Olivia Knapp’s delicate line drawings burst with seductively interlaced flora, fauna and everyday objects. They lately have been up-scaled to mural size and are finding their way onto walls around the region. The style is reminiscent of the work of Renaissance masters or engraved etchings of centuries past. A peek into her studio reveals etchings by the likes of Dürer pinned above her work table. Her sketchbooks are, not surprisingly, rife with detail and a finesse that seems to flow effortlessly from her nib.
“I have two sketchbooks,” says Knapp. “I use my spiral book for brainstorming and my Moleskine for my stream of consciousness. My spiral book is more important to my process. It’s purely about ideas, usually for bigger projects. I do most of the work in my head then play around with some of my conclusions on paper. If I can’t find my spiral I’ll use computer paper. I am not particularly attached to my sketchbooks. They are my tool, not my sanctuary.”
