Jim Powlan

Jim Powlan

There are several reoccurring themes in my work, love, relationships,
turning points in life and the Hawaiian Islands.
I work with a reverence of traditional techniques and materials while
pushing the boundaries of what they are and have been.
Color and texture have always attracted me. I create one of a kind etchings
hand printed on silk highlighting both as well as deeply etched copper that
is painted and then clear coated.

Often my work reads as a painting but as it draw’s you in there is much
more. The combination of etching, painting, and or printing create a
textural image that cannot be duplicated with other mediums.
I blend traditional European style of etching ( Intaglio ) and oil based inks
with Asian silk and it’s sense of feel. The silk after printing is archivally
mounted onto plywood using scroll mounting techniques.
Some years back I worked primarily with representational images. In more
recent years I have moved more to contemporary abstract work. That said I
sometimes drift back and do what I call non traditional Hawaiiana using
semi abstract images to tell the story of Hawaii, it’s discovery and peoples.
I start with polished copper plates which for me represent new life and how
perfect it is. I then etch my plates in acid for 24 hours. This simulates the
bumps and bruises, highs and lows of life creating deep relief images
etched in to the plate. As in life itself each plate and print tells its own
story.

I hand ink the copper plates and print on silk I source from Japan. I will
only print an image between one to three times but each is one of a kind as
they are printed on different types of silk or with different color inks.
Sometimes I will etch a plate and never print it but paint it and turn it into
a one of a kind art piece right away.

Whether printing from the copper plate or not I will then take the deeply
etched metal and ink, paint and clear coat it. The clear coating adds UV
protection. The coated copper is so durable it can be displayed in an
outdoor setting. The copper can be mounted on silk, framed in wood or
hung as is to give it a more modern look. Sometimes I bend the copper
before painting and mount onto wood forms making it them sculptural wall
pieces.