Sweet Prints
Louis and his dad discuss their next move.
Animals can play unique and complicated roles in our lives. Louis did that but mostly he was just a damn sweet cat. He saw my husband through his 20s into middle age. A witness, an accomplice, a constant friend. I only knew him for a few of his 19 years but when the vet called to say the reason he’d quit eating was not an infected tooth but an inoperable tumor I still curled up on the floor and sobbed. I will always be grateful that he died two weeks before we moved. We could no longer stand to look at the place.
My sweet friend.
After we moved to Charlottesville we knew it would be just a matter of time before we filled the hole in our house with a new furry friend. Or, let’s be honest, two. But I felt like I needed to do something to help me say goodbye.
New City Arts held a wonderful printmaking workshop hosted by the Abigail Wilson. So of course I had to run home and start cutting.
Block print of Lou carved into a “Speedy Carve soft block,” a rubbery material.
My carving was crude. But the bold cuts and black ink reminded me that in spite of the roles we put on him, Lou was still an animal.
For a medium, I picked up four Dollar Store greeting cards that summed up all that Lou was to us.
Hmmmmm……
When card-shopping, I brought a clear acetate sheet with the block print image with me to test out different overlays. Pastel was used to add some interest and contrast to the designs. Each card was mounted to colored card stock and foam core. Edges were painted with acrylics blended to match.
I still get teary sometimes when I look at these prints. But they helped me open my heart back up. At least enough to make room for these guys.
