This is a handmade linocut print inspired by the seasonal return of arctic terns to the New England coastline. It includes a nesting arctic tern with a speckled egg, surrounded by native New England coastal plants including: swamp thistles, bristly fox, sea blite, beach grasses and cloudberry flowers and berries.

PRINT SIZE: 6" x 6"

PAPER SIZE: 8" x 8"

MATERIALS:

This is printed with Caligo Safewash (non-toxic) ink on Strathmore Paper, a 100% cotton fiber and acid-free archival paper locally made in Massachusetts where my studio is.

DETAILS & INSPIRATION:

This artwork is inspired by the seasonal return of arctic terns to the coast of Massachusetts to nest during the months of April and May. Though only a short-term sojourner, these migrating birds give back to the land by distributing cloudberry seeds, the primary way the seeds of this wild plant are dispersed. Terns teach us that even temporary guest can still contribute to a landscape’s thriving. . .a heartwarming story of reciprocity and interdependence between life that is rooted and life that is migratory that can be witnessed year after year.

GIFT IDEAS:

This would make a great gift for mothers day to celebrate mothers of all kinds whether it is your mother, or grandmother, friends who are mothers, or your own inner mother, or in celebration of some passion project you or a loved one is mothering into the world. It would also be wonderful as a gift in honor of a reciprocal or interdependent relationship.

PACKAGING: This print will be carefully packed in a recycled clear bag and shipped in a recycled cardboard mailer. FeathersandFolktales uses eco-friendly packaging supplies from EcoEnclose. A one-page insert including a description of the folktale is included with the print.

Feathers & Folktales is a woman-owned, Massachusetts-based art shop offering handcrafted linocut prints of timeless folktales from around the world that remind us of our ancient kinship with the wild. These archival quality linocut prints are a labor of love: they are 100% conceived, designed, carved, inked, pulled and packaged by hand for you from a small home studio. Featuring animals and magical creatures from folklore alongside wide variety of botanical elements, each piece contains a precious offering from the past, a mythos, that can enliven our sense of enchantment with the natural world.

Please note that the copyright of this work is retained by the artist.