Kendra has always enjoyed pushing herself to learn new things.
Like many others, the graphic designer at LG2’s Toronto office took up several new hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic. From experimenting in the kitchen to bringing home Ellie, her energetic two-year-old West Highland White Terrier, Kendra has tried many new things that have given her more confidence in her own skills. But her latest passion, screen printing, really lets her make a mark.
In 2022, wanting to get out of the house more, Kendra used her LG2 wellness allowance to enrol in screen printing lessons at Open Studio, an artist-run centre dedicated to contemporary printmaking. Since then, she’s made quick progress and has even booked her own space in the communal studio for weekly experiments after work.
Kendra fell in love with the speed of screen printing and the way it differs from her day job. The steps are simple: she creates her stencil on an acetate sheet, transfers the design to the screen, then pushes ink through it to print the design onto paper. The ink dries quickly, but there’s still time for her to experiment with different layouts between each print. Kendra always finds the next one better than the last, and the final version is usually her favourite. It’s this evolution that motivates her to keep coming back for more. Within a few hours, Kendra is able to leave the studio with a dozen completed prints and, most importantly, lots of new ideas for what to try next.
The final product of her lessons, a minimalist piece Kendra jokingly calls “Houseplants,” hangs in her home office. She’s still experimenting but her current style is modern. Her prints feature clean lines, blocks of colour and negative space inspired by her background in graphic design. Kendra’s latest challenge to herself is to make a triptych of concentric circles using orange, blue and green with inky black line work. She’s drawn to circles and the challenge of pushing herself to be creative within the constraints of a certain shape. It will also go well in the hallway of her new home, which she’s having fun decorating.
Ultimately, screen printing is a very soothing and meditative process for Kendra. As a designer, it’s important for her to take time away from the computer where she can connect with a different part of her brain. Walks in the local park with Ellie, trying out the latest Alison Roman recipe, hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time – these are all moments that inspire her art and fill her home with life.
Whether on the screen or off it, Kendra will keep making memories one day at a time.
LG2 would like to thank Open Studio for generously welcoming us as part of the Peek series. Photographs courtesy of Florence Thouin.
Kendra Spurgeon, Designer
