25 percent of proceeds are donated to the HRRMC Foundation
SALIDA, Colo.—Colorado artist Ramona Lapsley creates linoleum prints – inspired by her love for botany, wildlife and natural landscapes – that are on display at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) through September 30.
“Hospitals are a unique venue for art, as it provides a respite for employees, patients and visitors,” Lapsley said. “This is my second exhibit at a hospital, the first being at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wis. when I was just getting my art career started, so this one is long overdue.”
Lapsley creates her linoleum prints based on sketches of photos she has taken. The design is drawn on the surface of the linoleum using a black sharpie marker. She heats up the linoleum on a hot plate, carves out the white space using various sized blades, applies black ink with a brayer, places the paper on top, and hand cranks it through the printing press.
“I proof print them four or five times – with more carving in between – until I actually get it to the point where it’s done,” Lapsley explained. “I have to like it as a black and white image first, then I usually hand color them with watercolors and liquid inks, but not always. I recently had some Magpies and they just wanted to be black and white.”
All of her prints in the hospital exhibit are for sale, and 25 percent of the proceeds are donated to the HRRMC Foundation. This is the hospital’s second exhibit this year, which is part of its mission to create a healing environment for patients and visitors.
HRRMC displays the work of regional artists each quarter, with an emphasis on the Arkansas Valley. Call 719-530-2217 for more information on exhibiting art at HRRMC.
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