Her Own Drum

"...choose a place where you won't do very much harm and stand in it for all your worth, facing the sunshine." -E.M. Forster

I've been busy this past month exploring printmaking. My goal for 2025 is to do as much printmaking as I can.

"Her own Drum" 4"x6" linocut on 8"x10" Hosho paper

I was included in a print exchange at Remarque Print Studios in Albuquerque, NM. My initial thought was to make a reduction print of this image. It didn't work. As it was similar in style to another piece, I went with the same rainbow roll of colors. This works better.

Wait, what's a print exchange? You create an edition of prints based on the host's criteria. Remarque asked for eleven prints on 8"x10" paper. The image itself could be any size and did not need to fill the page. The host keeps one for their gallery and sends the remainder to the other participants. I don't who will receive my print and I don't know whose prints I'll receive.

This is kind of the beauty of printmaking and most of the printmakers I've met. People are willing to share their work. So, I entered another one. The host is Open Press Project. I need to create an edition of ten prints no bigger than seven centimeters square. For those of us who don't speak metric, it's less than three inches. Yeah, that's a small space to create something compelling. The prints need to be in Germany by April 1st.

"Part of the Process" 4"x6" linocut on 6"x9" mulberry paper

Art will always lead to more art. I wanted to continue the wild, flying hair image. I call the work "Part of the Process."

This is how art gets made at least in my studio. I set my intent, turn on the music, and occasionally I am moved to dance.

I used the same rainbow roll and hand-crafted inks for this piece as I did for the other two. If I continue in this series, the same energetic marks will help to tie these together.

This started as a life drawing. Scout is so convenient to draw and often sits like this paws crossed. Never sure what the look on his face means though.

"Adopt" 3"x4" linocut on 5"x7" on kitakata paper

When I started carving the block, I became suspicious of my own motives. The first prints I pulled confirmed my feeling. I'm a big proponent of animal adoption. All of my pets have either come from a shelter or rescue organization. Scout jumped in my lap at the SPCA.

What grabbed me were the diagonals in the background. It looks like a cage. What dog wouldn't want to run free? Next is a cat version.

"Wild Carrot" 4"x6" linocut on 6"x9" mulberry paper

I dreamed of a carrot one night. The next day I drew this. Scotland based printmaker Laura Boswell focuses specifically on reduction prints. Her work inspired me to try new things. This was my first attempt using her methods and I learned a lot.

None of this should come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, but I've always moved to the beat of my own drum. (Different Drum by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys - in case you need to dance.) Conformity has always been optional and must be based on common sense, public safety, and serve a larger group. I protest the squishy definitions of what it means to be a grown up or to be female. Creating equity and acceptance are very powerful things. Appreciating someone's difference makes space for your opinions and thoughts. Equity does not subjugate or drag anyone down. Yes, it challenges hierarchy, but it's real job is to lift everyone to a shared humanity.

We just saw on day ten what speaking up can do. Do not remain silent. Do not panic. Take care of each other.