 Autumn Vigil
8"W x 10"H Oil Based Ink on Cotton Rag Paper Unframed Limited edition reduction linocut print We are on the last days of autumn where I live. The wind has a chilly undertone and the blue sky has a steely quality that hints at the coming change of seasons. Two mourning doves are observing these signs, marking the occasion with their low, drawn out calls. You can buy it here: http://www.michellewiebe.com/store/p38/Autumn-Vigil.html
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 This little piece is for something special - recently I became a part of a newly formed group, The Canadian Letterpress Alliance. Our vast, beautiful country is a little under connected when it comes to niche artisan skills. Thankful for a little more glue to hold us together these days!
I wanted this piece to be a little atypical for letterpress exchanges in the sense that I didn't use any polymer plates, engravings, and/or lead or wood type but rather just a multi-block linoleum approach with carved text. I wanted a low-fi but decently printed image to remind us all that we don't need fancy set ups to get the word out there. Remember the power of the press!  Mountain Twilight
8"W x 10"H Oil Based Ink on Cotton Rag Paper Unframed Limited edition reduction linocut print *Important Note - these colours are inaccurate - all the pinks and oranges are fluorescent and this is very difficult to reproduce on screens. Despite making adjustments in photoshop, I cannot depict the lightness and intensity of those particular hues. If in doubt, please visit one of my retailers in person to purchase (contact me first for availability). I have had a few trips to the mountains this year and I am always awestruck at how intense sunset can be when the sun dips behind the mountains and reflects up into the overhead clouds. Being on the Alberta side of the Rockies makes this phenomenon particularly striking. Buy it online here: http://www.michellewiebe.com/store/p36/Mountain-Twilight.html  I love my Diamond Valley gallery, tucked away south of Calgary in the town formerly known as Black Diamond. They are home to a broad group of contemporary Alberta artists and the quality and variety of work is astonishing. It's truly an honour to count my name amongst them!
This is the only place I regularly sell my work already framed, so if you are the type of person who is full of good intentions when you buy unframed prints but do better with the instant gratification of having hangable art ready to go - now is the time to check out what I have available! You can browse the selection here: https://bluerockgallery.ca/collections/michelle-wiebe  Right now, I've been revisiting old ideas and fleshing them out a little more substantially. I had a phase years ago where I rushed constantly to the next new thing. Picking up and putting down as quickly as I could. While it was a very fertile time of creativity, I often have felt that I needed to go back and explore some of these themes with more care and attention.
This is one of those ideas that I've wanted to pursue. Curvilinear lines, finely carved details but without embracing perfectionism too tightly. As I'm sure you've already guessed, I love birds and this time of year, the antics of the swallows are hard to resist! You can buy it here: http://www.michellewiebe.com/store/p35/Swallow-Pattern-Echo.html Canada Post Strike - as of May 22nd 2025 I will not be able to ship via Canada Post. Local pick up and delivery within the Calgary area can be arranged. Shipping via alternate methods is absolutely possible, but extra fees will apply.  Lately, I've been playing around with simplification (which is not so simple), light and colour. I am really pleased with how this latest reduction linocut turned out!
Spring is an exciting time in Alberta, the emerging greens are bright and lush and impending rain clouds are intense and fast moving. This scene is of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, when the light is piercing the clouds and hitting the hillside. I had a lot of fun balancing the the grey with the yellow greens. You can buy it here: http://www.michellewiebe.com/store/p33/Storm-Warning.html (Please note, purchases will be shipped starting the week of May 12th to give a little extra drying time!)  Clothesline Art Market
The Leighton Art Centre, Calgary AB 2 Day In Person Market and Demonstration June 7th - 8th , 2025 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Event Description: I'll be onsite both days at the beautiful Leighton Art Centre with my trusty Kelsey printing press, a wide selection of unframed prints and special letterpress goodies! My work will also be included in the online version of the Clothesline Art Market - stay tuned for the webstore link from June 1st - 30th, 2025.  Sometimes making something look simple is a very complex process. I think that is what I love about playing around with perspective and urban settings. You need an understanding of the rules and an acceptance that it is unlikely you will bring more clarity if you add all the details to an image.
The palette on this piece was very satisfying to work with - the limitations and structure it provided balanced nicely with the warmth and visual interest. The title is another little satisfying piece - technically this is 1st Street, but it's known as Historic Main Street or Main Street for short. Part of the charm! You can buy it here: http://www.michellewiebe.com/store/p32/Historic-Main-Street.html  I'm waiting for the return of hot summer days where the only sound you hear when you are out in nature is the buzzing of insects and far off bird calls. I wanted to capture that feeling of heat with jewel-like tones to show the light of the sun hanging high in the afternoon sky.
It was a good challenge to switch to landscapes, I needed 9 layers to achieve the colours I was going for from my original sketches. You can buy it here: http://www.michellewiebe.com/store/p29/Woodland-Road.htm  Not going to lie - I love a hometown gig! Recently, I was invited to guide a fun interactive letterpress activity with the lovely folks at Cochrane Tourism for their AGM (the goal for them was to "have a FUN AGM" and they absolutely succeeded). The hosts for the evening were Cochrane's little art hub, Route 22 Art Collective Gallery. Each participant received a colour your own letterpress printed postcard kit and we had activity stations set up around the gallery, including a spot for my trusty Kelsey 5x8 press where everyone could print the final touch in gold on their masterpieces! |
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