Molly McKenna
BA (Hons) Illustration
Throughout the degree, I have explored the uses of printmaking methods to create illustrations for publications. In the final year, this culminated in ‘An Ode to Cats!’ a book of collected cat poetry, using children’s classics such as ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ by Edward Lear. In this twenty-eight-page book, I created a consistent series of illustrations using woodcut, linocut and chine-collé to add colour.
Alongside narratives and storytelling, I am interested in creating imagery for non-fiction publications. Some of my ideas have been formed by observations of the environment. A recent example is ‘A Journey through the Heart of Epping Forest’, a concertina booklet documenting an ancient woodland in my hometown. Illustrated with black and white lino prints, the purpose is to consider how people connect to the Forest.
Overall, I have developed a practical understanding of various printmaking methods (intaglio and relief) and effectively using Adobe software for publication design.