Collaborative Linocut with Lysi: "The X Dress"

This is a 6" x 9" (full bleed) linocut with hand watercolor painting. It is a collaborative piece by me and my 7-year-old daughter Lysi. It started as a drawing (second image below) she did from observation of her little sister Bebe. Bebe was kneeling down at coffee table drawing, and Lysi and I were sitting on a couch behind her. I gave her a couple suggestions and pointed out some details when she became frustrated, but she drew it all herself. I loved the drawing so much that later I transferred it to a linoblock and turned it into a print so we could make colored versions. The first image here is the one I colored. Lysi colored the one with baloons and another girl in the background (the original drawing was done at a friend's birthday party) and the final version was colored by Bebe.

"Pre-ballet"

"Pre-ballet"
Woodcut reduction, 4 layers of color
Image 3.5" x 4", Paper 5.5" x 8"
Water based inks on 100 lb. smooth Bristol paper
Limited edition of 6
Available for purchase here.

Those who know me probably recognize my oldest daughter in this image. She has been taking Pre-ballet for 2 years already, and has another year to go before she'll be in "real" ballet class. But she dances all the time in her pink leotard, tutu, and little pink slippers.

I created this print as an end of school year gift for my daughter's dance teacher. She is one of those people who is always joyful and patient around young children. After the kids' end of year performance - which only lasted a few minutes - she beamed with pride and I swear I saw her eyes watering. Great teachers are priceless.

Below you can see the preliminary pencil drawing and what the wood block looked like by the time I was finished.