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    • Aug 11, 2020

Printmaking & Cesaria Evora

I found this piece I started a year ago and just never got around to finishing. At first I was wondering why the heck I had put a pause on finishing it....and then I started carving the spiral curls on one of my ladies....and then I remembered....whose smart idea was it to carve her afro like this?!?!? Right...that would be me from a year ago. Slow and steady and I may actually get this carved, printed and done before summers end.

A photograph of a linoprint block in half carved out. The block print appreas to be the beginning of a plate of a seated african woman having her hair combed by another African woman who is stood behind her. The carver's had is in the frame holding a carving tool.

I spent a week slowly plugging away at this block. A little bit every day when my hands are steady....a little here...a little there....pause to make kissy face with the puppies....stretch my hands....kiss the puppies some more....get back to carving while singing along to Cesaria Evora in the background.

A photograph of a linoprint block in half carved out. The block print appreas to be the beginning of a plate of a seated african woman having her hair combed by another African woman who is stood behind her. There are carving tools and a sharpening block towards the edges of the frame.

I spent a week slowly plugging away at this block. A little bit every day when my hands are steady....a little here...a little there....pause to make kissy face with the puppies....stretch my hands....kiss the puppies some more....get back to carving while singing along to Cesaria Evora in the background. I forgot how much I love the sound of her music. If you have never heard of her go check her out. She was a Cape Verdian (African Island nation off the coast of West Africa) singer songwriter whose voice makes me feel like I'm home. Go have a listen to one of her songs...my favorites are Nho Antone Escaderode, Mae Velha, Sodade or Partida and let me know what you think in the comments below. Back to the block, after days of slowly chipping away at it, I was done and finally pulled a rushed test print off that block. I think she needs a few tweaks but I'm kinda happy with how it turned our. There is cleaning up to do...but imma put this one down in the win column. What do you think?

A photograph of a test print of a linoblock. The block print is of a seated african/black woman having her hair combed by another African/Black woman. Printed in black ink on a brown butchers paper.

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