A Seamus Heaney token

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Seamus Heaney passed away in August and I’ve been meaning to find time to make a little piece as a tribute to him. This little poem is from his book The Death of a Naturalist published in 1966 by Faber & Faber, his first major book release. While Digging may be a piece that is often quoted or printed, it’s still one of my favorites. Maybe because of my own childhood memories of digging potatoes or perhaps because now I look at the vast contrast my life and profession has as compared to my father or grandfather. Heaney dug with his pen and I dig with my 26 soldiers of lead.

Digging, by Seamus Heaney

Digging, by Seamus Heaney

Composed in 14pt Janson with a Garamond title and printed on grey Whiting 80# stock, 7.25 x 11″. Not for sale but if you are one of my collectors expect to find one in your mail box soon.

Musing with Oscar Wilde

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I’ve been working toward some sort of release for The Nightingale and the Rose for a few years now so I’m not sure why it’s taken me until recently to delve back into all the other short stories that Oscar Wilde charmed me with in the beginning. New idea.

Oscar Wilde

I wouldn’t mind doing another engraving or two for it. That’s the fun part for me when I get to draw again and carve copper – after doing linoleum blocks for the last book and broadside I am ready to get back to my first love, intaglio, and have the line I carve be the line that prints. Returning to some figurative work could be fun as well which got me thinking about my Black Angel print project again and… So.

How about a small collection of favorite Oscar Wilde short stories? Maybe three or four of them,  I’m fond of The Canterville Ghost and The Selfish Giant at the moment but there are still a few pieces I need to read again. I don’t think a fine press has paid attention to Wilde’s short stories lately (please correct me if I’m wrong) while many have lavished detail on the plays. Beardsley’s Salome illustrations leave an indelible mark on one’s book brain.

I’d be happy to hear from anyone reading if they had a favorite candidate for inclusion.