Reynard in Winter, Solstice Fox, handprinted linocut card, © 2023 Patrick Norton

Handprinted linocut greeting card, 5" X 7" with envelope on acid-free paper. Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash oil-based ink. With cellophane sleeve.

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is in his den on a cold winter night, dreaming of chasing snowshoe hares. The silhouette of the west face of Mount Hood is in the background, with Canis Major chasing Lepus.

This image began with a drawing which I transfer to a piece of artist's linoleum (a version of the flooring material). I cut away the white areas with gouges (like small wood chisels but concave) leaving only the areas and lines intended to be black. I then ink the block with a roller and place in a forme, which is a sort of frame that holds the block in proper alignment with the paper to be printed on. I insert the paper or cardstock against the registration tabs, felt blankets are laid on top, and I roll the whole set through my press. The result is a reversed (R-L image of the carved block.