Midnight Moon

Hello my name is Midnight. I am currently enrolled with Marshall University to get a BFA in printmaking. I graduate in April.

How do we see the world? How do we see ourselves? How do we turn it into a visual for people to see and understand? I lived in the country of West Virginia in the early 90s and I spent most of my childhood time outside from dawn to dusk. I enjoyed the tactile feel of using my hands: climbing trees, riding bikes, picking flowers, or catching critters. I fell in love with how things felt between my hands or between my toes without shoes on. My love of sensory learning influences how I work as an artist. I love getting ink on my hands, the physicality of carving a wood block, and the motion of polishing a plate for intaglio.

My printmaking work is influenced by my interest in photography and I enjoy combining photographic imagery in my print work. Screen printing and linoleum reduction are two of my favorite techniques to use. In screen printing, I can use photography by creating vector images or separating them into different color layers. I then apply photo emulsion on a screen, transfer the image onto it using a light box, and print the image onto paper, layering the colors as necessary. With linoleum reduction, I transfer the image onto a block using transfer paper and trace it with a sharpie. I then carve the image, starting with the lightest color and working up to the brightest colors, with no room for mistakes, as there is no going back once a layer is carved away.

My work revolves around the themes of self-perception, body image, and mental and physical challenges, inspired by my personal experiences. As a kid, I was not allowed to express feelings other than happiness, but I found that I could express myself through art. I express the emotions related to my physical and mental challenges through varied imagery and bright colors to draw the viewer in and create a connection with the work. I combine text and image to reinforce my message, selecting typefaces that match the feelings of the imagery.

Educated in many things.