telling stories of the natural world through woodblock printmaking

I make limited-edition woodcuts using vegetable oil-based inks. Each print is hand-made and unique. Imperfections are expected and part of what makes each piece special. A print will touch my hands many times before being finished.

hi, I’m sarah.

she/her

I am a printmaker, gardener, and environmentalist. I create my block prints in the woods of New Hampshire to tell nature’s stories. Stories from my own backyard, like the slow creep of the hemlock woolly adelgid, to such global hotspots as the coral reefs. But mostly I stick to my own backyard, because that is where I first discovered my deep passion for the natural world — that passion that has driven my career and now motivates me to make.

A former environmental educator with a masters’ degree in ecological design, I have always been intrigued by the connection between humans and the natural world. As I have grown, so too has my aspiration to inspire people to become as invested in protecting the natural world as I am. And from my woodcut studio, I strive to do just that, from telling stories with each print, to creating hand-crafted reusable goods with minimal waste to help lower our environmental impact, to giving a percentage of sales to hard-working conservation/community organizations.

tell stories, lower the impact, give back

When I’m not carving away, my favorite activities involve getting my hands dirty in the garden, hiking new and old trails, exploring the rocky seacoast, and cooking and eating local food.

I share my art and stories on social media so if you’d like to hear more, follow along! If you have questions, feel free to contact me.

Upcoming

  • Object Permanence

    AVA Gallery and Art Center

    Lebanon, NH

    July 11-Aug 9

    Sarah uses the lens of printmaking to explore the concept of invisibility and how visibility can lead to connection.  From the existence of the forever chemical PFAS in the soil, to nutrient overloading in the Great Bay estuary leading to eelgrass decline, to the intensive root systems of invasive plants, to the invisible destruction of the beech tree population by an invading nematode—these are all issues that her woodcuts address.  By incorporating monoprinting techniques with her more traditional woodcut practice, from stenciling to selective ink rolling, her prints reveal the invisible layers underneath.

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  • Observation-Based Botanical Block Printing

    Sanborn Mills Farm

    Loudon, NH

    July 12-13, 2025

    We will start by exploring the Sanborn Mills Farm ecosystem, walking the fields and finding plant or fungal species that interest us. Participants will each choose a species to focus on, and we’ll spend some time observing through sketch and then learning more about the individual species.  We will then learn how to make block prints, planning, prepping, sketching, and then carving linoleum blocks.  Then we’ll practice inking and hand-printing techniques, and participants will experiment with these and then create their own small edition of linocuts, using nontoxic, vegetable oil-based inks.

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  • League of NH 92nd Annual Craftsmen Fair

    Mt Sunapee Resort

    Newbury, NH

    August 2-10, 2025

    The Annual Craftsmen’s Fair began in 1933 and runs for nine days each year, featuring the juried work of hundreds of members with sales booths, interactive demonstrations, and curated exhibitions attracting over 20,000 visitors annually. This video from 2021 captures the essence of the Fair, and provides a sense of the wide range of creative experiences you can expect to find each year.

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thank you to these shops for carrying my work

Supporting local community and environment is not only a guideline for subject matter but also technique.  I use nontoxic methods of printmaking, like vegetable oil-based inks that wash out with biodegradable soap and water.  I purchase material from locally owned businesses whenever possible, and use compostable plastic sleeves and recyclable cardboard to transport my work. 

process

Every block print starts with a sketch. I transfer the sketch (in reverse) to a block of either wood or linoleum, and carve it out using carving tools. Once the block is carved, I roll on a layer of ink, lay the paper on top and run it all through my press. If the print will be needing additional colors, I either carve more of the block before adding a separate color, or carve a new block for each additional color.

Every print that comes from my studio is hand-printed using these traditional block printing techniques.