Julia Lanz
Madeira provides endless inspiration for my art. The landscape is striking and full of contrast, the same view transforms depending on weather conditions, and the quality of light here is something you don't find everywhere. There's always something worth translating into visual artwork.
I use two traditional techniques: hand-pressed linocut printing and textured palette knife oil painting. Each has its own logic and strengths, which is why I choose both. Linocut gives me graphic clarity and bold contrasts. Palette knife painting offers physical texture and layered depth. Together, they let me respond to different aspects of what makes this island visually compelling.
A collection of a few of my recent prints and paintings, each exploring different aspects of the island's character.
These two methods complement each other in practical ways. Linocut printing is a subtractive process, you plan the composition, then carve away what you don't need. Every cut is permanent, so precision matters. Palette knife painting is additive and equally requires planning, but you're building up the surface with thick applications of paint. The physical act of working with a knife instead of a brush changes how you approach color and texture. Each technique has its own logic, and that's exactly why I use both.
Each print starts with carving a relief block by hand. The image is built through removal, what's cut away stays white, what remains holds ink. It's a process that requires thinking ahead since you can't undo cuts.
I use exclusively oil-based inks and press each edition by hand, which means subtle variations between prints. The paper matters too, I choose different weights and textures depending on the motif, sometimes experimenting with various paper types to see what works best. It's a time-intensive process, but that's part of what makes each print unique.
Working with palette knives instead of brushes creates thick, textured layers of oil paint. The technique requires a different approach to color mixing and application, you're building up the surface rather than gliding across it.
These paintings evolve in layers, with drying time needed between sessions. It's a process that takes patience, but it allows for depth and complexity that develops gradually. The raised, tactile surface of the paint offers something completely different from the clean lines of printmaking. Both approaches have their place, and switching between them lets me truly capture the depth of the island's character.
Hello, I'm Julia Lanz! Madeira holds a truly special place for me, and everything I create is inspired by this extraordinary island. The rich visual life of the island—from the striking landscape and unique light, to the lush botanical elements and moments I wish to capture—provides continuous material for my artworks.
I focus on two traditional, complementary methods: hand-pressed relief printing and textured palette knife oil painting. I choose between them because each technique helps me respond to a different aspect of the island's character and my current idea. Relief printing captures the bold graphic clarity I need for certain moments, while palette knife painting delivers a more tangible, layered depth for others.
This collection is my personal artistic project. I created these pieces solely for my own expression. Please note that none of this work is available for commercial sale. This website serves primarily as a platform to share my ongoing creative journey.