The intaglio prints for Kasper the Clown are the result of a long process of artistic elimination. The artist experimented with many different techniques, such as aquatinting and multiple-plate printing, while at the same time working on and simplifying the overall compositions. Schlumberger finally settled on the intaglio process: creating the images by etching on aluminum with copper sulfate, then painting each image by hand with watercolor. Printing at the Pacific Art League brought Schlumberger into contact with a very close–knit group of talented artists. She writes, “This community has been very supportive in many mutual critique classes and in experimenting with new and different techniques to find the simplest, most direct way of expressing each artist’s message.” The result is a rich, brightly colored body of work that combines art and storytelling at their best.

Schlumberger’s past and present have always been about moving in and out of different cultures, languages and countries and finding her own way. Having been born in Beijing, China, having spent formative years in Germany, then marrying a French husband and living and teaching in a small village in the Alps for twenty years, the artist’s experiences deepen her artistic understanding of self-transformation and adaptation that have enriched her work as a visual artist. Schlumberger relates, “For me, my most exciting discovery has been my existence as an artist. I have found many kindred souls among artists and have learned to express my real self.” She has always enjoyed reading and storytelling, so creating a book is a natural evolution for her.