Exploring My Roots

Even though I had hoped to update my blog every couple of weeks, I guess my life is busier that I expected it to be. I've been knee-deep in projects lately, but I also feel like I haven't been wasting my time, so I'm happy with the way things are going.

Anyway, over the last couple of weeks in my monotype class, I've been exploring the different cultures my family comes from. One of my hobbies is researching my family history, and I've uncovered Dutch, Irish, English, Welsh, and Italian roots. I've been using my roots as a springboard for a series of projects I'm hoping to explore further over the rest of the semester.

To start with, I was really intrigued by the idea of using writing and well-known imagery from each country in my prints. After completing almost 25 prints over the course of two weeks, I've ended up with the best one from each:

Each of them incorporates some poetry (mostly pre-20th century if I remember correctly), as well as taking design inspiration from each culture.

Some close-ups of each:
Ireland -

The translation:

I am Irish
I am your language
I am your culture
The poets used me
The nobles used me
The people used me
and the children used me
Proud they were
And I flourished

The Netherlands:

The translation:

A new spring and a new sound

I want this song

Sounds like the whistling,

I often heard from a summer's night

In an old town along the water canal

England:

Wales:

 The translation:

I broider the world upon a loom,
I broider with dreams my tapestry;
Here in a little lonely room
I am master of earth and sea,

Italian:

The translation:

Most high, all-powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,

To you alone, Most High, do they belong,

and no human is worthy to mention your name.

This has been a really interesting exploration for me and I'm really anxious to continue and see where it takes me.

On a somewhat related note: Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh (Happy St. Patrick's Day)