Birthday Greeting 12 - 1985

This lithograph was Stanley William Hayter's way of saying happy birthday, and he did it in 1975. He chose blue and red, like a classic birthday card, but then he took off! Look at how the blue lines tangle and loop. It's like he's drawing in the air, capturing a feeling more than a thing. The blue is bold, confident, each stroke clear and decisive. But then there's the red, scrawled and personal, adding a warm, human touch to the cool abstraction. The red feels more like a gesture, maybe a whispered message. Hayter was all about pushing printmaking, and this piece shows that spirit. It reminds me of some of Joan Miró's playful lines, that same sense of freedom and letting the hand lead the way. It’s a reminder that art is often about the conversation between the artist and the medium. It's about trying things out, seeing what happens, and not being afraid to let go of control.