Making a Different Story: Marc Ellen Hamel Pieced Together
Marc Ellen Hamel - Background and Current Exhibition
Presented by Think Round Fine Arts
Think Round’s current 3D virtual exhibition, Pieced Together, features four Hunters Point Shipyard collage artists from the San Francisco Bay Area: Mary Southall, Marc Ellen Hamel, Heidi Hardin, and Kim Smith. Here is a brief background about Marc Ellen Hamel and her distinctive collage process.
Marc Ellen in her studio working on her new collage series
Marc Ellen Hamel is originally from Seattle, Washington. She attended the University of Washington where she focused on English Literature and Art. Hamel has had a long affinity for the arts, and took classes whenever she could. She currently resides in Oakland, CA after 40 years in San Francisco. Her art studio is located at the Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco.
Marc Ellen has contributed 20 monotype collages to the Pieced Together exhibition. Each collage is notable for unique and bold shapes, vibrant colors and patterns. But Hamel did not start out as a collage artist; much of her career was spent as an abstract oil painter, which she still enjoys. She also expanded her interests to create monotype works about 15 years ago.
“The exciting thing about collage is, you’re taking bits and pieces of things that already have their own story, putting them together, and making a different story” -Hamel (Artist Talk Series interview).
Monotype is a printmaking art form wherein one prints a unique image from a plate made of metal which has been painted with ink (tate.org.uk). So during her career, Hamel has been creating monotypes, paintings, and often made collages "on the side."
“The exciting thing about collage is, you’re taking bits and pieces of things that already have their own story, putting them together, and making a different story” -Hamel (Artist Talk Series interview).
Marc Ellen Hamel “little Imp”
Marc Ellen Hamel “Americana”
The collage and monotype process began to coalesce for Hamel just a few years ago, as she started reworking some of her older monotypes that felt unfinished. In this way, she was able to create a more complete piece by utilizing elements of older ones. The process includes cutting up monotypes and rearranging them into a new composition.
Regarding her artwork featured in Pieced Together, Marc Ellen states, “I was looking to create a little more drama and excitement with these works.” Some of the artworks include stacked shapes, vase-like shapes, symmetrical patterns (satisfying to Hamel) and lace patterns.
Marc Ellen Hamel “Samurai Lace”
Marc Ellen Hamel “Black Vases”
The collage and monotype process began to coalesce for Hamel just a few years ago, as she started reworking some of her older monotypes that felt unfinished. In this way, she was able to create a more complete piece by utilizing elements of older ones. The process includes cutting up monotypes and rearranging them into a new composition.
Regarding her artwork featured in Pieced Together, Marc Ellen states, “I was looking to create a little more drama and excitement with these works.” Some of the artworks include stacked shapes, vase-like shapes, symmetrical patterns (satisfying to Hamel) and lace patterns.
“It’s really exciting what you can do with works that you already have, that you already have a connection to” Hamel states. She especially appreciates the freedom of creating a collage, where she is able to come back to it on different days and make changes by moving the pieces around. Her passion for painting and monotype collages continues to grow, along with her bold collection of artworks.
Don’t miss Marc Ellen Hamel’s 20 monotype collages featured in Think Round Fine Arts 3D virtual exhibition, Pieced Together.
Related Links
Pieced Together: Pieced Together Exhibit - Marc Ellen's Collection
Hunters Point Shipyard: www.shipyardartists.com
Think Round Fine Arts: www.thinkround.org