ruth channing's portfolio

Work samples

Ariadne

"Ariadne" Soft-ground etching, 18"x24" plate size, limited edition on cream Rives BFK 22"x30"
Alpha Monkey

"Alpha Monkey" Soft-ground etching, 18"x24" plate size, limited edition on cream Rives BFK 22"x30"
Cocoon

"Cocoon" Soft-ground etching, 18"x24" plate size, limited edition on cream Rives BFK 22"x30"
Spider Making Her Web

"Spider Making Her Web" Soft-ground etching, 18"x24" plate size, limited edition on cream Rives BFK 22"x30"

About ruth

Baltimore City

Ruth Channing is a printmaker and sculptor. After two years of schooling at the Rhode Island School of Design, Dadi Wirz encouraged Ruth to abandon her classical art studies in America and relocate to Paris, France, to study with SW Hayter at Atelier 17 in 1966. While living in her adopted city of Paris, Channing met her future husband Raoul Middleman, and returned to Baltimore with him in 1971. On the recommendation of John Sparks, Ruth acquired a Griffon printing press and established her… more

View ruth's Resume

Women of the Apocalypse- etching series

I began this series of etchings in response to the increasingly visible problem of harassment of women.
The "Woman of the Apocalypse" is mentioned in the Bible as rescuing the souls of children from the Last Judgment. To me, the Woman of the Apocalypse symbolizes common sense and compassion. I use the female nude to embody those qualities in a graceful form.

The monkeys in these pictures represent would-be powerful men who are slaves to their animal nature.
I find that the intensity of the medium of etching is especially effective in expressing this strongly-felt content.

La Chouette (the owl)

"La Chouette" Soft-ground etching, 18"x24" plate size, limited edition on cream Rives BFK 22"x30"
Woman with Monkeys

etching, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK For this etching, I used a combination of techniques including pressing lace into the soft etching ground, instead of the traditional aquatint. I wanted to evoke the forest environment. The monkeys' fur is created with sandpaper aquatint.
Two Headed Cobra

etching 18 x 24" plate size, limited edition, on Rives BFK
The Monkey Suitors

etching, 18 x 24" image size, on Rives BFK
Monkeys with Sleeping Bride

soft ground etching with sandpaper aquatint, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK
Bats Upside Down

soft ground etching with sandpaper aquatint, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK
Flying Bats

etching with soft ground texture, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK
Octopus & Lady

etching, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK
Stork-Woman

etching with soft ground texture, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK
Amoeba

soft ground etching with sandpaper texture, 18 x 24" plate size, on Rives BFK

Metamorphoses- monoprint series

In this series of prints, I deal with metamorphosis as a metaphor for self-realization.
The monoprint medium is less severe than etching, and allows for greater spontaneity, and a freer use of color.
In these pictures I've imagined women inhabiting some of the lower life forms. Sometimes they merge with these forms, by hiding in a hermit crab's shell, or hatching out of the cocoon of a butterfly, or turning into a bedbug.