Today is the last day of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and it seemed appropriate to pay homage to its fearsome, feisty nature. Ever since I discovered the red and gold Chinese dragon puppet at the Art Institute of Chicago in December of 2011, I have been captured by its undulating form.
Using the whole surface of my latest linoleum cut, I printed it black-on-white on a quarter-sheet (approximately 11 X 15) of Arches Cold-Press 140 lb paper. The shapes lend themselves readily to the dragons depicted in ancient Asian silkscreens, paintings and panels. Oftentimes in Western culture the dragon is construed as evil and destructive, but in Eastern traditions it is a fierce protector and a benevolent force that keeps evil and misfortune at bay.
The Twin Dragons is my whimsical effort to capture the mystical spirit of these mythological creatures. As we enter into the Year of the Snake, may it be one of good fortune.
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