One paints, the other prints

Wilson is confederate with Peterson when she utilizes the mother-and-child motif on several of her woodcuts — "Olga," "Girl in Red Chair" and "Patterns." However, the majority of the printmaker's work is landscapes and cityscapes, but her scenic depictions advance harmony, peace, serenity and other positive aspects of an upright society that are so close to Peterson's heart.

At age 85, Wilson's skills as a printmaker are still superb and speak for themselves. The seemingly random registration of a woodcut's colored layers is one of the medium's most endearing qualities, and Wilson is a master of laying down ink over ink.

"I have been printing since 1970," she writes in her artist's statement. "The process is painstaking and there are no shortcuts."

After making detailed color sketches, selecting block size, planning the sequence of color printing and preparing the first block, the real work begins, she explains. "It is carving, printing, correcting, carving, printing, correcting, etc. The whole process is stimulating, time consuming and difficult. After the first good print is pulled from the blocks, however, it is very much worth the effort."

A few of the finest woodcuts in the show are "Seventh Street Poplars," "Old School," "Lights" and "Mexican Place."

The prints of Wilson and the paintings of Peterson are on display through Feb. 9.

If you go...

What: Paintings by Kathleen Peterson and woodblock prints by Blanche Wilson

Where: Phillips Gallery, 444 E. 200 South

When: Through Feb. 9

Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

How much: Free

Phone: 364-8284

Web: www.phillips-gallery.com

---

E-mail: gag@desnews.com