Printmaker Coty West on Holly Brigham's Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA (2026)

With the release of our recent collaboration with Holly Brigham, Printmaker, Coty West reflects on working with the artist:

“One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration was incorporating hand-drawn elements into the printmaking process. These details added a layer of immediacy and authenticity that elevated the final piece beyond a purely technical achievement.” Read more below.

Earlier this year, Raven Editions released Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA by the Philadelphia-based artist Holly Brigham. The serigraph edition features unique hand-colored details by the artist.

Holly Brigham hand-coloring in home studio, 2025

“One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration was incorporating hand-drawn elements into the printmaking process. These details added a layer of immediacy and authenticity that elevated the final piece beyond a purely technical achievement. Instead, the work feels alive—rich with texture, movement, and intention. It was incredibly fulfilling to help bring Holly’s vision to life in a way that honors her talent for drawing and storytelling through nature. This project not only resulted in a striking final print but also reinforced the importance of collaboration, trust, and experimentation in creating meaningful work. I feel as if I helped lay a foundation of color pulled straight from nature, and then Holly brought the piece to life, adding both light and softness that is now captured in the print.”

“Working with Holly T. Brigham was an especially rewarding experience that exemplified our studio’s collaborative spirit. Together, we developed a three-step serigraph with additional hand-colored elements that required lots of experimentation and a shared commitment to getting every detail just right. We spent a great deal of time testing and refining custom colors, going through many trials before arriving at a palette that truly captured the warmth and vibrancy of “summertime.” The final colors evoke a sense of lushness and light, perfectly complementing Holly’s intricate drawing style. The piece, titled Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA, stands as a celebration of women artists and a thoughtful nod to both history and place. Holly’s ability to render nature with such sensitivity and depth made the process both engaging and inspiring.”

Fidelia Bridges, 1864, **Source:** Archives of American Art

Across her artistic practice, Brigham uses watercolor to reimagine herself as prominent figures of women’s history, highlighting their legacies, while blending them with her own identity and personal experiences.

Fidelia Bridges (1834-1923), who inspired Brigham’s print, was a 19th-century American artist known for her watercolor and oil paintings of nature, especially her detailed birds, flowers, and other woodland scenery. Her work combined scientific observations with a pre-Raphaelite style that highlighted the local nature of New England. Bridges also closely observed and promoted the conservation of local birds, particularly those affected by the hunting and fashion trends of the Victorian era.

“Looking back on this process, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to work so closely with Holly and contribute to a piece that carries both technical precision and emotional resonance. Projects like Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA, remind me why I am drawn to printmaking: the balance of craft, problem-solving, and creative exchange that leads to something greater than any one person could achieve alone. It was an honor to help shape this work at Raven Editions, and I’m proud of what we accomplished together.”

LEARN MORE:

Brigham collaborated with Curlee Raven Holton before, when she was an artist-in-residence at the Experimental Printmaking Institute (EPI) of Lafayette College in 2012. The residency concluded with the release of "T. de Lempicka: On Autopilot", which was later donated to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) by EPI and founding director Curlee Raven Holton. The work is a detailed etching with chine collé, watercolor, and hand-embellishment, part of Brigham’s focus on historical narratives that honor other female artists, such as Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka.

Holly Trostle Brigham (b. 1965) is a Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts-trained artist whose paintings center on mythical allegory and feminist legacy. Her portraits aim to highlight the legacies of strong women while also emphasizing the challenges women artists face. Brigham has won awards at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Lancaster Art Association, and the Harrisburg Art Association for watercolor. Additionally, her paintings are included in public collections such as the National Portrait Gallery in D.C., the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Corcoran Collection in D.C., Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania State University, and the Allentown Art Museum. Brigham will exhibit at Muhlenberg College in 2026.

Coty West, Printmaker and Studio Manager, started as a student at The Experimental Printmaking Institute of Lafayette College, working under the guidance of renowned Master Printmaker and Artist Curlee Raven Holton and Master Printmaker Jase Clark. Her training is rooted in both technical discipline and creative exploration, allowing an approach to printmaking that is both collaborative and deeply intentional, yet experimental. West has worked with a wide range of artists, including David Driskell, Mel Edwards, Kevin Cole, and now Holly T. Brigham, each of whom brings their own unique voice and vision to the studio.

Staff Pick: Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA (2026)

Printmaker Coty West on Holly Brigham's Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA (2026)