Melinda Stockwell- Printmaker
My name is Melinda Stockwell, but you can call me Mel. I am a female printmaker who rescues and restores historic printing presses. My colorful prints celebrate the traditions of rural life in Iowa through the use of handset wood type and hand carved linoleum.
I was born and raised on an Iowa Century Farm and was first introduced to the etching press at Coe College in Cedar Rapids where I earned my Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Printmaking. Grant Wood and David Plowden inspired me in the classroom, but on the weekends while bartending at the Stone City General Store I was in awe of artists, poets and musicians disguised as area farmers and factory workers.
When my 18 year career in the publishing industry was shaken by the recession in 2010, I gathered my print belongings and opened my own business. The Calico Press is located on our SE Iowa farm, it is here that I make art, preserve the history of print, instruct classes, and provide a service for my rural community. I enjoy working on machinery, hunting and fishing, spending time with family and apparently anything heavy, dirty, rusty or hard to move.
Preserving presses and renewing traditional print processes is my calling, but paying homage to my upbringing and celebrating aspects of rural life is my passion!!
Artisan Printing
Where the printed word meets bold imagery to celebrate rural life in Iowa!
Red Star Alfalfa
18" x 24" letterpress poster featuring a combo of handset type and hand carved linoleum. Type-Lino printing.
Smaller type spells out "Stronger Yields" "Van Buren County, Iowa 1836"
Something to Crow About
18" x 24" letterpress poster featuring a combo of handset type and hand carved linoleum. Type-Lino printing.
Van Buren County Fair
This is my 4th 14" x 24" letterpress printed fair poster for my county's annual fair. Using old cuts, carved linoleum and wood/metal type on a hand cranked Vandercook 219 press.
Steam Roller Printing
I hand carved this image on a 40" sheet of linoleum, seen in front of the 1905 12-ton steam roller in the background. This Springfield-Kelley roller is not only my subject matter but also printed the linoleum by rolling over it!
Bull and Cow
This 11" x 14" linoblock print was created from 2 separate linoleum sheets that I carved by hand.
Saddle Bronc
I carved this two color saddle bronc in early 2017 and it is still one of my favorites today! Printed here atop an old Benton's steamboat route map.
2021 LinoPrint
I carved this 30" large linoleum to celebrate the Midwest Central Railroad on the Midwest Old Threshers grounds during the 2021 reunion. A celebration of getting back together after COVID pandemic.
2022 Fair Poster
This 18" x 24: poster was printed using my handcarved linoleum and a collection of wood and metal type. So far this graphic is my favorite linoblock and I intend to use it on many other prints.
Power Wagon
This dry point print is made by scratching a sharp point into a piece of plexiglass and then filling those scratches with ink. You remove the ink you don't want and run it through the press covered by damp all cotton paper. This first print in my "The Trucks that Built Me... Dodge" series.
2023 Van Buren County Fair Poster
If you haven't seen the FairView Barn on the VBCo fairgrounds, you really should visit. It is gorgeous and grand. I made it the header of this poster which allowed me to show off some of unique wood type as I vertically spaced the poster's title.
DODGE Power Wagon
Vintage Dodge literature was my inspiration as I designed the linoleum carving of my dad's Power Wagon. This is the truck I learned how to drive in, which my dad still owns. This is the second print in "The Trucks that Built Me... Dodge" series.
2024 Van Buren County Fair Poster
This is my 8th annual letterpress printed county fair poster. Made by handset wood and metal type along with my lino carving of a cow face. This is the first time I let the image steal the show and type played a supportive role. I like it. i might do that again next year. It is very attention getting.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison