Suspicious Animals Take Stock of Their Surroundings in Strangford’s Vibrant Prints

A posse of vibrant creatures slyly scope out their surroundings in prints by Jo Pearson, a.k.a. Strangford. From pigeons and rabbits to alligators and fish, the artist’s most recent creations expand upon her previous works featuring playful animals.

In the last year, Strangford has gradually shifted her practice toward carving wood, contrasting her earlier techniques that largely focused on linoleum. “It might seem like a small change, but it makes a big difference to the character and texture of the print,” the artist explains. “The more handmade the finished print looks the happier I am.”

a woodblock print of a plump penguin in blue and teal. its feathers are patterned with lines

As Strangford refines her woodblock carving skills, she also explores the possibilities of reduction printing, which refers to the act of gradually carving away more material from the same block after using it to print initial layers. This is one of the ways she can achieve such detailed expressions and more complex patterns.

Strangford’s work is currently on view for the Lino Print 4 exhibition in the U.K. Follow the artist’s Instagram for peeks at her process, and check out her website for prints.

five woodblock prints are arranged in a square on the wall. they feature different animals such as cats, fish, rabbits, birds, and an anteater in vibrant hues of green, pink, and blue.

a textured woodblock print of an owl in a deep navy blue shade. its feathers hold meticulous detail and pattern

a woodblock print of a green alligator with six legs

a carved woodblock depicting two pigeons with patterned feathers. blue ink residue rests on the woodblock stamp.

two framed woodblock prints of a green dachshund stretching to the left and right

a hand peels a print of two green fish off the surface of a woodblock

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