I recently finished a new linocut print featuring a tall Ocotillo. You can spot these spindly plants in Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, amongst other places.

This square lino print was made with Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash Relief Ink and Stonehenge paper. Original prints are available on Etsy.

Ocotillo Desert Plant - Linocut Print Artwork

The Carved Linoleum Block Used to Make the Ocotillo Lino Print

The original idea for this new cactus linocut print came from a planter of succulents and cactus that my wife made for me not that long ago. There’s one plant that always catches my eye - a thimble cactus with its pattern of spines.

Cactus Linoleum Block and Carving Tool

Cactus Linocut | “Spines” (2020)

I hand carved the geometric pattern in battleship gray linoleum with v-gouges. This radial pattern can be found elsewhere in nature, like on Petoskey stones that I see when visiting Michigan. The cactus I have is tiny so this lino block print, which is printed on 16” x 20” acid-free paper, is more than 10x its size. It’s currently available on Etsy.