Roadmap to Wellness III

This is a reduction cut print, also known as a suicide cut. I carved a single 12"x12" sheet of linoleum in three separate stages. At the end of each stage I printed in a different color (yellow, green, dark violet) and experimented with some wiping techniques. I'm not as happy with this as my other printmaking projects, but the process was so interesting and intense that I felt I had to share them.

This project produced three unique monoprints, two of which I've posted to this site. The theme for the project was "Mapping." This is a map of the concept of "wellness" as it might have been interpreted by a doctor, alchemist, or printmaker in the 16th century. Wellness here is composed of several more or less ambiguous symbols relating to one's genetics, environment, and lifestyle. The birds represent the four seasons and "humors."

Dedicated to my aunt Donna, whose bravery and sense of humor in the face of terminal cancer was an inspiration for this project.