Lin Hammill
Nanaimo, BC
Sometimes, the beauty of the world Just grabs me and lifts me up and I feel compelled to share that feeling. Other times, I'm seized by the horror and pain around us, and I turn to art to come to terms with it. These emotions, both uplifting and overwhelming, demand expression. Through the process of making art, I explore both celebration and sorrow and, in doing so, learn how to hold them both.
My work often invites viewers into compositions inspired by nature and humanity. I hope they find a spark of joy or a moment of mourning.
I work with pen and fine art markers on paper. Each piece begins with a pencil sketch to establish general shapes and crucial details, sometimes followed by detailed black ink outlines. The stark contrast between ink and paper helps me identify where to add further detail. I often work through a magnifier, immersing myself in small sections before stepping back for the bigger picture. With ink, there is no going back. To help guide my choices, I sometimes scan and print a section of the work, testing color combinations on the copy before committing to the original. Once the color is complete, I often re-ink the lines or add new ones enhance their boldness.
My drawing table
Testing out ink colours
Through the magnifier
While I typically begin with an overall vision, it’s often loosely formed with shapes, tonality, and structure blocked in, but open to modification. I explore texture and color on scrap paper, make decisions, change my mind, and sometimes watch the entire direction of the piece shift. The process is both disciplined and flexible.
Although I’ve drawn with pen and ink for many years, it wasn’t until I began making art full-time that I fully embraced it as my primary medium. Discovering fine art brush markers expanded my possibilities, allowing me to expand my ink drawings into works that are paintings.
I choose ink and markers because they are permanent. Every mark is a commitment. This permanence demands concentration, yet it gives me greater creative freedom. Bound by these constraints, I work with mindfullness and with trust in the process.