Sarah McPhail Prints

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Sarah McPhail Prints

Hand/carved, hand/pressed linocut prints made in Calgary, Canada. Established November 2020.

04/30/2022

Happy Saturday! 💚
“On Wind and Waves” is a 2-colour reduction linocut print that celebrates our connection with the natural world. It was inspired from a recent memory of the first time I saw two Ospreys while out on my walk. Whenever I see something out of the ordinary, I take note. In this print I wanted to show the power and grace of an Osprey soaring against the wind, its wings wide and powerful. This is a large bird that can soar effortlessly on the wind and make prey of fish swimming in the waves below. It’s a symbol of hope amongst adversity. Even when things are out of control there is still beauty and grace to be found in life. Sometimes all we have to do is look up.

This variant of “On Wind and Waves” is hand-printed in a super luxurious green (that I mixed myself haha) and black oil-based inks on white Stonehenge paper. This is my submission to “green and black” print challenge! I’m glad I decided to enter this challenge because I wouldn’t normally go for green ink, but now that I’ve seen the results I will definitely be considering this hue for other prints. It’s so vibrant and rich.

The original “On Wind and Waves” which I will post later is in red and black on “fawn” coloured Stonehenge paper that I got from . I’m really happy with the results and am super thankful for printing tips I received at the store. 👏 I have been trying to experiment using different paper this year and I will take ALL the tips I can get!

I have a few more prints to post on my IG so keep a look out for those. 👀 have a great weekend!

03/12/2022

A lot changed once I decided to grow my grey hair out. Now, it’s been 2 years since I started. It’s like I realized a superpower I never knew I had within me. I just had to go through it before I recognized it. Best decision I’ve made in a long time! I feel more empowered, I care less about other people’s judgement (it’s none of my business!), I’m free, and with patience and time I can do whatever I set my intentions on.

The other week I had a guest on the plane approach me with “I feel compelled to tell you something…” My heart sank a little because I guess we’re conditioned to expect a complaint or grievance in this job. Then she continued on about how she and her family had seen me in the airport earlier before the flight and she said I was surrounded by a light. I was glowing. She thought perhaps it was tied to authenticity and she just felt compelled to tell me. I don’t know why. It’s not like she knows anything about me… but I certainly understand too well the vibes people can give off. I thanked her because it really made my day especially because it confirmed for me how I want to go forward: being me.

The truth is that I feel more me than I’ve ever felt before. It’s funny because 2yrs ago I wrote that when I looked in the mirror I did not recognize myself sometimes. It’s not just the grey hair. After all, it’s just hair and there’s more to a person than their outsides. It’s everything. It’s the path I’ve been walking the last couple of years. It’s the work and the struggles. Do I have bad days? Of course. I wish I could articulate it better. This is getting to be a Britney-esque length caption though 😆 The point: you cannot make people’s compliments/judgements about your appearance the main portion that feeds your self-worth. Set higher goals for yourself. You deserve that and you’re worth more. Your kindness, your compassion, how you treat others, and how you treat yourself are worth more.

I try to keep it art related on my IG, but since it’s the 2 year anniversary of mine and everyone else’s lives changing in one way or the other, I thought I’d share where my head’s at these days 💁‍♀️
Anyhoo,back to print work!

02/17/2022

✨All the printmaking supplies!✨

I got to visit Above Ground Art Supply today in Toronto. I have been ordering my Caligo Safewash inks online from them for the last 2 years, so it was a real treat for me to go in person this time. I was in awe of all the different inks they have stocked. It makes sense though because they are literally right beside the Ontario College of Art and Design University. The staff was really friendly and helpful too. I will be returning next time I’m in Toronto. I picked up some ink and more linoblock. Yay!

It was a bit nostalgic too because I grew up in Toronto and in high school my friends and I would go to Eaton Centre and window shop on Queen St West often. The streetcar that stopped in front of our high school would take us right downtown to that area. That was a verrrry long time ago (the 90s!) and a lot has changed.
Anyways, it was a great day! Happy to have my supplies.

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02/12/2022

Print 2 drawing ready to be transferred to the lino block for carving. ✨ Have I told you lately how much I love a pencil?!

Feeling really good about this one.
Feeling good in general! I wonder if that’s related? 😊

Not much to say, but I really hope you’re enjoying your weekend.

02/08/2022

✨ First print of 2022! ✨
Better late than never! Actually, I’ve been purposely taking it slow. I’m still printing up a bunch more over the next few days as this paper requires more burnishing to get the ink coverage I prefer. This is one of the larger blocks I’ve worked with and it’s printed on 11”x14” lokta paper… which I’ve never worked with before. It’s a 2 colour reduction linocut print. My next print will be a sort of companion piece to this one.

The print process still amazes me - from image conception to breaking it down layer by layer to final print - but it also humbles me as I feel like I still have so much to learn with each print.

