Artists We Love: Eugenie Marais

INTERVIEWED BY Cheri Morris

Pretoria-based artist Eugenie Marais, who has both a graphic design and fine art background, explores themes of escapism through her dreamy works and lithographic prints.

Eugenie will be showcasing her work at The Artists’ Press Limited Edition Print Pop Up Shop’s one-day-only event in Pretoria at the Open Window Institute on Saturday 2 September. We caught up with her to find out more about ghost-prints, lithography and what inspires her.

From sketches and prints to oil paintings and collages, you work with a wide of range of different mediums. Do you have a preferred medium? If so, which one, and why?

To me, each medium has its own charm. I love painting because it is a very involved process, but I also crave the excitement and spontaneity of collage. Different mediums allow me to express myself in different ways.

Your series Retrograde explores the openness and vastness of landscape painting through a series of six monotypes with accompanying ghost-prints. What are ghost-prints?

The second print pulled from the matrix is called the ghost-print. It usually has a more translucent feel and I was lucky enough to get six ghost-prints from my original monoprints. These prints remind me of faded photographs and suit the theme of the series perfectly.

What is it about lithography that you enjoy the most?

It is a very versatile printing technique allowing the artist to create almost anything. Working at The Artists’ Press with Mark Attwood is, of course, a treat because he has years of printing experience and has a very meticulous working method.

Which prints of yours can people expect to see at Open Window Institute on Saturday?

The Lost and Found series of three lithographs – they combine flat coloured backgrounds that speak of space and alienation with dog portraits in order to play with emotions like love and longing. My latest Retrograde monoprints, as mentioned above, will also be available.

Which artists do you draw inspiration from?

Although I have always been inspired by artists like Edward Hopper, Vermeer, Hammershoi and local artist Walter Meyer, I have become more interested in the work of the Russian Suprematists like Malevich and the Colour Field paintings of Elsworth Kelly. Elements like contrast, composition and minimalism interest me more and more.

Stay in the loop with Eugenie’s latest works here and check out The Artists’ Press Limited Edition Print Pop Up Shop’s event page here.