“The Yellow Wallpaper,” a water-colored chine colle linocut print by Artist Leslie Deil.

This print is inspired by the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In the story, a woman with post-partem depression is cut off from contact so that she can rest. However, the isolation just exacerbates her mental state. I carved this on the heels of COVID and a diagnosis of severe allergies. One the things that is on my list is cockroaches, which can be seen on the wall behind me in the piece.

This ended up being a very small run of prints, just 6 and some artists proofs. Usually I can’t stand it when the lino doesn’t print perfectly, but with the background representing decaying wall paper, I think a little imperfection works. When I water colored the artist proof, I included a red halo around my hairline. Before I started getting help for my allergies, I used to leave work and desperately fight the whole drive home not to scratch. I don’t miss those days.

This piece was featured in the show “The Urge to Not Do Anything, Is Everything” at the Fl!ght Gallery in San Antonio, Texas in March 2025.