'Cliffside Columbine' Inspired by the wild columbine that bloom in the springtime on the rocky shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT. This is a four layer print made with transparent primary colors (blue, red, and yellow) which overlap to create the secondary colors (purple, green, and orange), and then a final key block in black. 'Midsummer Feast' This print is intended to be a reminder of how much joy there can be in the food that we eat, how it can be specific to the season we are in, and how we can connect to the land around us through food both foraged and cultivated. It is inspired by a delicious and memorable meal of chanterelle mushrooms and summer squash over egg noodles that I had this past summer. You can read more about how I developed this print here. A hand-painted version of this print will be available soon. 'Contemplate Decomposition' This print is not actually new, but this is the first time I've tried coloring it in. The stump in the middle is a hemlock, you can tell by the reishi mushrooms growing out of it. And the new tree in the middle is a birch, which was Jamie's suggestion based on how readily they grow from old stumps. I love how the color brings life to this print, and helps clarify what certain things are, such as the russula mushrooms in the bottom corner, and the pixie cup lichen on the stump. 'Living Room' This was my first new print of the year, carved after a very busy holiday sales season. I wanted to capture the feeling of finally relaxing after months of hard work. The coffee table is based on the one Jamie made from an oak slab salvaged from one of his logging jobs, and the candles are based on bees wax dippers that my sister Rayna makes. Carving this one taught me a lot about different textures and patterns (such as the wood grain in the table and floor and the paisley on the cushions) that I hope to carry with me into future prints. 'Sun Moon Earth'
This is a two layer reduction print with a color gradient for both layers. Reduction printing uses a single block to print multiple layers by carving away more of the block between each layer. On the left you can see the first layer and on the right is the completed print. I am quite obsessed with astronomy/astrology, and I have been wanting to make a print about moon phases for a while now. I don't want to explain too much, as I'm hoping the image can speak for itself with a little study and contemplation. But I will give you a hint and say that eight smaller circles represent the moon at different points in it's cycle, and that the moon closest to the sun is a new moon, and the one farthest from the sun is a full moon.
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It's a snowy day here in Vermont! If you found your way here from the Women's Festival of Crafts website, welcome! And if you found me some other way, welcome as well! Here are some new prints and greeting cards that I just listed at PotionsPress. An updated version of my Contemplate Decomposition print. This phrase has resonated with a lot of people over the years, which is something that really means a lot to me. It came to me at a particularly difficult time in my life. I would spend a lot of time in the woods seeking peace, and I found it immensely comforting to notice the way that trees became dirt and new life grew out of old wood. Send a little full moon magic to your friends and family! These note cards come in sets of four with a different design on each card. They are based on pastel drawings I did this summer of the full moon. This set would make a lovely gift for someone who likes to send snail mail, or you could frame them up for inexpensive wall art. And finally, an extra special hand embellished version of my Work & Time print. A reminder that all this stuff takes work and time, and that isn't a bad thing!! This is a celebration of patience and persistence. The background shines with metallic gold and the flowers and vines are painted with rich watercolor.
There are lots of other designs to explore at PotionsPress. And if you are local to Burlington you can find me in person at the BCA Holiday Market, December 5th and 6th at City Hall Park. Thank you so much for supporting my small art business and Happy Holidays! |