40 years of linocuts

Work I created in 1974!

My mother visited me last week and, to my surprise, she gave me a bag of my childhood artwork.

1974 seems like yesterday, but it was 40 years ago!

My mother even brought my original linoleum cutters, and I want to post them. When I was a child, I used Speedball linoleum cutters. They were made of wood and cost $1.50. I carved a lot of architectural structures and landscapes back then, but I am showing you this block because it was my first portrait (of my teacher). I liked postage stamps back then and I remember thinking how a face would look on a "modern stamp". We didn't have the Internet to reference anything, and had to draw from live models -- teachers, family, friends, pets, buildings.

linocut on dictionary page by Suzanne Coley
(block carved 1974, printed 2014, limited edition of 40)

My first linoleum block portrait carved in 1974.

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