allow me to introduce myself

HI! I’m Hope (she/her), a visual artist and educator who believes we could all use a creative practice.

Through classes, collage art and the Keep Writing postcard project, I am always excited to share ways we can work together and support each other creatively. I host a weekly on-line meet-up, work collaboratively with my partner Adam Charles Ross and continue the monthly interactive postcard subscription I started in 2008.

Born and raised in New England, I’ve moved between the west coast and the gulf coast three times, spent many years in Louisiana and currently live in Portland, Ore.

As an artist who never felt comfortable with my life drawing skills, I use collage as one way of creating drawings without drawing. I like to work in batches, starting with ink blots or themed source material to develop representations of conversations, interactions and inner discourse. Collage is a perfect medium for collaboration and exploration of relationships. I love experimentation and re-interpreting discoveries.

I’ve printed 149 postcards for the Keep Writing project—though the numbering has been off at least once!—and have asked at least one hundred questions. I don’t think I’ve asked exactly the same question twice and I keep a list of ideas for future cards. I love finding the balance between a question that is specific enough to inspire a response but broad enough to be relatable to all of my subscribers. I treasure the penpals I’ve made, the family and friends I’ve reconnected with and the many many anonymous responses that fill my mailbox. I offer monthly, yearly, and occasionally lifetime subscriptions because I can’t image not printing a monthly card.

My path as an educator has been just as meandering as my travels. I’ve volunteered with elementary school writing groups, been a substitute art teacher, worked at an amazing and magical summer camp, introduced adults to letterpress printing and finally created a few courses that I am proud of because I think you CAN draw.

I recently retired my business name of gutwrench press to better blend by interests—collage, classes and the Keep Writing project.

As a white, bisexual, cis-gendered and able-bodied woman, I strive to make my classes accessible. While operating within the confines of capitalism, I have been working to create sustainable ways to be able to give a part of our earnings to historically marginalized groups including but not limited to Black, queer, indigenous, immigrant and southern communities. For a year I choose a different group each month to support, donating 10% of my total sales. I am currently in search of a local Portland and Louisiana group to partner with, to continue to donate a share of my profits. I also reserve spaces in my classes for students without the means to pay full price. It is not a perfect system but it is a start.

I have benefitted from greatly from the business coaching of bear hebert, the printing guidance of kathryn hunter and the fiery enthusiasm of rachel david.

Now for some Fun Facts™:

In my 20s I was vegan (it was the late 90s! In seattle!) and even worked as a vegan baker. Even when I started eating meat again, I continued to bake without animal products. I recently started cooking wiht butter and eggs and can understand the appeal but my best chocolate cake is still vegan,

I make pizza from scratch about twice a month because my stepkid prefers it to his favorite pizza shop.

I drink gin or whisky, bourbon and rye but never tequila or vodka.

I love rainy weather and grey days but I miss the warm slow summers in the south.

Twenty-five years ago I wrote a zine called 3 am but I now prefer enough sleep to morning coffee.

I would be a night owl if I could but I also like early mornings. Once at a residency, I flipped my schedule and got up at 2 in time to have early dinner with another resident before they quit for the night. On my last day there, I called my friend and penpal (and now husband) 6 am as I was closing up the printshop and drinking my last beer watching the sunrise over the mountains.

Lastly, I could use an editor. I mean, I’m not hiring but I still write in run-on sentences.

Thank you for being a part of this.