Kevin Franco
Statement
Working with no preconceived imagery or visual before beginning the printing process, I allow myself to let loose and use expressive movements to create prints that focus on color and texture. Using screen printing as my medium in an unconventional method, I focus on mono printing to create unique, refreshing prints. As an artist, I’m deeply intrigued by the artmaking process, forcing me to find new ways of working that emphasize the how of my process. Allowing myself to be expressive and painterly with my art requires a sloppy process, leaving the screen soaked in excess ink. To compromise for a material-heavy process, I use a white border, shifting the focus directly on to the print, grasping the viewers’ attention and guiding it towards the complexities of the layers. To interact with my mono prints means to take time and live in the moment of the experience, restricting yourself from thinking about recognizable imagery and forgetting about any preconceived thoughts or visuals, just the way I start the printing process in the studio.
My educator self believes that knowledge is constructed through inquiry and experimentation, as well as the idea that students begin to shift their focus on areas where they feel challenged and interested. Art education evolves within a studio space, never expecting the same results from each student. To understand that every student works differently and is interested in different processes can help educators in allowing choice and play-based pedagogies to take full effect in the classroom.
Teaching (MAT) Students