Zoe Needle

Zoe Needle is a multidisciplinary printmaker working from Shrewsbury, UK. Zoe initially trained and studied as a printed textile designer for fashion. However, she found the industry hard to fit into, and wanted to regain control of her printmaking in a more organic way that was irrespective of trends. Initially, she worked commercially, slowly building up art pieces and exhibiting in small galleries in London and Shropshire, before re-training as an art and design teacher for further education.

Whilst working in schools and within the community, Zoe continued to make new work. Teaching herself fine art print techniques, taking part in day courses, and a lot of self determination allowed her to become more efficient in a variety of printmaking techniques. Today, woodcut is Zoe’s favourite technique; “I love the smell of the wood it reminds me of my childhood growing up in my dads carpenter workshop – cutting the block and the whole process is often more exciting than the final finished print!” She enjoys printing blocks using the Mokuhanga technique as well as Western print relief methods. Always forming a major source of inspiration are the Japanese printmakers who pioneered woodblock, with female printmakers such as Iwami Reika leading the way.

Besides woodcut, Zoe also embraces other analogue techniques such as mono print, screen print, and collagraph, as well as hand painting papers using gouache and watercolour techniques which she then incorporates as Chine Colle. Often, these prints are cut up and reconstructed using the décollage process. This is the opposite of collage as the papers are intercut together to make one piece, with no layering involved.

One of Zoe’s stand out prints to date has been Not so Rosie Lee. The piece analyses the drink that we all too often take for granted, without regard for the environmental and social issues surrounding its production. The series comprises drawings, steep prints, paper works, and woodcuts that reflect the tradition that is steeped in flavour and history, but with a bitter taste in its roots.

Zoe makes use of another play on words in No Storm in a Teacup – Sip of Calm. The idiom, “a storm in a teacup”, is a common saying used when someone wants to describe something that is seen to have been blown out of all proportions with reality. Zoe’s storm in the tea cup reflects a real feeling; not an overreaction, but a reaction to something deep inside that is difficult to manage and convey in words. “Finding a way forward from this “storm” is a unique and personal journey of discovery,” says the printmaker. She represents this feeling as storm of grey that is all encapsulating and crushing, and weighs down like a heavy blanket of stones in a dark place.
Zoe comments; “I feel this work encapsulates feelings which many women experience often feeling not heard and being strong in their presence, often hiding behind a screen of outward confidence but inside these feeling linger.”

Another project, Seeds of Hope, began after Zoe discovered some beautiful Linden seeds nestled in a hedge on a daily walk. These little seeds planted a bigger seed in Zoe’s head, and she began researching seeds and tree folklore. She discovered that Linden trees have been planted in communities all over Europe to represent love, peace, and community. People often gather under them to share stories, shade, and be together. The Seeds of Hope project began as an experiment to raise awareness of ecology, biodiversity, and climate breakdown, and has expanded to encompass so much more. Zoe continues to add to the series, making wood-cut prints of her findings from walks, collecting seeds, and further researching folklore. Currently, she is also looking into Mycelium; fungi which forms underground networks which provide communication between trees.

Daily walks in nature have also inspired another series, States of Mind. Through mindful walking and being immersed in all weathers in rural and urban environments, Zoe collects textures, marks, and patterns, recording felt and observed experiences in space and time. This reflection on mood and feeling is a visceral process that is then transferred to the studio. The prints involve layers of walking and thinking, incorporating fragments that expose our real selves. Zoe describes; “We all have multiple ways to show our states of mind and who we are. Often it is not noticed that someone is finding life challenging, we learn in society and are taught to conform to show our strong sides… We are so good at keeping these layers concealed much like the small things not seen whilst walking; they lie quiet and still in the undergrowth.” Within States of Mind layers of print are cut away to reveal other elements, exposing small details which are then made whole again within the print.

One of Zoe’s most recent projects is an exploration of growth from seed to plant. The series, Art for Small Spaces Roots and Shoots, references vintage Biology books on plants, and hints towards her own childhood books on wild flowers and plants. The series incorporates décollage alongside hand-coloured woodcut prints inspired by Gauguin’s Noa Noa woodcut. These are then mounted onto offcuts of sustainable birch plywood, designed to free stand on a window sill or mantlepiece.

When not creating, and with over 28 years experience in printmaking, Zoe shares her knowledge in education settings by teaching workshops in her home studio, the community, galleries, museums, and at festivals. She concludes; “I believe that anyone can create given the resources and knowledge to learn techniques and in an encouraging and open minded setting where mistakes and mishaps are celebrated not judged.”

@zoe_needle
zoenso.co.uk

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