My goal this year is to bring my ideas to life by experimenting with a minimal colour palette, working on larger blocks and trying different types of paper.

I’m looking forward to starting on the next print hopefully this weekend in my days off.

I can’t believe it’s already the 2nd week of February! Hope you’re keeping warm and safe! ✌️

01/21/2022

Is anyone else a messy maker?
What is not pictured in this photo is what an absolute mess the rest of my desk is! 😂 I try. I really do. I frequently clean and tidy my work area. It’s also part of my ritual of when I start something new. It only takes me 2 seconds to completely undo all of that work though. Does it really matter though…? 🤔

I finished carving this block today and I’m ready to do a test print so I can see what bits of the lino needs to be cleaned up. I’m still waiting on my new paper to arrive so I can take my time. That’s the excitement in my world because ✨ I love stationary✨ 🙃

Anyhoo, happy Friday friends! Stay safe out there.

01/15/2022

Happy New Year 🌟

I hope all is well and 2022 is treating you right. I’ll admit it’s pretty weird out there right now, but I do have hope that this year will bring us good things. I’ve been busy and taking an impromptu social media posting break. Between work and dodging 0micron my anxiety has gotten the better of me lately, but I do feel like I’m back on track.

I managed to finish this new linocut print just before Christmas. It’s a 6 colour reduction block print. It was a pretty satisfying way to complete the year in prints. This one was really just for me.

Now on to 2022 where I have different ideas…
I have been working on some preliminary images for my next couple of prints. I’m pretty excited to get working on them now that I have some time. I feel really good about the direction I’m going and I can’t wait to share more work here. New year, new art!

See you! Take care ❤️

12/17/2021

Art vs Artist ✨2021 Edition✨

The challenge where we show our art and our face. I can’t say if there’s a correlation but I can tell you as my natural grey hair grew in my prints became more colourful ;) So here is my printmaking year in review…. Some of it!

All prints are reduction linoprints ranging from 3 -7 colour.

My plans for 2022 are to keep plugging away, learning and figuring things out. I am interested in joining one of those printmaking challenges on Instagram. If any of my printmaking pals know of a good one let me know!

12/17/2021

More leftover ink…
Maybe I’ll start a collection.

12/14/2021

Everything’s Gone Green 🍃
Had a little leftover ink from printing yesterday so I thought I’d dig out an oldie, but a goodie . This is the Queen of Wands block… well, part of it.

I sold out of the original reduction print, but I do still have it available as a print on demand type print in it’s proper fiery red colour. Link to my shop in my profile, of course!

I’ve reached the time of year when all I want to do is drink hot chocolate, eat popcorn and watch Christmas movies. I highly recommend 8-Bit Christmas if you grew up in the 80s and feel like crying. The holidays are extremely nostalgic. It can be a stressful time, too. It’s important to be kind to yourself and others. 🎄

If you have any Christmas movie suggestions (that won’t make me cry) please leave them in the comments 🤶

Have a good week!

12/09/2021

Do you know what I really, really love? Starting something new! When I have a fresh piece of lino and a new image to work on it gives me feelings of potential and possibility. I like starting fresh. It’s the one place I’m confident to jump in and move on… to not stagnate. In everything else I’m a creature of comfort and familiarity. Change is sometimes difficult.
Do you like starting new things or does it give you anxiety? Or is it both depending what you’re doing? I’m curious.

A little ✨new✨ work in progress 😊

12/07/2021

Facts about Jaguars that I learned while creating this linocut print…

🐆 they are the largest cat in the Americas
🐆 they inhabit Central and South America but can sometimes be found in the southern United States
🐆 their spots are called “rosettes” and they help them to camouflage in the jungle
🐆 their jaw strength can drag an animal up to 600lbs
🐆 because of their jaw strength they attack their prey’s skulls instead of necks like other wild cats
🐆they swim and will hunt crocodiles, turtles etc
🐆 they were worshipped by ancient civilizations as animals who were able to travel in and out of the spirit world
🐆 sculptures and carvings of Jaguars are often found in the ruins/temples of Central America and in some cultures they were considered gods
🐆although Jaguars are the kings of the jungle they are on the near threatened list due to deforestation and illegal poaching

My 7 colour hand-printed reduction linoprint “Reign” (edition of 10) can be seen starting tomorrow until December 18th at Alberta Printmakers (physical gallery and online)! Also, starting tomorrow (10AM MST) you’ll be able to bid on prints from local and international printmakers as well as use the “buy now” feature. All “buy now” prints are $60 … or you can take your chances with the auction! There are also other goodies to purchase/bid on!
All money raised goes towards Alberta Printmakers which is an artist run, non-profit printmaking studio, educational centre and gallery! Yay!

If you’d like more information about the “Not So Mini” exhibition don’t hesitate to send me a message or better yet contact directly! There will be a link on their page directing you to their site. 🌼

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Calgary, AB

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http://sarahmcphailprints.bigcartel.com/

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