December Morning
Opening my bedroom curtains one morning in deepest midwinter, I witnessed the dawn flight of the rooks from the head of our valley: each day at dawn and dusk they fly all the way down, then all the way back up, passing right outside our windows as we are halfway up the hillside. At most times of the year we miss this flight as it comes too early to witness. But in December it comes as a welcome reminder of the life still holding out against the bitter cold and long darkness of the shortest days of the year.
December Morning was my first attempt at a reduction linocut, and so the edition of nine was hand pulled across seven different Japanese papers: Bunkoshi, Kitakata, Okawara, Hosho, Botan, Kozo and Kawanaka. Each paper has given the print an unique feel, with some copies of the edition appearing crisper, whilst others have been softened by the fibres of the paper.
Seven layer reduction linocut, edition of 9
Hand pulled using oil based ink on a plethora of Japanese papers
Printed area approx 15x20cm, paper approx A4
