Show notes: s3e82 with artist Ellen Heck

In this episode of Platemark, I talk with Ellen Heck about her artistic journey and work. We talk about the intricacies of printmaking techniques, Ellen's various portrait series, and the conceptual ideas behind her work. Ellen shares her journey from studying philosophy at Brown, to printmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and finally working at the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley. They also explore topics like the influence of Mary Cassatt, the use of color wheels in organizing compositions, and Ellen's fascination with topology in her artwork. Our insightful conversation about the roles within the art ecosystem concludes with the philosophical underpinnings of Ellen's creative process.

https://ellenheck.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HECK_EllipticalThinkingCatalog.pdf

https://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ellen-heck.html

@ellen.heck

Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926). Maternal Caress, 1890–91. Color drypoint and aquatint. Plate: 36.8 x 26.8 cm. (14 1/2 x 10 9/16 in.); sheet: 43.5 x 30.3 cm. (17 1/8 x 11 15/16 in.). National Gallery of Art, Washington. D.C.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Group of Caregiving after Cassatt prints, 2022. Woodcut, drypoint, aquatint, watercolor. Each: 13 x 10 1/2 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Carolina Color Wheels: Cool or Warm to the Touch, 2017. Mixed media on panels. 50 x 50 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Carolina Color Wheels: On the Brink of M, 2017. Mixed media on panels. 44 x 44 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Bird Watching Through Spectroscopic Lenses: Orange, 2017. Watercolor and acrylic on drypoint on panels. 44 x 44 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Extendable Horizon, 2017. Mixed media on panels. 59 x 42 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Bird Watching Through Spectroscopic Lenses: Night Slices, 2016. Watercolor and acrylic on drypoint on panels. 44 x 44 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). The Pool on the Left, 2024. Mixed media on panels. 44 x 44 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). The Pool on the Right, 2024. Mixed media on panels. 44 x 44 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Kamisuki (Combing her Hair), 2016. Mixed media on panels. 59 x 44 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Pink Angels Rotated 90 Degrees Counterclockwise, 2016. Mixed media on panels. 44 x 59 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Willem de Kooning (American, born Netherlands, 1907–1997). Pink Angels, c. 1945. Oil and charcoal on canvas. 52 x 40 in. Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, Los Angeles.

Titian (Italian, c. 1488/90–1576). Diana and Acteon, 1556–59. Oil on canvas. 73 x 80 in. National Gallery, London, and Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh.

Sherrie Levine (American, born 1947). Meltdown, 1989. Portfolio of 4 color woodcuts on Korean Kozo paper. Each: 36 x 25 inches (92.5 x 65.5 cm). Printed by Maurice Sanchez at Derrière L'Etoile Studios, New York. Published by Peter Blum Edition.

Dieter Roth (German, 1930–1998). Six Piccadillies, 1969–70. Portfolio of six screenprints. Each: 19 ½ x 27 in. Artsy.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Group of Fascinators 2017. Drypoint and aquatints. Each: 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Group of Fridas, 2012. Woodcut and drypoints. Each: 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Group of Being Painted portraits from 2024. Drypoint, aquatint, gouache, graphite, and stamp. Each: 13 x 10 ½ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Group of Place & Process, 2012. Drypoint and aquatints. Each: 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Frida Kahlo (Mexican, 1907–1954). The Two Fridas, 1939. Oil on canvas. 68 1/3 x 68 in. Museum de Arte Moderno, Mexico City.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905). The Broken Pitcher, 1891. Oil on canvas. 53 x 33 in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Ellen Heck (American, born 1983). Installation view of Ellen’s exhibition of the At the Well series of paintings based on William Adolphe Bouguereau’s Broken Pitcher (La Cruche Cassée). Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, 2019.