#12 - 30 Prints in 30 Days (Hippo Mandala)

"Hippo Mandala"

Collograph with foam pieces and then linocut stamping

17.5" x 18.5"

Water based ink on Kozo paper

Edition of 2

Available for purchase here.

Walking around in the heat, it is so nice to know the cool relief of the river is only a stone's throw away. Minutes from now, sink, and dive, and splash! Wet, wet, glorious wet. Depths of liquid that take away the immense weight of legs like trunks of trees, tremendous belly, and massive head. This flowing space in the landscape that transforms the lumbering beast into a graceful ballerina.

#11 - 30 Prints in 30 Days (Waiting for Breakfast)

"Waiting for Breakfast"

7.5" x 5"

Water based ink on black Stonehenge paper

Edition of 6

Available for purchase here.

He sauntered into the kitchen, sleek, hungry and full of expectations. The morning sun, obscured by the big tree in the back yard, shined dimly through the small windows, casting his shadow on the cool, linoleum floor. He paused a foot from his bowls, looked over his shoulder, and let out a single mew, just to make sure I noticed.

#10 - 30 Prints in 30 Days (Water Mandala)

"Water Mandala"

Collograph with linocut stamping

Water based inks on blue Subi paper

9" x 9"

This is the first print in this month-long project that I'm not putting up for sale. Even at a low price, the craft is just not up to par. I like the concept of the print, but it just wasn't something I could do in a day, certainly not a day where I was taking care of kids for 12 hours! One of the most difficult aspects of making one whole print in a single day is coming up with ideas that are small and simple enough to do them justice in such a limited amount of time. As a work-from-home mother, I am greatly inspired by artist Nikki McClure. I discovered her book Awake to Nap in a local book store. It features a series of stunning yet simple cut paper pieces she did in her spare time while pregnant and when her child was first born. She would create them in the little pockets of time in between all her other responsibilities, such as when the baby was napping. Each image illustrates a letter of the alphabet, but book ends long before "Z" because McClure's life and time no longer accommodated the project. In this way, the book becomes quite personal and honest.

I need to think simpler. I'm interested in making some mandalas, but I need to hone on a more specific subject that will lend itself to a clean and complete execution. That said, I'm glad I made this print. As I said, I like the concept. I just need to take at least a couple weeks to work on it and enlarge the scale to do it properly.

#9 - 30 Prints in 30 Days (Wood Horse Marionette)

"Wood Horse Marionette"

Linocut

4" x 6"(image) 7.5" x 10" (paper)

Water based inks on cream-colored Stonehenge paper

Edition of 4

Available for purchase here.

In an attempt to loosen up and be more expressive, I produce something even more still and geometric.

#8 - 30 Prints in 30 Days (Unicorn Marionette)

"Unicorn Marionette"

Woodcut with hand coloring

Oil based ink and watercolors on Rives BFK

3" x 4" (image) 5.5" x 7.5" (paper)

Available for purchase here.

This marionette reminds me of Sesame Street characters, what with the simple shapes, solid colors, and wide-open eyes and mouth that make up an expression of almost maniacal cheeriness. I have always liked children's puppet shows. There is something magical about a puppeteer performing so convincingly within the natural limitations of his or her craft. It takes real talent and skill to get the audience to either forget or simply not care that they can see the strings, or that they never get to see a character's lower half.

I tried to get this little unicorn bouncing around a bit with his head cocked, as if inviting the viewer to dance along with him. I like the idea that my image of a marionette is carved out of wood (and obviously so), since it parallels the obvious artificial characteristics of real puppets. Maybe puppets can be so endearing because they bring the audience so close to the artist, as there is little mystery as to the mechanics going on, but real mastering in working the mechanics. Elmo is arguably the most famous puppet character ever, but there is nothing special about the actual puppet. For years this plain, red, monster puppet was merely a background character, brought to life by many different puppeteers. It was only when Kevin Clash picked him up and created a voice and laugh and distinct way of moving around that Elmo became the hit he is today with young children. I keep making these horse (okay, in this case unicorn) marionette prints, trying to get one to really come to life. I feel I might be getting closer, but I'm definitely not yet there.

#7 - 30 Prints in 30 Day (Plastic Hippo)

"Plastic Hippo"

Woodcut (4 color reduction)

4" x 4"(image) 5.5" x 7.5" (paper)

Water-based inks on Rives BFK

Edition of 6

Available for purchase here.

Took another stab at depicting my daughter's new model hippo. Her love of hippos began with her many cleverly written and happily illustrated Sandra Boynton books, such as Hippos Go Berserk.

I'm rather pleased with this final image. The colors are so cheery, a fun contrast to that wide open mouth with giant canines and incisors. It is an odd thing that children so delight in cute toys and stories about animals, which in reality are quite dangerous. Real hippos have killed more people than lions, despite being herbivores (not to mention being such a cute, roly poly shape.) The Straight Dope has a rather colorful article on the subject. We like to protect children from such harsh realities. Like Boynton's illustrations, take the vicious hippo and replace the large, sharp teeth with a silly smile (and maybe some fuzzy pajamas.) Of course there's a logic to this sheltering. Children are too inexperienced to put things like a boatman being chomped to death for accidentally getting between a mama and baby hippo into a larger context, and particularly sensitive children might come to fear hippos in perfectly safe environments, such as the zoo. And by first acquainting children with appealing and benign images of animals, we establish positive associations that can motivate an interest in learning about animals, and a sense of love and respect for them. After all, are horrific these deadly encounters with them are, wild animals only do what comes to them naturally. If we love, respect, and learn about them, we'll find better ways to avoid getting chomped.

#6 - 30 Prints in 30 Days (Hippos)

"Hippos" (original collograph)

9" x 6"

Water based ink on green Subi paper

Artist's Proof

Available for purchase here.

This image is inspired by a plastic hippo toy I bought for my daughter this weekend. I'm just playing around again with collographs using foam pieces. This final image reminds me of batik, what with the bright color gradations within solid shapes surrounded by thick outlines. I did a second version of this print with corner pieces (click here to view on my Etsy store), although I think maybe I should add a lot more to it. Fill up all the negative space and really give these guys a habitat to roam and roar around in. I think I'll work on that...