An Analogue Soul in a Digital Age

“Everything slows down in here”.

Words spoken by the tour guide during a talk and tour of the Kells Printing Works earlier this week as part of Heritage Week. He spoke enthusiastically about the quiet atmosphere, and the slower pace of working with the historic printing presses inside the printing works, while a noisy world trundled on outside.

As I looked around the group, everyone was nodding in agreement. A common acknowledgement of the importance of slowing down, and producing quality work by hand. As the discussion progressed to mention the everlasting importance of art and work produced by hand (versus AI), the head nods intensified.

For that time, we tapped into that all important quality of human-created work that keeps me here. There is something unmistakenly unique about work created by human hands. That work took time, it was produced by the undivided attention of a person, who brought their own story, their skills, and their curiosities about the world to their work.  It was produced by a passion and drive for creativity, arts, and sharing emotion. When a human being is behind a piece of work (be that art, craft, words, design), that final piece represents so much more than just the final product. The journey taken to produce it is what makes it unique. The thoughts, ideas, hopes, successes, failures, learnings, and moments of trying again and again, all feed into that end product that you see.

This is where my analogue soul belongs. In a world that still values and appreciates time. In a world where we respect and encourage creativity, and effort, and the pursuit of soul-driven art. I often imagine invisible threads that bind artistic output (whether it’s books or illustrations) to their human source, and through those threads exist the energy and personal effort of the person who created it. An invisible tie of sorts, that in turn binds the creator to the people who took it into their homes and hearts. I want to continue to live in a world where this is still valued. My shelves and walls will always be filled with creations of makers, writers and artists who poured their hearts and souls into pieces that would connect us.

As someone who works creatively, sharing my words and drawings, I struggle with the explosion of AI-generated work. But I believe also that there are so many more like me, who feel their heart never wants to lose that connection with human kind that exists through those invisible threads of art. That is the premise upon which I return to my studio each day.

Luckily there were some limited edition prints available to purchase at the end of the tour this morning, and over the weekend, I’m off in search of a frame for the print I brought home with me. It will hang on my studio wall, in recognition of the work, history, human passion, creativity and soul that is the foundation of the Printing Works today.

In the meantime though, I'm packing up some of my own customer orders...books, greeting cards and some prints, all bearing my words and drawings, and heading off with invisible threads that I hope carry a little soul energy from my small studio to their new homes. 

Sending well wishes your way as always, 

Deborah x 

"I wish I had more courage." 
"Every day you are your true self," said the dog, " and that is the most courageous thing of all."

~ from 'Courage', recently added to the Print collection.