“Awakening” is a linoleum block print, 16″ in diameter, printed in water-based ink on handmade white rice paper or rice paper with silver and gold foil speckles.

Quote reads: ” ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’–Anatole France. Dedicated to my prince and princess and all those since who’ve awakened their part of my soul.”

“Awakening” was inspired by my close companions Kublai and Sally who ran the household together for about 12 years and who actually slept curled like this (photo below). I enjoyed following the inspiration to combine the image of the two cats with the decorative border simply made of shapes and patterns that were both attractive and easy to cut in a block print. Please read more about the print and the inspiration of Kublai and Sally, including the photo of them I used as the basis for the print, below.

These lists and galleries explain the variations available with this print: a gallery of detail images of the print in black only, a gallery of hand-colored variations, and a gallery of matted variations and the typical frame I offer. Custom color tinting is available as well as custom mat and frame. Pricing grid is below the galleries.

Choices for your print:

Matted and framed, tinted print, $150.00
Matted and framed, black print, $125.00
Matted only, tinted print, $100.00
Matted only, black print, $75.00
Print only, tinted, $75.00
Print only, black print, $50.00

Detail images of the print

Hand-tinting variations

Hand-tinting style:

 

• Warm and Bright
• Cool and Pastel
• Spring
• Single color or other combination (use text box below to specify)

Mats and frames

Mat color and frame sample:
Black
Rich Red
Pacific Blue
Other (use text box below to specify) Note that specialty mats other than acid-free mats and other frames than what is shown may cost extra.

Choose your print style:

ABOUT THE PRINT

Quote reads: “‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’–Anatole France. Dedicated to my prince and princess and all those since who’ve awakened their part of my soul.”

“Awakening” was inspired by my close companions Kublai and Sally who ran the household together for about 12 years and who actually slept curled like this. I enjoyed following the inspiration to combine the image of the two cats with the decorative border simply made of shapes and patterns that were both attractive and easy to cut in a block print.

I had seen the quote in a number of different places, and of all the quotes about how animals fill our souls this one, the concept of awakening, I found most moving. These two cats, especially Kublai, the black one, were a major part of my awakening not only to animals but to love in general.

Aside from the fact that they were both loving, friendly and social, they were complete opposites in the way they expressed this love and were as different in temperament as they were in color and texture as the loose reference to yin and yang illustrates.

In their own ways they nurtured about 30 foster cats of widely differing ages and social abilities, just as they nurtured me in the years they shared my life.

“Kublai” is somehow derived from the word for “prince” in Sanskrit, and “Sally” is derived from the word for “princess”—Sarah—in Hebrew.

Block printing is a technique wherein the artist carves the surface of a piece of linoleum, leaving raised areas which will become the image. Ink is rolled onto these raised areas, then a piece of paper is pressed against the block and when it’s lifted away the ink remains, leaving the image on the paper.

I also print this image on textiles, such as t-shirts, curtains, tablecloths, shawls and tote bags! Please check my apparel and housewares categories to see what’s currently available.

Because of the nature of the medium, each print is unique and ink coverage is not always perfect. Most artists consider this random activity to be part of the process of creating an individualized print, and along with the hand-painting makes a unique work of art.

Mat is an acid-free rich red, my favorite shade to coordinate with plain black and white block prints; not too bright, not too dull. I cut the circular mat myself in my studio; the narrowest portion of the mat is 1.5″. The frame is a 1″ wide plain black matte-finish wood. The final framed size is 21″ x 21”.

I apologize for the photos—with or without glass it was a little difficult to photograph!

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© 2022 | www.PortraitsOfAnimals.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit “purchasing” for availability and terms.