February 2009

Finally picked a process for the pod prints. The decision weighed linoleum vs. wood vs. silk screen, but was quickly narrowed down to woodcuts and/or screen prints, with wood winning (for now). No pickled peppers were involved.

With the block cut and satisfactory proofs pulled, consideration is now being given as to what should be encased within (?) and whether all obvious references, along with cliches and puns, should be summarily ruled out or entertained (??).

Well, it is entertaining to consider peas. Or peace. Or Ps. In a pod.

Today begins the Celtic month of the ash tree and the last month of winter. Each of the tree months corresponds to a tree and a letter of the Ogham alphabet. Part of the trilogy of sacred trees, or the faerie triad (with oak and hawthorn), the ash represents the month of Nion/Nuin and the letter N. (And. . . since Master Gardening classes have been underway since January, maybe the proper name should be used: Oleaceae fraxinus.)

Although initial individual printings of the ash tree lino blocks were completed months ago, it was just last week that the three blocks were combined into one print. At least one of these will serve as the basis for Isaac’s Tree, which will combine imagery associated with this month. Other symbols of the sign include black and white gulls (terns), the sea-god, Lir, and the wood anemone. Who’s to say that the sea-god didn’t look like a fish?