Faith Thomas’ print making work will feature in the International Mezzotint Festival later this year.
Faith Thomas has been selected as the only New Zealand artist to feature in the International Mezzotint Festival in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The Cambridge artist recently opened her Leamington-based studio to the public during the Cambridge Autumn Festival, attracting over 100 visitors.
Now hundreds more, if not thousands, will see her work during the international exhibition in the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts from August 16 – September 29 this year, where 82 artists have been selected to feature.
Mezzotint is a specialised field of printmaking and is one of the most difficult and time-consuming techniques. A copper plate is hand-worked with a mezzotint rocker, producing a toothed surface able to take ink. The image is then burnished and scraped in layers on this surface, which requires patience and meticulous attention to detail.
Thomas, an art teacher at St Peter’s School for over two decades, has been a print maker for many years and has been exhibiting in New Zealand and internationally for 40 years.
“Although New Zealand is geographically isolated I have never felt isolated from what is happening in contemporary art practice,” she said. “I am delighted and proud to be holding the flag for New Zealand printmakers.”
She recently had etchings and mezzotints in the third International Print Show 2017 in Portugal, and at the 9th Biennial in Douro, 2018. The Douro Museum still holds her work in its collection. She is currently completing new work for the 4th International Print exhibition and 10th Biennial 2019 and 2020.
Thomas also supports her students in their own journeys as artists.
“Artists have access now to so many international exhibition opportunities thanks to the internet. Taking the time to create a professional website, high-quality photographs of artworks, and maintaining an exhibition CV are essential to international exposure,” she said.
“Live life, draw every day and set the bar high.”
