Based in Shropshire, UK, Rach Lloyd Press explores printmaking techniques including letterpress, linocut, and rubber stamping. Innovatively combining image and text, her work focuses on the importance of play and the value of silliness and creativity. Below, she tells us about how her work is becoming increasingly silly, her ultimate silly recommendations, and why we should all embrace our inner child.
My work is becoming more and more silly; more childish, more fun, and more happy.
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace by Richard Ayoade was the show that kick-started an interest in being silly and comedy. I enjoyed it so much I would revisit episodes dozens of times on All 4, right down my favourite jokes, and reference the time they were said so I could go back to them with ease. I started to this with other comedies such as The Ricky Gervais Show, Flight of the Conchords, and Children’s sketch show Sorry I’ve Got No Head. It turned into a catalogue of references and patterns of what I found funny.
When I did an Art Foundation at Kingston School of Art, I was taught that my research and referencing could come from anywhere, and began ‘researching’ comedy; making notes, thinking about why things were funny and why this was important to me. I noticed that the influence was going directly into my work. I wanted my visual imagery to entertain people and make them smile.
By the time I was doing my degree, comedy was the driving force behind most of my work. This is where I began to think of the importance of silliness and having fun.
When you are laughing and being silly, you are living, rather than just surviving. It’s not hard work; it stops you from being stressed and stops you from overthinking everything. It helps you remember to be childish and keep hold of your inner child. Being silly is good for your physical and mental health, it helps us communicate, cope, learn about things we are afraid of and embrace things we are unfamiliar with.
I began to use comedy as my main point of influence and started to approach my work as a visual gag or punchline. I started really enjoying the process of printing, and now try to cut out the over thinking part – instead focusing on experimenting and running with the silly little notes I was jotting down. Most importantly I have found there is no need to try and justify why I’m making images of happy worms and silly faces – it’s just fun, joyful and playful; that’s more than enough reason to make them.
So make sure you keep being silly and listen to your inner child every now and then.
Here’s a little list of my favourite references if you’re looking for more silliness in your life:
Comedians: Diane Morgan, Spencer Jones, Roisin Conaty, Nick Mohammed, Morgana Robinson, Sam Simmons, Harry Hill, David Earl (Brian Gittins), Tim Key, Guz Khan, The Two Marks.
Podcasts/Radio: Chatabix, Brian Gittins and Friends, Three Bean Salad, Hamish and Andy, Wolf and Owl, Tim Key’s Late Night Poetry, The Adam Buxton Podcast.
Shows: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Mister Winner, Flowers, Big Train, Taskmaster, No More Jockeys, Brian and Charles, The Complete and Utter History of Britain, Three Non-Blondes, Flight of the Conchords, Derek, Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing, This Country, Gameface, The Detectorists, Hamish and Andy Caravan of Courage, The Big Snit.
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