Susan Munderich
Susan Munderich, Printmaker
I am a self-taught printmaker living in the beautiful community of Pickering, Ontario. My work is inspired by first-hand nature experiences (most of which are enjoyed right here in Pickering) that I document in my nature journals and with my camera. Each print celebrates biodiversity, adaptations, ecosystems and conservation, while reflecting the stunning beauty of our local wild spaces.
Susan Munderich, Printmaker
I am a self-taught printmaker living in the beautiful community of Pickering, Ontario. My work is inspired by first-hand nature experiences (most of which are enjoyed right here in Pickering) that I document in my nature journals and with my camera. Each print celebrates biodiversity, adaptations, ecosystems and conservation, while reflecting the stunning beauty of our local wild spaces.
$200.00
Linocut print (framed).
16x16"
Limited edition 12 of 100.
Artist’s Statement
Jumping Mouse
Susan Munderich, 2023
Pickering, Ontario
Linocut
Cranfield Oil-Based Ink on Legion Paper
Print 10” x 10”
Paper 12” x 12”
This design showcases the jumping mouse (likely woodland) that ran into my boot one day on a City of Pickering trail, as it frantically attempted to evade a curious dog. Strangely, I did not know we had jumping mice in Ontario, and I had probably never seen one before because they’re primarily nocturnal. Even more strangely, I had two additional jumping mouse sightings fairly soon after this encounter. True to their name, jumping mice hop just like tiny kangaroos, and appear to have tails too long for the size of their bodies. This stretch of trail is home to a beautiful cluster of eight yellow lady’s slippers, question mark butterflies (you can see the white question mark on the underside of the closed wing), garter snakes, moles (hairy-tailed pictured in the print), eastern towhees, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and American toads, all of which I incorporated into this design, along with a variety of other creatures and plants. This cacophony of flora and fauna reminds me of the “hidden pictures” puzzles I loved in Highlights magazine when I was young. Some of my designs include underwater scenes, and in this print I decided that an underground view would not only add variety, but also offer the opportunity to include a few seldom-seen creatures. The 10” x 10” block was carved with Pfeil and Speedball tools, and the edition of 100 is printed in Cranfield oil-based ink on 12” x 12” Legion paper.
$200.00
Linocut print (framed).
16x16"
Limited edition 9 of 100.
Glendale Fox
Susan Munderich, 2022
Pickering, Ontario
Linocut
Cranfield Oil-Based Ink on Legion Paper
Print 10" x 10'
Paper 12" x 12"
This print combines two consecutive nature journals from June 2021: a fox rounding the corner of our garage with a rabbit in its mouth, and a gorgeous swallowtail roosting on the peony bush in our Pickering, Ontario garden. Foxgloves, poppies and roses that were also in bloom have been incorporated into the design. I had seen the fox earlier in the morning, setting off on what seemed to be its usual route, but had not expected it to reappear a few hours later wielding a freshly-caught meal. It was equally surprised by my proximity, startled to find me looking through my kitchen window only a few feet away, and promptly bounded through the garden, eventually disappearing down the street. Not yet having recovered from the excitement of this encounter, I was confronted with a stunning eastern swallowtail the very next morning. Although I am very pleased with the final result, this print was especially challenging at every stage. Configuring the various components to achieve sufficient tension, while maintaining a focal point, required a lengthy series of sketches and drafts. Once the final design was complete, a great deal of experimentation was invested in different carving techniques and approaches, so as to leverage the potential of the positive and negative space, and to realize specific textures. After the initial test print, further adjustments were required to regulate the balance and define each zone, until I was finally satisfied with the overall composition and finer detail. Working from my nature journals reinforces how fortunate I am to be surrounded by greenspaces and wildlife in my daily existence, and provides me the opportunity to celebrate nature’s resilience when faced with urban challenges. The 10” x 10” block was carved with Pfeil and Speedball tools, and the edition of 100 is printed by hand with a baren in Cranfield oil-based ink on 12” x 12” Legion paper.