Oklahoma artist profile

Glenna McBride

I am a printmaker and a teaching artist whose personal artwork celebrates experimentation, symbolism, and the joy of discovery. I mostly create handmade prints using Plexiglas plates and hand-cut stencils fashioned from X-ray film, along with collagraphs, pochoir prints, wood stamps, linoleum cuts, monoprints, monotypes and photo etching. Drawing and painting form the foundation of my art, grounding all my art in strong design and expressive mixed media processes.
My visual language blends primitivism with a childlike sense of play, resulting in imagery that is symbolic, lighthearted, and emotionally meaningful. Through layered techniques and diverse media, my work reflects people, places, feelings, and attitudes—often revealing deeper meaning beneath a whimsical surface.
I also create inkless embossed prints on handmade paper and incorporate both alternative and traditional bookbinding methods into my artistic practice. These works expand the concept of printmaking beyond ink, emphasizing texture, touch, and form. My art reflects memory, dreams, and personal statements about my life, faith and sometimes the ordinary.
For most of my life, I have devoted myself to helping others discover their own creative voice. I am a Teaching Artist with the Oklahoma Arts Council (since 1994) and the Arkansas Arts Council (since 1999). I have combined two Bachelor’s degrees, one in printmaking and the other in arts education. I have earned a living working in schools, universities, libraries, community spaces, and art centers, often co-creating my art with students in unexpected settings.
As an educator, I have taught thousands of students the true meaning of an original print—helping them understand that a print is not merely a copy, but a hand-pulled work of art born from process, intention, and craftsmanship.
Creativity belongs to everyone, not just the talented.

Eufaula · McIntosh County