ARTIST FEATURE: Emma Fisher - Graphic Designer and Printmaker from London
There is certainly a lot going on at the moment when it comes to screen printing and risograph printing. Quite a few graphic designers have discovered these printing techniques for themselves creating a new trend. More and more risograph studios are popping up all over the globe (something I will cover soon in a separate blog article) and print certainly isn't dead.
When I discovered Emma's work via People of Print I immediately fell in love with her prints and thought I reach out to her to ask a few questions about her work.
Emma Fisher is a graphic designer and printmaker living in South East London, UK. Her style includes a signature colour palette of neon tones which she achieves through screen printing and risograph design. She calls herself a colour enthusiast and uses the print process to constantly experiment with colour and textures and the boundaries of print.
Emma has worked on commissions with brands including Barbour, GLUG, ibis Hotels and also collaborations with creatives including US studio Special Edition Co. She sells her print work at markets and stockists across the UK, and is always keen to take on new challenges, new projects or collaborations.
Please tell us a little about your work.
My practice is built around printmaking, mainly silk screen and risograph. I often begin with rough sketches or colour references within my design, then I create these digitally, experimenting a lot with transparencies and overlays. But the fun of working with this medium is you can never truly predict the outcome in print, as I love playing with gradients and neon colours in real life and have often achieved the best results or new ideas through experimental designs.
Image: A limited edition of recent prints, all signed and numbered.
How did you get into printing?
I actually only got into printing in my fourth year of studying Graphic Design and Illustration at The London College of Communication. I found the print studio very daunting as so much can go wrong and I didn’t fully understand how the process could benefit my then very paint-based style. But after being inspired by blogs such as http://www.peopleofprint.com/ I began to see the full potential of print and it became my home for my final year. I have continued to be a member of http://sonsolesprintstudio.co.uk/ since.
What inspires you?
I love patterns and have always been interested in textile and print design. Anything that’s full of colour and detail always catches my attention. I love nature and floral artwork too, although it doesn’t feature heavily in my style at the moment it’s something I am looking to incorporate more in the future.
Do you have favourite techniques?
Most recently I love experimenting more with riso. I’ve always been screen print based, but with the screenprint studio being closed recently due to the pandemic it’s been great to be able to experiment more with riso, getting artwork printed at https://www.risottostudio.com/ and receiving finished prints back in the post without leaving the house has been great.
Favourite colours and/or materials you work with?
Neon pink and teal have become signature colours in my work. I like to use Lascaux acrylic ink for its pigment and quality, but otherwise like mixing neon acrylics with flatter tones so they always pop off the page slightly.
What would you like to achieve with your prints? Is there a message?
I have realised especially over the last few months that bringing colour and joy into people homes through my prints has been a big part of want I want to achieve. It’s amazing how colour and a message of hope can have an effect on your mood. Moving forward I would like to see how I could bring this out of the home, including using my influence as designer to do good for others, and the wider environment and share a sustainable message too.
Image: Emma Fisher with some of her latest prints.
You can find Emma on Social Media, and don't forget to check out her website where you can buy her prints!
Instagram @emmafisher_design
https://www.instagram.com/emmafisher_design/
https://www.facebook.com/emmafisherdesign/
Shop
https://department-store.co/marketplace/seller/profile/shop/Emma_Fisher.com
Website
All images © by Emma Fisher.