Self-Portrait Linocut by Beck

I love Black and White...   I love Faces...  and I love the strength of these lines..

This is one of my favourite artworks....  It was done by my daughter, Rebecca.  

This piece hangs where I can see it when I enter the house... 

She stares across the room towards the front door... watching all who enter.

... rather like a Guardian...

 She hangs just above the steel wood rack ... the fuel for our homes hearth...
...perhaps she guards over our warmth too...

...oh and along with John who keeps the wood rack filled and the fires stoked.

Linocut self-portrait approx. size 6" x 9"...  

Antique frame 15" x 17".. used as I found it, chips and all... I like things that show their life ... 

...Hornet's nest and tiny bird nest on twig hang above.
... the heavy duty 5' tall wood rack, John made.

Rebecca lives happily in Saint John, New Brunswick with Stephen, Hannah, Callum and Ben... my darlings, All. 

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The Sunflower

The very first Linocut I ever did... early last December....

I waited so long to try this technique... gathering the tools, the ink,the blocks, the paper... all I needed was the nerve.... these materials had sat in a box on my shelf for several years and I continually would not let myself use them... I didn't know how to do it... I never saw anyone do it before... all I ever saw were finished pieces...
...with their crisp strong black & white lines.... beautiful lines...

Then one day came.... I had no other task vying for my attention.... I took the box off the shelf and started making myself familiar with the tools...... and at last began.....
cutting into the block with the sharp "V" tool felt so good.... it was one of those activities that when you start it is hard to stop............ I was afraid of that!.....

I loved it!...

I chose a Sunflower for its boldness and the feelings they conjure up when I see them in bloom...... joy... warmth... happiness.......
..... their heads turning with the sun as they follow it..... from early morning till sunset.... you really can't feel sad when you look at a sunflower... They make you feel good.... They almost make you smile....


But then it happened again...... it took a couple of months for me to get up more nerve to actually print it....
It just sat there on the shelf looking at me... I saw it every time I passed... I looked for it.... I liked looking at it.... I picked it up several times & wanted to print it.... I liked holding it... I loved it... the texture felt soooo nice... but something held me back.... suppose it was fear... of the unknown... maybe it wouldn't work... I never did it before.... would I have time for it...

Funny thing to be timid of trying something new.... something as simple as this... I couldn't stand it any longer... I dove in & did it... rolled on the ink & printed one after the other....

Ahhhhhhhh......... What a relief........

.........I have found another art form that I have fallen in love with....

approx. 2½" x 2½" printed on white card stock