My studio is in part of the old corrugated iron stables that used to house the local baker’s horses in the 1920’s. I discovered after renovations that there was an old Chinese gold mining shaft (C.19th century) partly under one end (under the concrete floor). Needless to say we had this filled in but I decided I would never place my heavy etching press at that end!

I thought I would share a few photos of my studio. Visitors often comment on the exceptional organisation! Well yes, it is (most of the time) because it is small and printmaking involves a variety of processes ranging from messy plate preparation, mixing inks and cleaning up to the need for meticulously clean printing conditions.  
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So here are a few photos of my tidy studio. The studio is separate from the house and I get there using my wheelchair which I park in one corner near the door and transfer to a chair on casters to work from. My studio is my quiet place where I find solitude and solace in my artwork. It looks out onto a peaceful courtyard and garden which we have created. And just to add a touch of reality there is also a small clothesline in the courtyard so I get to look at our washing drying!
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​Many people comment on the similarity of some of my monoprints to the colour field paintings by the well known mid-20th century American artist Mark Rothko.  I agree, there is a compositional similarity but there is also a personal history as to how my ‘Rothkos’ evolved.

 So Where Did it All Start?
The answer is very simple, it started from levels 4 and 5 Epworth Geelong hospital. Situated on a slight hill in the suburb of Waurn Ponds the views from the eastern and northern windows are panoramic. This hospital is where I stay for week long Ketamine infusions to manage my CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) pain, this is a time when I can sit and watch the changing weather from the huge windows overlooking the surrounding landscape which stretches for miles. With few distractions I get to observe the subtle shifts of light and atmosphere, the mists, the smoke hazes and even at times the smog hazes over the nearby city centre of Geelong. But most spectacular are the sunrises. I always manage to get up at least once during my stay to watch the sun rise; as the sun emerges it becomes too bright for the naked eye so looking through a camera lens is like magic. Then if energy allows I make sketches and notes to take home.

Over time, my Epworth inspired artwork has became more abstract and Rothko left behind the legacy of saying it’s OK to simply explore colour. 

Check out my new prints in my Etsy Shop: RosemaryEagleArt

I've been busy working on some new copper plates and printing lots of new work on my new press. The theme seems to be mainly 'brain fog' which is a phenomena familiar to me and many of my friends. I think we simply have too many 'To Do Lists' and some weeks I feel totally overloaded. Weekends arrive and I crave the peace of my studio, I look at the front gate to our house and contemplate locking it to ensure my quiet time!
 So I have a 'Brain Fog' series on the go, The title suits the rather chaotic aspect to some this new work which is actually painstakingly created with a small pile of rejects along the way but that has always been the way I work; taking chances in the hope of some exciting results, I'm happy with some of these.

Getting older happens fast, I was always told this but never thought it would happen to me so fast! 
I have been finding printing large monoprints more and more physically difficult over these last few years. My studio is small and the large press I purchased 35 years ago was taking up too much space and making all the processes involved in printmaking extremely difficult as I have to work seated due to my CRPS and disability. I found I was always crashing into things and there was also limited space to paint.
So I reached a turning point and decided to move my big press out and concentrate on painting. However, my brain would not keep quiet, the problem being that I was not ready to stop printmaking and had lots of ideas to work smaller. 
So I went online and discovered a small bench top press that is portable and could go under a table when I wasn't printing. After much research I bought my new RP12 Enjay portable press (made in Melbourne) and am so excited. It works beautifully, is easy to use due to being very well engineered and gives professional results. My large press has found a new spot and is housed in our well insulated shed where, if I am desperate to print something larger than usual, I can still access.
Problem solved! Brain is still way too busy though - planning new work!