Old work: Woodcut and etching

While moving things from my old studio space (becoming a third bedroom as we try and sell our house) to the garage (becoming my cluttered new ceramics studio slash woodshop) I decided to photograph some of my old work as I went along.

This first piece was inspired by geese. It’s titled “Peace is.” Walking across campus as a student, often after dark, I looked up and saw geese silhouetted against an overcast sky — the overcast sky reflecting the dull orange city light. I liked this imagery.

The second image is a woodcut I did after a sketch of a pipe organ on the Concordia University campus in Seward, Nebraska. I titled this one “Quiet.” It’s not the best of woodcuts, but I must like it as I don’t keep all that many things around for so long, this work being about 8 years old. I grew up listening to the dirge-like noise of electric organs in fundamental churches which left a bad taste in my mouth. In college I dated a girl at Concordia, however, who introduced me to actual pipe organs. I learned to love the instruments — the real instrument, the one with pipes and air — then and still appreciate it today.

I only took one printmaking class in college, and haven’t really toyed around with the process since. I do like the process, however, and wouldn’t mind — if by some miracle time and finances allowed in the future — to mess around with it again.