Hand-painted linocut

Printed on two sheets of paper, 22 x 30 and 8 x 30

30 x 30 inches
Edition of 18

 

Sizes listed are of the linocut images themselves; I leave an additional white border of paper on all sides.

My linocuts are printed on cotton rag paper the old-fashioned way: I carve with knives and gouges to create my imagery in slabs of linoleum. Then I roll ink over the surface, lay cotton paper on top, and crank the block through my etching press. I repeat this process for each impression in the edition, which means: If an image is in an edition of 18, I do this 18 times! After the prints dry, I generally hand-paint them, often with many layers of color, making each print a unique work of art.

 

This is a special piece. Please allow up to 4 weeks for the delivery of Northwest Trickster Meets Southwest Trickster.

The Two Tricksters

 

Coyote and raven have much in common:  a history of being persecuted as pests, a broad flexibility in their diets, their southern subspecies are smaller, and the populations of both species are increasing and adapting to densely populated areas.

 

And while myths about Raven the Trickster abound in the northwest, in the southwest Coyote plays this role. Although Trickster’s face may differ by region, stories about his antics are strikingly similar. In both cultures, Trickster is considered a wily, interfering yet amusing character, able to play with the fates of animals and humans.

 

The two tricksters meet in this tale from the north:

 

Raven heard that there was a trickster in the desert that was like a man but had red skin, big ears and white teeth. Raven went in search of this creature.

 

When Raven found Coyote, he began to jump and laugh and fly. “You are a trickster, you also must know how to fly.”

 

Coyote replied, “Well of course.”

 

Raven suggested coyote fly with him, but when the pair jumped from a cliff and flapped their arms, Coyote plummets to the ground. Raven, careful not to laugh, suggested to Coyote that he might need a head start. He grabs coyote by the nose and carries him high into the sky. Coyote wiggles in pain as his nose begins to stretch. As they rise high into the clouds, coyote wriggles free and falls again. This time he falls so fast that his tail catches on fire. He strikes the ground in a puff of dust.

 

When the dust clears, coyote now stands on four feet. His skin is now powdered with brown grey dust. His nose is long and has two holes where Raven held him. And his tail has a black singe mark on the tip.

 

Coyote has been transformed into the coyote we know today

 

From Raucous! Everything Raven

Evon Zerbetz • Ketchikan Alaska