Katherine McLachlan, 'Potato print'. Potato print, 2023
Potato print by Katherine McLachlan
Potato print
Artist statement: I’ve been living with the life changing impact of Long Covid for three years, struggling to adapt mentally to the huge changes in my ability. Then last summer I started making potato print patterns using acrylic paints on coloured card.
I loved how cutting a random pattern in a potato when tessellated into a repeat pattern could give rise to the loveliest surprises of pattern. I loved the colours, messiness of it and lack of expectation culminating in joyous surprise and achievement at the result. After so much loss it felt like an amazing gain! And the more I did it the more I was hooked. It brought colour to my mind and days again. And it was so much more interesting talking to friends and family about potato printing rather than “how-are-you’s”.
It opened up new friendships too!
This print is very different to the others I’ve been making as its much less abstract actually including a figure. But there was as always the repeating pattern and plenty of messy playfulness. I was trying to represent ideas of illness and rest.
SICK ARTISTS CLUB
Katherine McLachlan
Katherine McLachlan, 'Potato print'. Potato print, 2023
Potato print by Katherine McLachlan
Potato print
Artist statement: I’ve been living with the life changing impact of Long Covid for three years, struggling to adapt mentally to the huge changes in my ability. Then last summer I started making potato print patterns using acrylic paints on coloured card.
I loved how cutting a random pattern in a potato when tessellated into a repeat pattern could give rise to the loveliest surprises of pattern. I loved the colours, messiness of it and lack of expectation culminating in joyous surprise and achievement at the result. After so much loss it felt like an amazing gain! And the more I did it the more I was hooked. It brought colour to my mind and days again. And it was so much more interesting talking to friends and family about potato printing rather than “how-are-you’s”.
It opened up new friendships too!
This print is very different to the others I’ve been making as its much less abstract actually including a figure. But there was as always the repeating pattern and plenty of messy playfulness. I was trying to represent ideas of illness and rest.