NEW River Otter- Katie's favorite print yet!

Published: Thu, 08/14/25

Updated: Thu, 08/14/25

Studio Update

August 14th, 2025

Above: Here's a peek at the carving process for this print. It took several weeks to complete, and the linoleum block I started with measured 2 ft x 3 ft.

Hi Friends!

I've been hyper-focused here in the studio, working to complete my print release for this month, and I have to say-- this North American River Otter may be my favorite piece yet. Read on to hear the story, and for details on how to pre-order.

We're also heading into Fall Festival Season, with some amazing shows right around the corner. I'll let you know where to find us in person this month.

Enjoy!

-Katie

Katie Hayes

Printmaker

New South Pattern House

Shop New South Pattern House

What's New:

"Across the River, Otter and Bullfrog"

This "Sunset Edition" will be a limited edition of 35 prints. I'm excited to experiment with my inkwork on this carving for the other editions, but I have to say, I'm really happy with these colors.

The Story behind the piece: I've actually been sitting on this sketch for years. In 2023, I saw wild river otters for the first time in the woods behind my house, and you might say I became a little obsessed with them. I've always dreamed of doing a carving where the otter was "life sized." When I sit down to create my pieces, I like to design with a specific ecosystem in mind-- like an American Red Wolf actually ON the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge, or a Sandhill Crane IN the Okefenokee Swamp. For this piece, although the species I chose have a wide range across the Southeast, I was specifically creating with the NC Piedmont in mind. The backdrop is made of native ferns such as spleenwort and lady fern, and the otter is crawling through a colony of mayapples.

Above: I decided to make this print slightly smaller than the American Red Wolf, in order to accommodate a matboard within the 24x36 inch dimensions.

I'm making these otters avaliable to my newsletter subcribers before I bring them to shows or post them on my website on 8/16! If you'd like to pre-order one, email me. I have 11 clean prints dry and ready to ship. I'll be reserving prints in the order that folks email me.

"Across the River, Otter and Bullfrog"-Limited edition of 35 prints. Cost: $500, Size, 24x36 inches. *size includes custom, acid free matboard.

Come see us:

Lindsay will be at the Durham Craft Market this Saturday.

August 15th- Common Good Mutual Aid and auction. Carrboro, NC 6-9pm. Katie is donating two framed kingfisher prints to this event, which benefits local artists impacted by our recent floods. Click here for more information.

August 16th- Durham Craft Market, Durham, NC. 8-12. Click here for more information

August 23rd-24th- Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, Cary NC. Click here for more information

September 6th- Durham Craft Market, Durham, NC. 8-12. Click here for more information

September 20th-21st- Centerfest Arts Festival, Durham, NC. Click here for more information.

September 27th- Durham Craft Market, Durham, NC. 8-12. "Market for the Mountains" Helene recovery fundraiser. Click here for more information.

The results are in!

In last month's newsletter, I asked you to vote on a name for my enormous neighborhood snapping turtle.

Snappell Roan was the clear winner, taking 58.5% of the votes, easily beating out Reba McEnturtle and Swimmy-Lou Harris.

Thank you

New Pattern Alert! "American Black Bear" is available as cards and mini journals.

Thank you so much for being part of our community. Your support means the world to all of us here at the studio. Me, Lindsay, Shirley, Snappell Roan, and all the River Otters in the creek feel lucky to have clients like you in our lives.

Have a wonderful month!

-Katie

Shop All Block Prints

Browse Katie's Wallpaper Patterns

Katie Hayes
Printmaker
Hillsborough, NC

2405 Mandy Lane
HILLSBOROUGH NC 27278
USA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options