Sometimes I make a print or drawing with something specific in mind, like a character or action. This print is an example of just that. The original drawing was simply of the two squirrels… one reaching towards the heavens. Redrawing the image on my woodblock revealed something else entirely as I had reasoned that the squirrel had to be standing on top of something.
All my work has a narrative streak and this one had in my head a narrative surrounding the squirrel at the top. However, isn’t it always the way it is, that some person or story always seems to overshadow some other no less important story or character or idea. In many ways I had placed myself in the character of the squirrel. After all, art-making certainly centers around the artist and like it or not, I’m not immune to the narcissistic inclinations most artists have (or maybe it is just me). The other story, the untold story is the impact that those seemingly unknown characters have on our lives. The quieter side of our existence. This is what I finally decided to honor with this print, though it’s certainly not to discredit the actions of the more active or ambitious.
It was quite a humbling experience really trying to place myself in the place of the stalwart musk ox. I wanted him to be recognized. I wanted to be recognized. What a strong desire we have to be known, credited and appreciated. The reality is though that this rarely happens, and so there are two ways to go from there…and the musk ox is no different.
Outwardly, there are multiple characters in this print, but the more I view it I start to think that these are two important facets of one self. Two parts of a whole. For what is one without the other.
More than anything else though, this print is ‘thank you,’ and you know who you are.
