Hello everyone! I am happy to share with you a new print and how my trip down to Austin went!

First off Austin: I flew down into Austin Jan 30th where thing started off really well. At my car rental, they ran out of their basic little sedans so I got upgraded to a sweet convertible! The next day I set up for the Print Austin EXPO. It was a three day exhibit of printmakers form all across the county and even some from Mexico and Cuba! The print EXPO is part of Print Austin’s month long celebration and awareness of the printmaking practice. I had to pack all of my stuff into two suit cases for the show! so it defiantly took some creative thinking to setup my booth. The show went from Friday night-Sunday. As far as sales goes it was ok, but I did get to meet some really great printmakers, and I made a lot of connections! It was a great honor to be among some of the best printmakers in the country! After the show my grandparents came down to pick me up and I got to spend a week with them. My grandpa also turned 75 the day after I left so I got to celebrate with them which was really great!

The second thing I want to share with you is my latest print! This print encompasses a lot. This is the second piece in my new direction inspired by William Morris and for this piece I wanted the border to be more involved and connected with the piece itself. I have been wanting to do a big tree print for sometime, and the oak tree is my favorite tree. When I was growing up I would always be climbing on them or running through the woods filled with oak trees. This Tree I found over the summer on a hike with my family. I snapped some pictures of it and that tree became the base inspiration for the the print. I had some leaf elements I had drawn since last fall that I have been trying to incorporate into some piece, It was a bit much for a continuing pattern but made a good element. I then like the idea of an oval around the tree filled on but the greater rectangle. After that I had to decide what to fill in the border with. I finally ended up with putting animals in that you would find in or near the tree. This included, red finches, a rabbit, and a squirrel. After the sketch was completed I transferred it onto the block and began carving. This print is around 11x14, It took about a month to do, I spent close to two and half weeks carving it. The title for this piece “If they’re going to make a shadow out of me” comes from a song by Joe Pug, a folk singer. In the song the first part of the lyrics go:

“if they’re going to make a shadow out of me,

Well, I guess I’ll be the shadow of that post oak tree

In the forest your house where we used to meet”

It a really good song and I was taken with the lyrics, I will link the song below for those who want to listen. I also have a process video of the making of the print!