Redstart Press

Jay Stormer and Redstart Press

Early wood engraving 1961.

Nature, particularly birding, is a special interest that inspires many of the prints. Photography and working with digital images has always been part of my scientific work as well as my art. My personal photographs are often used as inspiration and reference for the prints.

My first printmaking was done at Dartmouth College in undergraduate graphic arts courses with Professor Ray Nash. Woodcuts and wood engraving were my primary focus, but etching and drypoint as well as some book design and typography were also part of the course.

My interest in natural science led to my college major in earth science and a career as a university professor and scientist doing research in mineralogy and geochemistry. However, whenever time and access to facilities permitted, art was also a serious pursuit, primarily printmaking as well as drawing and watercolor painting.

While teaching at the University of Georgia in the 1970's I took workshops in drawing, printmaking, and papermaking with UGA art faculty. In October 2018, I took a workshop on collagraph with Kathleen Buchanan. In October 2019, I spent a week in Catalonia at the Art Print Residence doing a course in etching and aquatint techniques. My recent work has benefitted greatly from discussions on wood engraving and woodcuts with local maine printmakers especially Siri Beckman and David Morgan.

Now located in Brunswick, ME, printmaking is my primary focus. Recent editions of my prints have been printed on an Ettan press in a studio at my home. Redstart Press was established in 2018 to provide an Internet presence for the prints.

Jay Stormer Brunswick, ME