Reduction woodblock printing is an expansion of the typical woodblock print. With this project, it is a grand experiment in layering colors and creating depth. In the Spring 2025 semester, I was enrolled in my last printmaking class for my undergraduate degree, so of course I had to go out with a bang. This reduction print is carved from a single woodblock and features 12 different color layers. This means that in between each color layer, I would strategically carve a little bit of the block to create this final image. However, of course, because I am me, I had to take it a step further! I created 16 color variations where I experimented with the base background colors.

I try my hardest to remember to slow down and enjoy the busy world around me. One way that I accomplish this is by taking myself on a self-love date! This bouquet was bought as a little treat for myself as a reminder of how much I’ve accomplished these past years. It’s too easy to forget where you started, how much work you put in, and how far you have come towards reaching your goals. I now challenge you to take yourself on a self-love date and reward yourself with a little treat. Bonus points if you then turn that treat into art!;)

The bouquet pictured in this piece is one that I bought from a local Kansas flower farm that was vending at a downtown Wichita market, and the building in the background is the historic Eaton Hotel.