Gallery With A Cause • Located in the New Mexico Cancer Center • Benefitting the NMCC Foundation
Please call gallery director Regina Held to arrange a private gallery tour, make a purchase, or ask any questions.
Biography
Juan Wijngaard was born and raised in Argentina. His Dutch family moved to the Netherlands while he was a teenager. Juan eventually moved to England and graduated from the Royal College of Art in London. He embarked on a successful career as a book illustrator with over 30 titles, numerous awards and international shows under his belt. Since moving to New Mexico in 2004, Juan has dedicated himself fulltime to painting and printmaking.
Artist Statement
Although I have made my living as a painter and as an illustrator, I have always been attracted to the practice of printmaking. I acquired my first wood engraving tools some 50 years ago but used them only occasionally for Christmas cards and the odd bookplate.
My interest was rekindled after attending a lecture on wood engraving in Santa Fe shortly after moving to New Mexico in 2004. I started working on a series of 2” x 3” engravings of backyard birds and insects, some of which are on display here.
Eventually I gravitated towards larger pieces, so I began working on woodcuts and later even larger linocuts, which allowed me to use multiple color plates.
Part of my work on display is a series of matchbox-cover inspired linocuts printed in a limited color palette, featuring animals (real and fictional), wordplay and decorative borders. Working with these elements has been a motivating challenge in terms of design, imagery, skill and planning, which I find compelling and fun to tackle. I also confess to a slight addiction to the thrill of pulling the first print off a newly carved and inked plate.