Lily S. May–Life with Art
Our cold weather gave way to warmer temperatures earlier this week. And then yesterday and early today, came a big rain. So in keeping with the weather, here's a linocut I made many years ago. It's a small print called Raining Cats and Dogs, made under my birth name, Susan Barsel, ©1984.
Here's the third abstract linocut I made in 2006. It's another small one--5" x 7." I made the design from the shapes of fibres on a piece of wool felt I had made. I printed the image right side up and upside down on itself. When I looked at it, I saw a mask like… Continue reading Witness Linocut
This is another one of the abstract linocuts I made in 2006. I again printed the block upside down on itself which gives the print its symmetry.
Animals March linocut is one of a series of three abstract linocuts I made in 2006 that I submitted to BIMPE, the Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition. The print was selected for the show and was exhibited from June to September 2006 in British Columbia and in the Yukon. I made the design from the… Continue reading Animals March
I have one of my favourite linocuts hanging in my work room. Here’s a photo of it, wrinkles and all. I made this linocut in 1990 under my birth name, so not to wonder what’s up with the name—if you’re interested in such things. I call this print The Rose Tattoo after a dream I… Continue reading The Rose Tattoo Linocut
I just got back from Newfoundland where Celtic music was frequently playing. This got me thinking about a coloured linocut I made in the 1980s in response to a wonderful concert I heard at the Owen Sound Folk Festival in Ontario. One night I heard the Scottish folksinger Archie Fisher who, I believe, was accompanied… Continue reading Celtic Music Inspired Linocut
Origami Booklet from Linocut by Lily S. MayThis is another folded booklet I've made in the past month or two from an old linocut. It was an image of a mythological mother nature becoming a tree and was another subtraction print. That is, I made it from one block that I progressively cut away and… Continue reading Folded Linocut Booklet
In an earlier post, I showed two origami models I made from old prints. Here's another related model, though more complex than the previous ones. I love this puzzle purse design which you can open and close with a twist. I used part of an old woodcut to fold the model. When closed, it measures 3 inches… Continue reading Woodcut Origami
I’m continuing to refashion my old linocuts and woodcuts. I’ve been thinking of quilting some of my prints for a few years and decided to begin the process with this small 5 x 7 inch linocut. Once again, my aim was to do the work with a sense of freedom. That’s why I used large… Continue reading Paper Quilt from “Flower Elephants” Linocut
As I’ve continued looking through my old prints and refashioning them, I came upon another linocut I made in the 1970s that I called Roots and Ruins. This is a scene from my visits to the Virgin Islands years ago. A favourite site of mine was a place, now wooded, which had once held a… Continue reading Roots and Ruins
Arts of May 