Judge’s notes: I was mesmerized by this beautiful image. It has a dreaminess to it, as well as a glass-like quality. I sense the artist has the spirit of an alchemist, creating and experimenting to compose a beautiful place in another world. The deep inkiness creates a mysterious abyss beneath the surface while the intricacy of nature is on full display. The use of color in the fern is just beautiful.
Artist’s notes: This work uses a technique I created called "Echo Printing." I sandwich plant materials (in Touch of Frost, ferns from my garden), between sheets of specially treated printmaking paper. The paper/plant layers are placed between two wood plates that are fastened together. The bundle is steamed in a dye bath for 1-2 hours. The paper is then rinsed and dried for a couple of days. After the prints are dry I paint them with watercolor and ink. Every print, usually six in a run, has an image on both sides. Each run of prints is an experiment and the results always a surprise!