoint. When the worst of the pandemic was over, I began taking sampler classes, and my love of printmaking reignited. From there, I signed up for a 6-week intro screenprinting class. After twenty years away, this class was like taking the training wheels off all over again. I had to re-learn the basic skills and how things worked in a new print studio. After a few more classes, I felt confident to print on my own again and dedicate time in my life to do so.

At this point, I have been a member at Highpoint for a year, and I can proudly say that I’ve finally learned how to successfully coat a screen without making a huge mess. I see each of my pieces as an experiment, and I learn something from each one. I work slowly and always have my next idea in mind. My work often features animals, plants, water, or other organic forms. I enjoy making colorful prints and mixing inks. The print ‘Zinnias’ was, in fact, inspired by the zinnias that were growing in the Highpoint parking lot last summer.
As a new member, I have been supported and welcomed. I appreciate and value the access to the building, the excellent workshops with visiting artists, and the opportunity to learn from fellow co-op members and artists. Most importantly, I feel fortunate to once again live in a large metro area with a thriving community printmaking organization that makes all of this possible.

-Bridget Lips

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