Artist Statement

My work is inspired by experiences I have while hiking in the deserts of the American West and northern Mexico. While these desert regions are sparse, they are surprisingly rich in biodiversity. This arid abundance creates beautifully stark wildernesses. It is the wild plant forms in these landscapes – the chalky yet silky saguaro rib, the fine fibers that feather and spin off of a yucca blade – that inspire this body of prints. These are plants that I touch, taste, admire and am fascinated with. I have used the medium of woodcutting to capture the essence of these wild forms. The woodcut process allows me the flexibility to print large areas of color and also the ability to carve down to the minutest details. Thus, while the scale of the prints is imposing, like the desert itself, the images attempt to capture the subtle unexpected elements to draw the viewer in. Large and minute, simple and complex –these core desert elements are themes that fuel my creativity.
About Abe

About Abe

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