THE
SAGEBRUSH SERIGRAPH SERIES is a print and
paper-making expression of the unique
character of a principal shrub of the Great
Basin Desert. The fragrant leaves and flowers
of ancient Basin Big Sage (Artemisia
tridentata) so familiar in the tales of the
old west, shelter small mammals and birds
from the sweltering summer sun and the biting
winter winds. Bees and butterflies relish the
sprays of rich golden-yellow flowers that
appear in the late summer.
Combining
our skills as printmakers and watercolorists
with love of our natural surroundings and our
restoration work with native plants of the Great Basin and Sage
Brush Steppe seemed perfectly
appropriate for this project. Especially as
we observed the attributes which made the
Sagebrush a distinctive part of life for the
Native Americans as medicinal plant, element
in clothing manufacture and winter fuel. The
tough fibers and inner bark would be an
excellent component of handmade paper.
Without
a doubt, the hand-cut stencil serigraph printing
process would communicate the
intricate convoluted growth habit of the
sagebrush shrub perfectly. We set about
drawing the individual shrubs, creating the
screen for printing and mixing an ink that
would complement the paper and drawing.
The
Sagebrush Serigraph Series project is
presented here. We invite you to explore our web site to learn more.
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