As Artist in Residence at Brighton Grammar School, I focused on the theme of ‘Biodiversity in Bayside’ - fostering appreciation and connection with the local area of Bayside’s natural environment. Bayside is located on the shore of Port Phillip Bay, in Melbourne, Australia.
Inspired by the diversity of plant, bird and animal life in the Bayside area, I recorded nature from seaside and suburban landscapes. I documented native species in wild spaces and cultivated species from gardens and parks.
I used a pochoir (stencil) printmaking technique. I drew and cut many stencils of Bayside species. The stencils were inked and used to create successive layers on a baseplate. The stencils and baseplate were rolled through a printing press multiple times, eventually creating a monoprint.
Pochoir printing is spontaneous and unpredictable. No two prints are the same. The layering of stencils gives movement, depth and erratic ink effects which combine to give a unique handmade quality to each piece.
Blooms of Bayside, Birds of Bayside
Pochoir Prints
Caroline Barrett
My pochoir printing process showing 1. Bayside bird: White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) 2. Bird stencils 3. Inked plant stencils on baseplate 4. Printing Press