Printmaking

Ausencia es presencia

This lithograph is a portrait of my grandfather. He passed away when my mother was a child and I never got to meet him but grew up hearing stories about him and seeing pictures of him. In English the title means absence is presence. I wanted to pay tribute to him and the presence he has in our family even though he is no longer with us.

About

Elisa Dore

Elisa is an artist of Puerto Rican descent born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, and currently living in Seattle. She grew up between two cultures and languages. She uses her art practice as a way to explore this middle ground, this duality of belonging to two different cultures yet not fully fitting into either one. Along with her ancestry and cultural background, she is inspired by feminine figures, memories, and the natural world.

Elisa Dore

describes their creative process

I often start with an idea, a memory or a dream. Then I translate the idea to a sketch where I flesh out the figures and add symbols and details into the scene. Once I have the sketch developed, I transfer the image to the block. I go over the drawing with pen and sharpie so I have a reliable guide for carving, and then I begin my favorite part of the process, carving the block. Carving the block usually takes me between a few days or a few weeks of work. After I have carved the block I print it by hand.

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