Forty Magical Weeks

Artist: Laura Beach
Media: Woodcut Print: Gold Ink on Paper
Laura Beach is a local Santa Cruz printmaker and science teacher who creates artwork using both letterpress and woodcut techniques. She combines her love of science, the natural world, graphic design, luscious paper, small carving tools and irresistibly heavy machinery to create playful and vibrant works of art on paper. Experiences soaking in the natural world whether it be travelling, backpacking, hiking or playing in the ocean are the inspiration behind her work.
All imagery is hand drawn and either transferred to a block of wood, a piece of linoleum or made into a photopolymer plate for the letterpress machine. There are two main techniques that Laura uses in her art creation: the first being a reductive technique that involves carving on a single block of wood or linoleum. Each color layer after it is inked and hand pressed onto paper is eventually carved away – leaving little of the original block in the end. This process creates limited edition prints as there is no going back once the block has been carved away. 
The second printmaking technique involves using a 1950s letterpress machine. Original drawings are made into photopolymer plates (similar to big stickers) that are used to press the ink onto thick luscious 100% tree free cotton paper. 
Forty Magical Weeks is a 20" x 30" woodcut print inspired by the pregnancy and birth of Laura's first child Patrick, who was born September 2020. Each week shows the size of the developing baby as compared to fruits, veggies and their flowers. Patrick has brought much joy, love and happiness despite the difficulties of 2020. 
To view more of Laura’s artwork you can visit www.LauraBeach.net and on instagram @LauraBeach

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