How would you describe your printmaking practice?
I make etchings of moths and other insects, using the modern, safer
methods available at the wonderful open-access facilities of Edinburgh
Printmakers. I don't have the space or equipment for making prints at
home, so EP *is* my studio. Printmaking gives me the opportunity to
share and celebrate the beauty and variety of the insects that live,
mostly hidden, all around us.
What first brought you to Edinburgh Printmakers?
When I moved to Edinburgh from Oxford nearly 12 years ago, I found
myself living only a few steps away from Edinburgh Printmakers' old site
on Union Street. I have always had an interest in drawing and
illustration and wanted to try printmaking, so I signed up for an
evening course in etching and never looked back!
Your work predominantly focuses on species of moths. What is your
research process and how does your knowledge of the insect inform your work?
I've begun focusing on moths in particular because their intricate
patterns and tones are well suited to the etching techniques that I use.
The prints are not idealised images of museum specimens, but portraits
of individuals that I have met and spent time with - observing,
photographing, and researching their life history. Most of my subjects
are found on my frequent visits to the Isle of Arran, where I use a
light-trap at night to attract the moths. Even though I am no longer a
practising scientist, my work is informed by the time I spent studying
insects for my degree and PhD, which has left me with a deep fascination
for these tiny creatures.
Are your colour palettes informed by the insects themselves or do you play with your own colour choices?
I want to reproduce my subjects as faithfully as possible, within the
limits of the printmaking processes I use. For some species this can be
a challenge, so I experiment with using different colour papers and inks
in combination with hand colouring in watercolour to get a close enough
match. I also try to capture a sense of the form and character of the
moths in the prints, in addition to just employing the right colours -
using the textures of aquatint to convey the scales on the wings, for
example.
Do you have a favourite insect/ particular species and why?
My first insect print (titled "Parent") was of a Burying Beetle species
that I studied as an undergraduate. These characterful and handsome
black-and-orange beetles care for their young with just as complex a
range of behaviours as a bird or a mammal. They are a rejoinder for
anyone who dismisses insects as mindless, robotic creatures.
Which printmaking technique are you most drawn to?
The EP studio offers many different printmaking techniques, and it is so
tempting to try them all! Nevertheless, I have tried to stay focused on
etching, so that I can build on and improve my technique over time.
What’s next for your printmaking practice?
I have started setting my moth trap in the garden at Edinburgh
Printmakers, so look out for a series of "EP moths" coming soon!
Please check out Douglas Reed's website for more information and to see more examples of his work. https://douglasreed.uk/
