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My work is based on the minute and detailed lines found in etchings and engravings from the 15-17th century. I collect my source materials from museums, antique print dealers, and private collections. I photograph the prints and use Photoshop to digitally modify the images, which serve as general outlines for my compositions.

Book pages provide the underlying armature for Nature’s Justice. The image is based on a landscape from a 17th century Perelle engraving. The content of the text often offers inspiration for the image. Selectively lining-out the text with paint or ink allows me to develop a composition that is woven into the text.

Common themes found in my work are based on my appreciation for both the craft and beauty found in many antique engravings as well as the power of the written word. I enjoy thinking about how these two ubiquitous forms of communication are distinctly different, yet when interwoven, they can suggest a new and surprising interpretation all together.

Renee Bott

www.reneebott.com