William Hays

"The greatest privilege to have in art and in life is the creation of something beautiful which touches others."

For Vermont artist William Hays, the idea of positive and negative is everything but black and white. He takes the simplicity of linoleum block printing to new levels with his beautiful and complex prints. Each of Hays' prints unfolds, color by color into a layered mosaic of carved shapes, carefully fitted into a composition that conjures a sense of mood and place dear to the heart of the artist.

Hays has taken the simple process of block printing to new levels. His prints transcend the limitations of a knife and a block of linoleum. His careful and intricate techniques of carving are brilliantly reflected in the rich textures and colors of these intimate prints. From traditional to the innovative techniques of reduction printing, Hays' linocut prints stand apart in execution and design.

The artist's academic background in sculpture and his subsequent profession of painting landscapes in oils are wedded into his block prints. His carving skill is evident along with the fine craftsmanship of pulling each print by hand. Combining these skills with the painter's eye for color and composition make prints by William H. Hays an unusual accomplishment in the world of printmaking.