Ostranenie- The technique of presenting common things in an unfamiliar way in order to enhance perception of the familiar. I like the word. Last year after an adventurous trip across the country by bike, foot, canoe, and willing drivers, I realized that my life might get less exciting as i approached graduation and a real job. I decided that I would continue my explorations by looking at the ordinary things that I see from day to day in a different way. I wanted to make the habit of seeing things that are so often overlooked. This little shop is one way that I expand on some of the simple things that i see every day. Lately it has been wood. The more I look at it the more beautiful and complex it becomes. The simple rings on the cut of a tree tell years of history. While all of my pieces and techniques are unique, the idea of printing tree rings from a cross section of wood did not originate with me. As far as I'm aware, the first person to really perfect the art of a wood cut print of tree rings was Bryan Nash Gill.