Statement about the Prints

My mixed media method using my own sumi ink drawings, chine colle and printing produce unique individual works that seek beauty and tranquility. I experiment with the ink and splatter and let it run, varying lines and sometimes just make long brush strokes. On some I have added transparent watercolor tones. Some sumi ink I made myself from the charcoal in my campfires using egg yolk as a binder. This ink separates into larger granules than the professionally prepared sumi ink, forming textures. The various papers are important to the aesthetics of the works. In some of the special Japanese papers the fibers are so long that I can follow the form I wish to use in the image by simply dampening the paper with the point of a brush and then tearing exactly along that line. I fill all surfaces with sumi images knowing I will tear them up or mount them using Chine colle over wood grain or monotype washes. Then I will often print over the top.

I cut the pieces of wood into different shapes to suit my intentions. Some are burned while others are just printed as natural. This layering method has created textures and imagery that matters to me. I explore the potential creativity of the media and push it experimentally. My latest works combining wood grain prints with my sumi ink drawings using Chine colle and over printing to form ghost prints pushes boundaries and gives me a chance to develop layers of beauty while wrestling to solve difficult visual problems.

Meditative is the word that comes to mind to describe this process and the resulting works. The direct drawing using sumi ink and the simplistic printing process mimics the contemplative wealth provided to us by nature. Let’s realize that our wealth is not in the exploitation and monetary value of the land, but in the land itself - our foundation and source for aesthetics, art and cultural. Our hearts and land can be healed.

Unique Prints

Anhingas - 2009 - 20 X 9.5 - Linocut
Anhingas Melody - 2009 - 26 X 20 - Linocut & Woodblock
Arrow Plant - 2009 - 19 X 25 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Burn - 2009 - 25 X 19 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Conifers - 2008 - 25 X 19 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Dark Echos – 2010 - 22 X 30 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Drifting – 2010 - 14 X 12 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Duality – 2010 - 20 X 26 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Fall – 2009 – 22X15 – Sumi Ink, Woodgrain & Chine Colle
Falling Rock – 2009 – 25 X 20 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Leaves Floating – 2010 - 15 X 22 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Low Country -2009 - 25 X 19 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
On the Edge – 2009 – 11 X 15 – Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Pitcher Plants – 2009 – 20 X 26 – Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Reflection – 2010 - 16 X 23 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Screen – 2009 – 9.5 X 12.5 – Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Slant – 2009 – 11 X 7.5 – Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Snow – 2010 - 16.5 X 13 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Spring I - 2009 - 22.5 X 15 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Spring II - 2009 - 10 X 7 -Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Storm - 2009 - 20 X 25 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Thoughts of the River – 2009 – 25 X 19 – Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Turkey Oak Leaves – 2009 – 22 X 15 – Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Waterfalls - 2008 - 25 X 19 -Sumi Ink, Chine Colle & Wood Grain print
Wings – 2010 - 22 X 30 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Winter I - 2009 - 22.5 X 15 - Suni Ink, Wood Grain & Chine Colle
Winter II – 2009 – 25 X 20 - Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle
Woodlands – 2010 - 22 X 15 – Sumi Ink, Wood Grain and Chine Colle