Beth Jatcko

Beth Jatcko is an art director in St. Louis, currently in Internet Design Management. She has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Beth also creates original art by interpreting abstract concepts through fiber and mixed media relief sculpture. Each wall-mounted piece is meant to capture its subject from afar through intense color and simple shape, then offer a more complex supporting topographic landscape as the viewer draws closer to inspection. She uses Procion Liquid H Series Concentrates on Silk Chiffon and Viscose Rayon Challis for the fabric aspect of the sculptures. Hand-carving of high density Urethane, acrylic paints, and industrial objects are also incorporated.

Step 1: Concept Development
The process begins when sketches are digitized, composition and color decisions are finalized, and full-scale models are output.

Step 2. Fabric Dying
Natural fibers are hand-painted with fiber-reactive dyes. Illusion-of-depth is created by repeating the dying process several times.

Step 3. Trapunto
Physical depth is then created in the fabric through Trapunto, a traditional sewing technique similar to quilting in which hand-dyed fabric is backed with muslin, then sewn and stuffed by hand.

Step 4. Carving
Relief shapes are carved from high-density urethane using power tools and hand chisels, then hand-sanded.

Step 5: Painting
A layered paining technique is used to build color and texture, creating a typographic effect on the carving and further illusion of depth.

Step 6: Constructing
Construction involves planning, proper measurement, and organization of physical space. Industrial and found objects are incorporated into the composition.

Step 7: Framing
The finished pieces are framed and set with mounting hardware for wall display.

Step 8: Photography
Mini-compositions highlighting the minutia are shown in a limited edition, high-resolution digital image series. Full color metallic Lambda LightJet prints have a reflective quality unique to this computerized process. Images draw the viewer to notice, and then look even closer.