A couple of new short films by Lou Souza offer vivid glimpses into the creative process behind 50 Nifty Limericks & Linocuts.
The videos follow artist and writer, Jane Bristowe, from the first stroke of pencil in a well-worn sketchbook to the decisive cuts made into a lino block – revealing part of the meticulous craft that transforms an initial drawing into a bold original linocut.
The longer video lingers on the finished book itself, 50 Nifty Limericks & Linocuts, as its pages are turned to show the interplay of word and image. Each limerick is paired with an original linocut, echoing a tradition that stretches back to Edward Lear while remaining distinctly contemporary in style.
50 Nifty Limericks & Linocuts has received a warm reception. Professor of Modern Poetry at Queen’s University Belfast, Fran Brearton, recently praised the collection, writing:
“I have just had a delightful animal-limerick break… I love limericks generally… I particularly loved your linocuts accompanying them – in the tradition of Lear, the limerick absolutely deserves illustration.”
With Lou Souza’s film spotlighting the craft and Professor Fran Brearton’s words affirming the book’s place in a long literary and artistic lineage, 50 Nifty Limericks & Linocuts continues to find its audience among lovers of poetry, printmaking, and playful creativity alike.