Sabi Designs is the creation of Cathy Gray Ink Work and Karen Judd.
These collaborative beautiful large scale tree prints are a tribute to the library of information each one of these trees hold.
The Dendrochronology not only tells us the age of the tree but the “Passage of time” each tree has lived. With each tree growing one ring annually these rings show a story of drought, fire, disease, insect plagues, wildlife and excessive rain. Long after these trees have fallen they continue to change shape, swelling, splitting and contracting with exposure to Rain and Sun.
We source these cross sections from fallen trees and besides the environmental story, each tree has a human story to tell. And marriage held under the shade of a once magnificent Gum, the inspiration of a charcoal drawing of a Cypress Pine by Hans Heysen or a tree planted for a loved one passed too soon. Each tree section is brought back to our Adelaide Hills Studio and prepared for inking. Once ready the canvas is laid directly on to the timber, hand pressed and bought back to life once again. Only 10 prints are taken from each tree and every print will be unique as the tree continues to change long after it has fallen.