Stamping Out Folk Art

The paintings I’ve posted today are two versions of a folk paper cut depicting what appears to be a horned bovine creature. I used the paper cut directly as a collage in the larger work after first using it as a stencil on the small paper. For the small work, I basically painted over the form - making it into something else but still maintaining the folk art look. In the larger collage I almost completely obscured the subject by applying a stamped design across the entire surface. Then I carefully manipulated more colors around the center so that the subject would partially reappear. The addition of an eye especially brings the creature quality back to the collage. The red print from a stone stamp on the left side is a poem about an exile without a home. I had used this stamp in a series of handmade books and saw that I had an extra print. A very fragmented print of Chinese oracle bone characters is on the right. It reads, “the fisherman.”The paintings I’ve posted today are two versions of a folk paper cut depicting what appears to be a horned bovine creature. I used the paper cut directly as a collage in the larger work after first using it as a stencil on the small paper. For the small work, I basically painted over the form - making it into something else but still maintaining the folk art look. In the larger collage I almost completely obscured the subject by applying a stamped design across the entire surface. Then I carefully manipulated more colors around the center so that the subject would partially reappear. The addition of an eye especially brings the creature quality back to the collage. The red print from a stone stamp on the left side is a poem about an exile without a home. I had used this stamp in a series of handmade books and saw that I had an extra print. A very fragmented print of Chinese oracle bone characters is on the right. It reads, “the fisherman.”


I enjoyed working with the stamped design. It created a texture that a brush could never do.

Yesterday I made an arrangement for yet another one-woman show that this painting might make it into. At least the small one will as it will be an exhibition of small works. The show will be in March so it is a little early to advertise details. But I’ll probably post details on my website in a few days.