while it seems like I started printmaking yesterday, releasing my third run of these tulips tells me otherwise. since they are well received each spring, I will continue celebrating early equinox by releasing a new edition. this year I choose a deep red flower with a gold stem and leaf to symbolize the Victorian meaning of tulips, “I declare my love for you”.

this meaning comes from the Turkish legend of Ferhad and Shirin, two lovers whom were forbidden to be together. according to Jessica Roux’s Floriography book, Ferhad heard a rumor that Shirin had taken her life. He then took his own to be with her for eternity. “Tulips—symbols of his devotion—spring up where his blood was spilled.”

Printed on Lokta paper with water miscible oil based red ink and oil based metallic gold ink, these prints measure 5” x 8”.

Lokta paper is handmade from a renewable bush in the mountains of Nepal. Keeping with feel of the paper, which is textured, has golden bark in it and is a simple creamy white, I deckled the edges of these prints. This is an edition of 8, printed in 2023. Each print is titled, numbered and signed on the bottom in gold ink.