The artwork is part of The Grand’s new artist-in-residence program. James is living in the Grand’s artist apartment space for two weeks while she completes the linoleum block print in the Grand’s Cellar Press studio.

James has worked as a printmaking teacher at Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University. She will be working in the Americorps forestry division soon.

James’ artwork is typically printmaking. She said most of her work is an etching, but for the Grand residency, she will be doing relief work.

This involves carving out a large linoleum block that will be used on the Grand’s new large-format etching press.

Below: Some details of the nature print.

The process of creating a large relief cut is time-consuming. James said a residency is the only way, outside of school, she would have had time to complete a project of this size.

“It gives the luxury of time,” she said.

With apartment space on the third floor and workspace in the basement, James technically does not need to leave the Grand during her residency. She can work around the clock on the project. The subject of her work is nature and human impact on nature.

The relief cut features various regional wildlife including frogs, a beaver and a crane. A human skull is also placed in the work symbolizing the threat to animal life.

“I sketched it before the drought and wildfires began,” she said “but unfortunately it has become topical.”

James used photographs of the different animals to model her initial sketches but said she preferred to sketch by hand instead of tracing. She explained the work seems less life-like with tracing.

The final project will be extremely detailed with hundreds of individual lines making of the pattern of the animal skin, feathers, or fur.

For each line drawn, James must carve into the linoleum to create the relief. That means every hair on the badger requires a thin carving, but it will make the end result all the more impressive.

The final linoleum block print can be used to make as many prints as the Grand desires. The idea is to print the design on repurposed material.

James said there is much history in printmaking. Modern audiences are not used to seeing it outside of an artistic setting. This gives the art an old-fashion feel. James is inspired by history, especially time-period featuring great change. She feels with the world might be on the verge of great change now.

James’ residency at the Grand ends on Sept. 10 but she will return on Oct. 9 to show and discuss her work with a printing demonstration, followed by a class on mono-printing.

The Grand is in the process of choosing the next residents to participate in the program. James is the first in a series of printing artists in residency.

The next artist is scheduled to take residency on Nov. 20.