Ptarmigan, Northlandia’s Giant Protector

Chinese ink, Japanese pigment, pencils, acrylic markers and carving on wood
20x25cm / 8x10"
2024
 
 
The giant ptarmigan flies around the imaginary country Northlandia to survey and catch any enemies that might be harmful for its country. I picked this tiny bird, little known outside Svalbard, because it’s the only bird strong enough to winter in Svalbard. All other birds winter elsewhere. (Fun fact: real ptarmigan birds are the size of pheasants.) 
 
This ptarmigan didn’t have three heads until this morning. Over the years, I’ve learnt to relax more and trust myself more. I realised I need to push the animal character design further. The giant ptarmigan should have three heads, powerful and all the more to spy on spies. 
 
When my students feel stuck with their ideas, I always encourage (force) them to think with their hands. 
 
Visual art is, after all, a practice with hands. An idea can stay in your mind for years but until it’s manifested in visual forms, it’s nothing but an idea. 
 
Yesterday I had already decided to use this woodblock that has been kicking around the studio for a year. I was in an experimentation spurt to try different background techniques for my woodcut paintings. This 21 Day Challenge forces me to follow up on some loose threads that would have been lost in the studio. 
 
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This woodcut painting is carved and then coloured with the highest quality artist pigments. Archival professional-quality paint is meant to last over 100 years. I spray the artwork with three extra layers of UV protection.
 
The work is framed in a beautiful ornate super sturdy solid pine wooden frame. You have a choice of black or white frames. 
 
This piece is part of my “21 Day Challenge” project. During 1-21 November 2024, I created one small woodcut drawing per day. Each features an animal character inhabitant from my imaginary arctic country “Northlandia.”