printmaking

What Sam Sees

What I See: Go On Shepherd and Lamb

by Sam Kee

My good friend Sam Kee wrote a nice essay about my little shepherd print. I marvel at how and what Sam sees in my art. If you want to read it it’s over at the Color of Dust Substack– no pay-wall. While Sam gives me more credit than I deserve, he truly helps me to see what I am, sometimes blindly, about. Every artist should be so fortunate to have friends who are willing to engage their work on such a deep level. Somehow I have more than a handful of them and I’m mighty grateful.

I’ve also released a second edition of this print for sale over at Baumwerkshop.com if you are interested. The stock might be low at the moment but there are more coming.

Sacred Heart

This drawing is part of The Diary of a Tree Standing on it’s Head series I’ve been working on.

I also decided to make some prints of this one. They are for sale here at Baumwerkshop.com

Gilding A Divine Oath

The painting is back on the easel after a resting since spring. Gilding the letters of the divine and sacred promise to the land at the threshold of the picture was the first order, now I am glazing the purple field behind them, before addressing the errors in the gilding.

All the work is prayer- engaging EVERYTHING through the materials their resistance the colored dust the stillness the distractions the sable bristles the sticky oil the waiting the music in the background looking at Giotto interruptions aching neck lunch the glory the emptiness the inspired seeing fires skunks under the floor cold hands the failures and doubt exaltation pulling off a difficult passage looking at Gerard David the heavens the earth instinct the breathe the blood the sighing lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.

Go On, Adam, Breathe

“Go On, Adam, Breathe” a new linocut

This linocut of the Creator God breathing life and spirit into Adam is based off of an earlier drawing I made a number of years ago.

I’ve also printed a few colored versions from this block as well. All of these prints are available for sale in my store, baumwerkshop.com.

Artful

Today my work will be featured on a segment of a television show called “Artful”, produced by Monument tv. It will air at 8 am MST and then again at 1 pm on the BYU tv channel, and then it will be available for streaming after that on the BYU TV website. While I haven’t yet seen it myself, the other episodes are beautifully and sensitively done, and my experience with the production team was truly delightful and meaningful. I hope that you will have a chance to take a look.

Go On, Brother Lawrence

Go On, Brother Lawrence is a small wood engraving, carved and printed by hand from a boxwood block. Brother Lawrence (born Nicolas Herman) was a 17th century Discalced (barefoot) Carmelite monk. I will fall short to try to describe him in a brief statement, rather, I encourage you to read the small collection of his letters and conversations, Practicing the Presence of God. He has been a significant influence in my faith and work since I first encountered him in art school, over two decades ago. Brother Lawrence sought out the presence of God at all times and in all things, notably, in his daily labor as a cook and dishwasher and later as a repairer of sandals- the subject of this print- and in so many ways he became the present Christ to very many who came into contact with him.

If you would like to purchase one of these prints they are available in my store, Baumwerkshop.

the boxwood block during the carving process
the block in an early state, inked for proofing
block and print
the original drawing from my sketchbook

The Stone Hefter

The Stone Hefter is a small (3″ x 5″) wood engraving that I first carved and printed in 2020. I think it must have struck a chord with people dealing with the weight of the pandemic and the resulting economic and cultural fallout. The first edition of 40 prints sold out rather quickly (for me) so I have printed a second edition on cream paper (the first was on white). It is available to purchase here.

The following is a sheet I typed up concerning the symbolism and some of the personal meaning of the piece.

Vox Universi

Vox Universi, 2021, wood engraving, 4″ x 6″

Vox Universi (the sound of the Universe), is a little wood engraving carved from a block of Resingrave. It is a simple reflection on “non-profession music”, prayer, a celebration of the concertina, being slow, planting oak trees: things like that. If you want to buy one they are available here.