The act of carving images from woodblock has become a peaceful part of my practice, rooted in my desire to find habits that encourage traction over distraction. These are often about internal experiences displayed in landscape and illustration.
Inosculation (2022) Woodblock Print, edition of 5 20 x 16 inch print on 24 x 18 inch cotton rag paper Trees that forge together due to proximity over time - this work was inspired by two months spent living at a family member’s home during Spring 2020, which was very early in Covid and no one was sure what was happening. Experiencing loss and simultaneous deep connection caused me to reflect on the ways bonds are formed and maintained and how deeply affected we are by loss when we are also deeply connected.
Wandering with Anxiety (2022) Three Layer Reduction Woodcut, edition of 4, 24 x 18 inch print on 28 x 22 inch cotton rag paper A playful work about befriending your monsters, Wandering with Anxiety, came from a need to learn how to keep going through life while experiencing anxiety. The book “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” is a continued influence on my desire to make friends with the shadows of myself. Creating a woodblock requires a lot of focus and repetition, an act that doesn’t allow for distraction or numbing uncomfortable feelings, making it a material exploration of sitting with emotions as well. The creation and the subject both explore what it is like to sit with anxiety and see what lessons it can offer.
Citing Resilience is Not an Excuse for Abuse (2023) 8x10” woodcut print on ~9x11” handmade paper Growth and resilience require friction and hardship, but saying one is resilient isn’t a reason to sit by and allow abuse or destruction. This tree is one of many cherry trees in the DC Tidal Basin facing complete flooding in the next few years. This one is almost dead but still grows a few blossoms from one place each year, tragically and beautifully.