Woodcut

An awe-inspiring collection of Bryan Nash Gill's large-scale relief prints from cross sections of previously felled trees.

If there is, indeed, nothing lovelier than a tree, Connecticut-based artist Bryan Nash Gill (1961-2013) showed us why. Creating prints from cross sections of trees, Gill revealed the sublime power locked inside their arboreal rings, patterns not only of great beauty but also a year-by-year record of the life and times of the fallen or damaged logs. The artist rescued the wood from the property surrounding his studio and neighboring land, extracted and prepared blocks of various species—including ash, maple, oak, spruce, and willow—and then printed them by carefully following and pressing the contours of the rings until the intricate designs transferred from tree to paper.

These exquisitely detailed prints are collected and published in this updated edition, which now includes a new introduction by Bill McKibben. Also featured are Gill's series of printed lumber and offcuts, such as burls, branches, knots, and scrubs, and an interview with the artist describing his labor-intensive printmaking process. Woodcut will appeal to anybody who appreciates the grandeur and mystery of trees, as well as those who work with wood and marvel at the rich history embedded in its growth.

An exquisite coffee table book in a soothing neutral color palette that invites hours of contemplation, Woodcut also pairs beautifully for collecting or gift-giving with Woodcut Journal, Woodcut Notecards, Woodcut Postcards, Woodcut Memory Game, or Woodcut: Three Puzzles.

Check out the rest of the Woodcut series.

Bryan Nash Gill (1961-2013) was born, lived, and worked in Connecticut. He received his BFA from Tulane University with a focus on glassblowing and an MFA from the California College of Art. His work can be found in both private and public collections, and he exhibited regularly in galleries across the United States. He was profiled in Martha Stewart Living and T: The New York Times Style Magazine.