Moon Landscape with Cat

Laakso works with reduction relief printing, which uses a single block for as many as 10 colors. The block is inked and printed and then carved for the next color. This continues for each successive color until finally, with the last color, most of the block’s surface has been carved away. Much of Laakso’s inspiration comes from seeing a landscape and mentally framing how it could best fit into his art. Negative spaces and shadows play a huge part in how he translates his surroundings. Laakso says making art is meditative. He can lose his sense of time. “While I don’t ever forget that I am disabled, it does not define who I am.”