Creative Careers Week, News
Karen Stansfield – Creative Careers Week
Mar
There’s lots to celebrate this month, and we’re springing into action by celebrating #CreativeCareers. From 1-5 March, we’re showcasing a selection of our artist network and their journeys into making life as an artist as part of Creative Careers Week.
First up this week is Karen Stansfield Artist, Maker and Workshop Facilitator!
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m a Multi-disciplined Artist, Maker and Facilitator working across the Cultural Industries delivering workshops, interventions across the communities to people of all ages and abilities in a wide variety of settings, encouraging participation, cohesion, wellbeing, and learning through creativity.
Did you study a creative subject? If so, what and where?
What printmaking techniques do you work with?
Primarily screen print onto cloth and paper. I do enjoy learning and exploring different methods such as lino cut, etched lino and etching.
What inspires you?
I am an emotive mark maker; therefore, I enjoy working in the moment responding to what I am feeling. I Love experimenting, going on a creative journey, getting lost, going off tangent and finding surprising results at every turn.
Name 3 great things about your job.
Sharing the wonders and possibilities of printmaking with others.
Teaching people of all ages and abilities in a wide variety of settings, galleries, schools, community centre and festivals.
Getting messy, having others highlight the random smug of ink on my face whilst in the Co-op supermarket!
What top tip would you have for a young creative?
Play! Give yourself permission to experiment and challenge the set rules, do not get stuck on the end goal, enjoy the journey.
Your knowledge and style will grow with you, nothing happens overnight – stick with it, everything you do informs your practice.
Be open to other job possibilities, for example due to my knowledge in printed textiles I was approached to make items for Yorkshire Televisions `My Parents are Aliens’ and I have recently printed T-shirts for the charity `Underdog International’, who rescue and rehome dogs.
