In the Autumn 1979 About Arts and Crafts publication, there was a spotlight on printmaking, and on stencils in particular. The author observed, “Pangnirtung printmakers are also experts in varying density of the colour to create rich tonal effects. Light areas are often achieved by brushing or dabbing the ink lightly, while darker areas are built up through repeated applications.”

The present A Walking Caribou is a fine expression of this idea. Here, the animal is described less by firm outline than by subtle shifts in the stencilled ink density, with the body passing from a rich, dark back to a pale, luminous belly.  Light seems to rise from the paper itself and the caribou feels rounded, airy, and alive. The antlers, more sharply defined and warmer in tone, give the image structure and a pleasing contrast. To our eye, this work is a fine example of how stencil could achieve far more than flat graphic design, using tone with great restraint to create atmosphere, movement, and form.