Artist Gordon Mortensen. Woodcuts.

Gordon Mortensen was born on April 27, 1938, in North Dakota. He works in a unique woodcut technique. The process of creating a single painting takes up to three months. Gordon Mortensen uses a single block of wood, usually basswood, in his work. The image is first applied to the wood, then cut away in layers, and each press is made onto handmade Japanese mulberry paper. Each painting uses up to 64 colors and 45 presses.

The print is successful because of the relationships between colors, but the forms and their relationships are also vital. Gordon Mortensen deftly manipulates these elements using pattern, and depth and contrast, combined with soft, opalescent hues, beautifully capture the essence and mood of the landscape. The inventive textural effects, overall balance, and painterly qualities of the wood confirm the artist's artistic vision and technical mastery, and demonstrate why Gordon Mortensen has become a legend in his field. The appeal of his lush landscapes has earned him many prestigious awards and good reviews worldwide.