Artist's Bio

Fruma Shrensel has worked as a graphic artist, illustrator and nurse. She studied fine art at Carnegie Mellon University, and after completing a Bachelor of Science degree at Empire State College she continued to study drawing and painting at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League in New York City. She is a longtime member of the Guild of Book Workers and the Book Arts Guild in Seattle where she also served on the Board of Directors. In 1995 while working with a commercial printer using new digital technology she designed and printed a book entitled Ordinary Things. Fruma was convinced she had discovered a new art form until further investigation led her to the Center for Book Arts in New York City, where she began to study the art of bookbinding and letterpress printing from gifted professionals. Her work is often inspired by life's spiritual and psychological challenges. Each book becomes an exploration ofnew technical and artistic challenges. The visual and tactile experience of the finished book is of primary importance. Fruma incorporates letterpress and relief printing, stencils and mixed media, and also uses digital output when appropriate.  She hopes that each book engenders a moment of insight or pleasure for another person.