Alpine Meadow linoprint by printmaker Kelli MacConnell.  In rustic wood frame.  

Image 17" x 15"

Frame 23" x 26"

Captivated by the wilderness, Kelli’s relationship with nature perpetually stimulates her imagination, facilitating her process of translating her natural surroundings into richly detailed prints. Printmaking, for Kelli, is a vehicle to understanding our role in the natural world; Relating to civilization while remaining connected to what is wild.

Kelli MacConnell was fascinated by the outdoors from an early age. Road trips to the Smoky Mountains, and summers on Lake Michigan sparked the interest that led her to hike the Appalachian Trail. While traversing the path from Georgia to Maine she realized that exploring the wilderness is not only an integral part to understanding the world, but also the fuel for her creativity. After hiking the AT, sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, and traveling the country, she moved from Cincinnati, Oh; to Portland, OR in 2006 to immerse herself in a more vibrant artist community, return to school, and to be in close proximity to the wilderness. She was introduced to printmaking while studying at Portland State University, and discovered a passion for expressing her interplay with nature by making prints. She is currently exploring the endless possibilities of printmaking, and making art in hopes of fostering a healthier relationship between the human race and planet earth.

Artist Statement

People ask, “Why a print, why not a painting?” Not only do I enjoy the act of using tools to shape something, but also it’s the surprise factor, a mystery that unfolds. There are a lot of unpredictables involved and the spontaneity of the process demands energy, improvisation, gesture, expressiveness and directness. My current body of work focuses on the Pacific Northwest Landscape. These prints are of the expansive and diverse environment that is Oregon. With the simple use of line, and contrast of black and white, I strive to create exhilarating compositions inspired by the natural world that is so often overlooked in hopes to improve the human relationship with nature.

http://kellimacconnell.carbonmade.com/