I’m a printmaker and illustrator based in Sydney, Australia, where I work from my home studio. I originally trained as a mechanical engineer and went on to do a PhD in biomedical engineering, but after having children I made a complete career change and have now been working as a professional artist for around ten years. My work is inspired by Australian native flora and fauna, particularly birds, and I’m probably happiest when I’m making something that involves a printing press. Describe your printmaking process.  These days I mostly work with recycled TetraPak cartons as printing plates, using a mix of drypoint and collagraph techniques. I cut, tear, scratch and sand the surface to build up different marks and textures, then ink the plate, wipe it back and print it through an etching press. I love that the material is a bit unpredictable and that something as ordinary as a milk carton can produce such detailed, beautiful prints. How and where did you learn to print?  I first learned printmaking at high school when I was 12. My art teacher was a printmaker, so we were lucky enough to have a large etching press at school and were introduced to proper intaglio processes. I studied printmaking right through high school and actually made a series of large collagraphs for my final major work. Later, while I was still working in engineering, I joined Warringah Printmakers Studio in Sydney and started going to their evening classes. I’ve been part of the studio ever since, moving into daytime classes once I had children. It’s a not-for-profit, member-run studio dedicated to printmaking, with regular classes and workshops, so it’s been a huge part of how I’ve continued learning. I think with printmaking you never really stop learning anyway, there’s always another process or technique to play with! Why printmaking?  Now that’s a good question! For me it’s definitely the process; and boy are there processes involved. I think people get bitten by the printmaking bug and it kind of transforms you - like Spiderman 😜 It’s like a life-long addiction where you try to conquer the press; some days it shows you mercy, but more often it puts you in your place, and it’s such a humbling process! Where do you work?  I run my own small creative business, Negin Designs, from my home studio in Sydney. It’s a one-woman operation, so I do everything from creating art, running my online shop, to packing orders and all the less glamorous admin in between. I love the freedom of working for myself, even if it does mean wearing a ridiculous number of hats. I also license my illustrations for commercial products. One of my longest-running collaborations is with Australian company Earth Greetings, who print my artwork onto things like greeting cards, stationery, homewares and decorations. I love my relationship with them because they genuinely care about how things are made, the materials they use, and the artists they work with. I’m also very involved with Warringah Printmakers Studio, where I volunteer my time as Social Media Manager and Exhibitions Coordinator. It’s a big part of my printmaking life and keeps me connected to a wider community of printmakers. Follow along on Instagram. Describe a typical day in your studio.  It depends on what’s going on at the time. I might spend the whole day printing, drawing, photographing work, filming and editing content, packing orders or working on a commission. Or, depending on the time of year, I might spend the entire day doing tax admin, which is obviously why I became an artist, because don’t we all dream big about growing up to do our taxes! And then I have conniptions about how much I spend on art supplies per year. How long have you been printmaking?   I’ve been printmaking since I was about 12, when my high school art teacher (Sydney printmaker Salvatore Gerardi) first introduced me to it. What inspires you?  I always find this question hard to answer because, apart from the obvious things like nature, other artists and the world around me, I think inspiration for me is very much something that happens in the background. I’m constantly absorbing things without really realising it, and then somehow they resurface later in the work. What is your favourite printmaking product?  Any Hahnemuhle printmaking paper and Sakura ink products. What have you made that you are most proud of?  Well, technically, my kids. But if we’re talking art… it would have to be my transition into TetraPak as I feel like I have created prints rich in experimentation and pushed some of my own printmaking boundaries. Where can we see your work? Where do you sell?  You can see most of what I’m up to on Instagram and TikTok, where I share my day-to-day art and printmaking. I also have a YouTube channel where I regularly add printmaking tips and little how-tos, so definitely subscribe there if that’s your thing! My website, is where you’ll find my online shop, with my hand-pulled prints and other artwork available to buy. What will we be seeing from you next?   More birds! I’m really enjoying pushing what I can do with TetraPak and seeing how far I can take such a simple material, so there’ll be more experimenting, and hopefully some larger, more ambitious work. And you’ll be seeing more process videos, because I love showing people what actually goes into making a print. Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?  Don’t overthink it, just do it. And if you’re scared, still do it; just do it scared. Feeling inspired and want to try out intaglio printmaking? Visit our website where you will find everything you need to get started!

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