Aconitum

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The Monk, et al

Finally there are five prints to complete the Aconitum (monkshood) group in the As Potent as a Charm series! The final prints are designed to flank the first three, although they all work just as well individually.

mousebane

Aconitum, the bane of women and wolves, is reputed to be deadly to whales, tigers and leopards when used in poison darts; its scent alone is enough to fell a mouse. The situation is dire for the little mouse in the print, Mousebane, where the potential for herbal poisoning is the least of its worries.

beyond

Meanwhile, the monk now must consider unearthly entities to his left in the print, Beyond. Two more common names for the queen of poisons, derived from the appearance of the Aconitum flower, are suggested: a rocket (blue rocket) soars into the the night sky above the devilish gargoyle lurking in the shadows (devil’s helmet).

Browse previous posts for more information or visit As Potent as a Charm on my website.

beyond1_lores400  monk(s)hood  insomnia  the night wolf  mousebane

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devil's helmet sketch

Even though the initial three prints in the monkshood series, included in the Upstairs Downstairs exhibit earlier this year, worked fine as a triptych, I knew then that five was the magic number to complete the set of Aconitum inspired images. The ‘queen of poisons’ is probably best known as monkshood, but it also answers to leopard’s bane, devil’s helmet, blue rocket and mousebane (in addition to the previously depicted women’s bane and wolfsbane).

After many initial drawings of devils, the final sketch has him perched like a gargoyle, while the leopard eventually wound up on an overhead tree branch. Both drawings have been transferred to linoleum blocks and cutting has begun – printing can’t be far behind.

leopard's bane progress

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Aconitum, cont.

Joining Monk(s)hood are two additional prints, finished and framed and not a minute too soon!

monk(s)hood    insomnia    the night wolf

Monk(s)hood
Aconitum napellus

Insomnia
Wolfsbane
Aconitum lycoctonum

The Night Wolf
Women’s Bane

Artist’s Statement

Recently added to the current series, As Potent as a Charm, are three new prints based on plants of the genus, Aconitum. There are over 250 species of Aconitum, known as “the queen of poisons,” with common names for individual varieties derived from mythology, literature and appearance. The English name, Monkshood, describes the signature hood-like shape of the flower. Other names refer to its lethal qualities, including women’s bane, wolfsbane and mousebane. While humans and wolves require contact to succumb to the power of Aconitum, purportedly the smell alone is enough to kill a mouse.

The exhibited pieces are linoleum block prints. Initial drawing and design decisions are a large part of the process – determining the balance of light and dark and the ‘readability’ of the work is integral to the success of the final image. After the drawing is reversed and transferred to the block a variety of tools are used to cut the surface, leaving only the area to be printed. The relief prints in this series were hand printed with oil-based ink on Strathmore 500 Series vellum paper. Because the printing is done by hand, varying pressure can add tonal effects to the final image.

The series title, As Potent as a Charm, is a phrase taken from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story, Rappaccini’s Daughter. The title character, Beatrice, tends her father’s botanical collection of lovely, yet lethal plants. While ‘as potent as a charm’ refers to the specimens, it could just as well describe Beatrice who, as the story progresses, becomes just as lovely and lethal as the flowers she nurtures.

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Well, not exactly off the press, but definitely new. . .

Just as quickly as the holidays were over, the focus switched to new art for a January exhibit that was added to the calendar in November. It became a game of beat the clock as ideas and drawings turned into finished and framed work. The desire for completely new pieces meant that there would only be a few.

As a continuation of the Potent as a Charm series (see posts from September, 2013), the new prints feature specific poisonous plants, but this time without actually illustrating them.

monk(s)hood

Monk(s)hood
block print

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