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Wendy Thon - Narrative Artist

Wendy Thon explores the gradations of sepia brown, moving from almost black to white.  It is the power of shadows and light that makes this print come alive.  In the print below; "Afternoon Shadows," her technical skills and artistic instinct makes up a story for us.  If I could show you a close up detail you could see through the fine lace glass curtains in the far side of the room.  What you would see is the neighbor's house.  The glass curtains lets the light shine in creating shadows that extenuate the rocking chair's spindles.  The late afternoon sun creates elongated shadows on the wooden plank floor. 

 The interior spaces are filled with wooden trim work that outlines the doors, a case opening, and mop boards.  In the distance we see containers that sit on top of the window frame, and in the forefront we see an antique cabinet and a marionette with a broom stick.

"Afternoon Shadows"
Artist Proof
Signed Lower Right:  Wendy Thon, 1988 (in pencil)

Thon works in several different types of media, however she is well known for her prints.  "Afternoon Shadows" is an intaglio impression made from a metal plate engraved by hand.  The paper receives ink from the crevices of the plate, and the printing is begun by working ink into the heated plate.  After heating, she wipes the surface clean, leaving all the crevices filled with pigment.  Next she uses dampens paper that is laid on the inked plate, then - for resilience - several layers of woolen felt are used to create a whole sandwich which is passed between the rollers of the press.  The pressure is such that, and the dampness of the paper so calculated, that the ink is transferred from the plate's indentations to the paper that yields the print, the sunken plate-mark and raised quality of the lines creates the intaglio print.

Thon has the education and accolades to claim her place in the art world.  Her BFA is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  She studied abroad at Saint Lucas Art Academy in Ghent (Belgium) and at the Banff School of Fine Art (Canada).  She also studied printmaking at the Ruth Leaf Workshop in New York from 1975-79.  She is frequently sought after to lead art workshops around the world.     

Her works are included in the University of Washington Medical Center, Queensborough College of New York, Pacific University of Oregon, Portland Museum of Art, Museum of Art (Missoula, MT), and the Library of Congress.  Her work has been included in numerous invitational and survey exhibitions.  Ms. Thon was raised in Kalispell, Montana.    


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