Birch Bark

printed on birch bark using digital wet transfer

I had the idea to print on birch bark about a month ago. Growing up in northern New Hampshire, my family didn't have a television (at least not one that got any channels) so I spent most of my time outside, alone in the woods. One of my favorite spots was just beyond our yard, past the raspberry bushes that marked the beginning of the forest. There I found the most amazing birch tree. Rusty 19th century farm equipment was scattered at the base, so long forgotten that it had become part of the tree itself. I loved finding these little pieces of my home's previous inhabitants, and decided that I too needed to leave something behind for future generations. I placed my one of my favorite toys (if memory serves it was a troll doll - don't judge. I was 7) at the giant tree's roots, carving my initials just above it. The tree (and presumably my awesome troll doll) have since been destroyed by a housing development, but I never forgot about it. I'm not a big self portrait person, but when I decided to print on bark I knew that the image had to be of myself.