The State of West Virginia Print

This original linocut print of the West Virginia mountaineer celebrates the birth of the mountain state in 1863. The frontiersmen and women gained their independence from the state of Virginia and is shown proudly by the image of the mountaineer holding a bold flag. The state's admission to the Union was proclaimed by President Lincoln on June 20th, 1863. Today, the people of the mountain state still celebrate West Virginia Day on June 20th. The design also communicates West Virginia symbols such as the state animal, flower, apple, fish, bird and tree.

The print is on professionally aged vintage color old parchment printmaking paper 60 lbs.

The printed area of the linocut is approximately 10 3/4 in by 16 1/2 in on 12 in by 18 in printmaking paper. Linocuts are handmade original prints, carved from one block or several blocks of linoleum with the help of sharp knives of different sizes. The actual cutting is like sculpting; the direction, strength, and even depth of the cut all contribute to the final image. All linocuts are inked by hand. For each one I print, I need to ink the plate again, which also means there can be small differences from print to print.