Cloudia Rivett-Carnac : Artist and Master Printer
We had the opportunity to talk to artist and master collaborative printmaker Cloudia Rivett-Carnac. We learned the inspiring lessons of creativity, collaboration and the long-life learning that comes from being an artist and collaborator.
Printmaking has always had a strongly rooted history within South Africa’s art history. Through the decades, we have seen established printmakers and masters printers pave the way for printmaking to thrive and grow. Cloudia has been one of those inspiring printmakers that installs a passion for printmaking in artists and collectors alike. Cloudia’s has been a practicing printmaker for 17 years. Her career as a printmaker began when she was given the opportunity to set up the first screen-printing unit at Artist Proof Studios (APS) after receiving her M-Tech in Fine Art, specialising in Printmaking from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Screen-printing was not necessarily the medium of choice for many printmakers at the time, as it was a very toxic process. While at APS Cloudia drew on non-toxic and water-based printing methods to make the screen-printing unit far more accessible and safer, and with that grew its popularity. Her career at APS grew and in time she became the studio manager and worked as a collaborative printmaker in the Pro-shop.
Cloudia and artist Norman Cathrine 
Norman Cathrine test prints from print collaboration 
Norman Cathrine editioned prints from print collaboration
In 2013 Cloudia was offered screen-printing facilities by Norman Catherine which allowed her to open her own professional printmaking workshop, Chocolate Ink Studio. Chocolate Ink Studio is a collaborative space where Cloudia has established herself as the master printer. She has worked with emerging and established professional fine-artists such as Norman Catherine, William Kentridge, Nelson Makamo, Bambo Sibiya, Mary Sibande, Faith 47, Marian Hester, Usha Seejarim, Peter Mammes and Lehlohonolo Mashaba only to name a few. Cloudia continues to develop innovative printmaking techniques and her facilities can accommodate screen-printing, monotype, monoprint, relief printing and intaglio which she makes available to artists and uses in her own artistic practice.
Chocolate Ink Studio functions not only as a collaborative studio, but also as a space that facilitates Cloudia’s passion for teaching and sharing. Education has played an important role in her career since she was an education facilitator at APS. A thread that has run throughout her artistic practice is her personal contributions to education and skill-sharing to other artists and others who would like to learn more about art making processes. Cloudia currently works as a printmaking mentor and tutor at the University of Johannesburg and additionally hosts workshops in her studio. Printmaking can so often be an intimidating medium but through her own excitement and passion for the medium, Cloudia teaches many artists about print in a way that is accessible, exciting and ultimately addictive.
In the episode, we learn an important skill from Cloudia which she implements in her artist practice. That is the art of looking, and taking the time to notice small things in our everyday environment. In her youth Cloudia spent many evenings having drawing sessions with her family. Her father would choose an artists work and the family would engage in a creative practice to recreate that artists work, nurturing skills of observation and creativity. As an emerging artist, Cloudia’s practice has developed into a celebration of not only printmaking but the also of the natural world around her, recreating the environments and creatures that she would take the time to admire and examine. Through her work , she aims for people to find the same joy that she experiences when being surrounded by nature. Within her multi-layered screen-prints and delectably carved relief prints, you can truly see the care and effort that goes into the images she creates.
To find out more about her career journey and all that inspires her, go have a listen to Epiosde 9.
You can follow Cloudia and Chocolate Ink Studio on instagram @chocolateinkstudio
Cloudia working on a William Kentridge print project. 
Cloudia viewing William Kentridge Prints drying in the rack