Inside

After studying batik in Mexico, I took a photography course so I could photograph my work for postcards and a brochure. But in those days, full color printing required precision in film negatives, and usually a large format camera.  Five semesters of photography later, I realized it was best left to the professionals.  But I learned a lot about framing my subjects, about composition, about intrigue of cropping. I also learned it was best to photograph close to the subject, instead of using long lenses. I applied this principle to my portraits — pugs sitting on a bench, or a cat curled up in a chair. I like to zero-in on these cozy moments. It's like capturing a poem. Many times, it's the negative shape between a chair arm, and a kitty. 

I also love and collect folk art,  To have these interspersed with plants, animals, cups, fruit is playful. It's the shapes working next to each other, and the textures that occur just because of the nature of cutting into the linoleum. Batiks leave crackle, linoleum cuts leave ridges that hold ink, not necessarily planned. But the texture that occurs is the magic.

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All images © Maggie Kendis     Site Map