Marie-Louise Martin has been printmaking for over 40 years. Her work is heavily dependent on line and mark making. After graduating from National College of Art and Design in Dublin (1983), she joined the Black Church Print Studio.

Originally her work was mainly etching on steel plates based on subjects ranging from landscape (images 13, 14, 15) to women’s heads (images 9, 10, 11, 12). Her use of steel plates allowed her to work quickly and without the need of aquatint.

Her practice is constantly evolving as does her subjects and source material. “Mr Turner’s grand design” and “Homage to Piero della Francesca” (images 7 & 8) come from her “Outside in” series.  In image 8 she took one of his most iconic works and placed the background of the double portrait within their silhouettes.

During the pandemic Martin had plenty of time to take stock of her work and she decided to make the radical change and remove the very toxic materials she used for most of her life with etching, and move to drypoint. The Arts Council of Ireland facilitated this with a generous grant enabling her to refit her studio and safely dispose of the acids.

With this move she felt she needed to also change subject matter. Like many people during the pandemic lockdowns, she found herself on daily walks. It was on these walks she began to make drawings of many places and objects she previously passed, barely noticing. The drawings led to the latest series, “Hidden in plain sight” (See Home Page)  These drypoints have been selected for the Royal Academy, London, Royal Hibernian, Dublin, and Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast exhibitions.

The drypoint “Sanctum” (image 6) was Martin’s response to the Graphic Studio in conjunction with a homeless charity’s fundraiser which had the theme “Home”. Fifty printmakers from the Graphic Studio took part in it.  She consciously decided not to use an obvious subject and chose a nest, as she felt its fragility represented the precarious nature of some peoples living situations, and how they can become homeless overnight. The fundraiser ran for four years and collectively raised almost €90,000 for the charity.

 

Martin is passionate about traditional printmaking and on its promotion in the face of the onslaught of reproductions. She regularly gives printmaking demonstrations in Ireland and Italy. Also, on the first Sunday in December she opens her studio to the public and demonstrates printmaking.