Julie Speed recently began an archive of her prints dating from 2000 to the present. Most of Speed’s etchings have been printed at Flatbed Press in Austin, TX and in collaboration with Fran Christiana, who organized the artworks that the AP/RC acquired…and we thank Julie and Fran for all of their efforts.

This new archive includes finished intaglio prints, various states, drawings, collages, acetates, and polymer plates. While some of Speed’s images focus on her drawing skills, she also uses collage, chine colle, and hand coloring extensively. Combing through resources far and wide, she uncovers engravings from previous centuries, and carefully recombines them as new compositions.

Speed’s etchings (as well as her paintings and constructions) fabricate paradoxical narratives that point to fabulous tales whose beginnings and ends are teasingly obscured. These inscrutable sagas lure us into speculations that test our storytelling inventories. Dominated by a love of drawing and classic composition, Speed’s images include a rich mixture of 16th century northern European narrative, late 15th century Italian Renaissance portraiture, and a nod to magical realism, but all these traditions gestate through her restless 21st century eyes.

psbriggs

Julie Speed; Beach, 2015; Etching, polymer plate (278×373 mm)

Julie Speed; The Economists, 2015; Etching, polymer plate (253×301 mm)

Julie Speed; The Economists, 2015; Etching, polymer plate (253×301 mm); color trial proof

Julie Speed; Sleepers, 2015; Etching, polymer plate (393×493 mm)

Julie Speed; Sleepers Cadmium, 2015; Etching, polymer plate (393×493 mm)

Julie Speed; Sleepers, 2015; Acetate, ink; (395×550 mm)

Julie Speed; Rope Burn, 2015; ink on acetate (407×555 mm)

Julie Speed; Rope Burn, 2015; polymer plate etching with chine colle and hand coloring (404×562 mm)

Julie Speed; Rope Burn Red, 2015; polymer plate etching with chine colle and hand coloring (404×560 mm)

Julie Speed; Man with Cock, 2015; etching, polymer plate (405×306 mm)

Julie Speed; Man with Cock, 2015; etching, polymer plate, hand coloring (401×301 mm)

Julie Speed; Launch II, 2011; polymer plate etching with chine colle and hand coloring (461×354 mm)

Julie Speed; Launch II, 2011; polymer plate etching with chine colle and hand coloring (463×354 mm)

Julie Speed; Howlers, 2011; polymer plate etching (360×277 mm)

Julie Speed; Howlers, 2011; polymer plate etching, hand coloring (364×279 mm)

Julie Speed; Howlers, 2011; ink and collage on paper (359×271 mm)

Julie Speed; Howlers, 2011; acetate and ink (359×271 mm)

Julie Speed; Howlers, 2011; polymer plate matrix (358×272 mm)

Julie Speed; The Cognoscenti, 2011; polymer plate etching with chine colle (280×227 mm)

Julie Speed; The Cognoscenti, 2011; ink and collage on paper (276×224 mm)

Julie Speed; The Cognoscenti, 2011; polymer plate etching (271x221mm)

Julie Speed; The Cognoscenti, 2011; ink on acetate (304×246 mm)

Julie Speed; The Pirate Queen, 2011; etching, polymer plate (305×401 mm); artist proof

Julie Speed; The Pirate Queen, 2011; acetate, ink (354×445 mm)

Julie Speed; The Pirate Queen, 2011; etching, polymer plate, hand coloring (305×401 mm)

Julie Speed; Infallible, 2011; Etching, polymer plate (268×426 mm)

Julie Speed; Infallible, 2011; acetate, ink (270×446 mm)

Julie Speed; Open Porpoise Pink, 2011; Etching, polymer plate, hand coloring (507×279 mm)

Julie Speed; Open Porpoise, 2011; Etching, polymer plate (499×282 mm)

Julie Speed; Communion, 2005; Etching, chine colle (288×399 mm)

Julie Speed; Doubtful Man, 2005; etching, polymer plate (260×391 mm)

Julie Speed; Women’s Studies, 2005; Etching, polymer plate (355×464 mm)

Julie Speed; Women’s Studies, 2005; acetate

Julie Speed; Ad Referendum, 2005; Etching, polymer plate (583×435 mm)

Julie Speed; Ad Referendum, 2005; Acetate, ink (660×543 mm)

Julie Speed; Fishmonger, 2000; etching, polymer plate, handcoloring (317×262 mm)

Julie Speed; Three Bells, 2000; etching, polymer plate (302×253 mm)