This post is the third covering the prints I’ve made in January 2024. (See Part I and Part II.) The idea was to create 30 prints in 30 days. (I know, January has 31 days.) I based this on Var Gallery’s 30x30x30 concept which I applied to, but alas, I was not accepted. No matter. I’ve made well over 30 prints in fewer than 30 days. Zing!
Throughout this month and this process I’ve definitely become better at printmaking. I’ve got a good feel for the ink now, and know how much needs to be applied, and have gotten much better at estimating the amount of ink needed, and better at mixing inks too. One of the things I was always proud about back when I was a screen printer is that I could almost always tell if there was ink on my hands, which mattered a lot when printing shirts for customers… (What’s that old saying “We had ink in our blood”?)
Some of these designs are purely digital, but many of them are hand drawn/traced from things I’ve printed out. Hand drawing introduces things that you just can’t get with the digital process. The thing is, I like both… and I will probably continue to use both. I’m okay with that. Back in 2023 I had this goal for 2024 to do more drawings… hand made drawings that is, not computer illustration. Oddly enough, this printmaking exercise has been the thing that kicked my drawing into gear, which is good.
I used to love drawing. (Most people/children did, right?) But for some reason I got away from it. I guess I could blame computers? I used to use a digital drawing tablet but it just never felt the same. As I’m using the Shaper Trace more and more I’ve come up with some interesting new ways to use it to capture drawings. I sometimes capture a drawing multiple times during the process to get different versions. I also draw different “layers” (sheets of paper) and then combine them digitally. I should also note I draw with felt tip pens, not pencils.
As far as style, I feel like I don’t have a style because I do so many different things. I never know if this is a problem. Some people who create art (you know, those “artists”) develop a style and go for it, and all of their work looks like that. I just have never done that, and much of my stuff tends to look different. Maybe I don’t like to be constrained? I also work in so many different mediums and do so many different things… I don’t know.
I read this interview with Ian Burke and he was asked why he did printmaking and he said “Coming from a working-class family in the North East I firmly believe in affordable art.” And you know what? I do too! I’ve sold some of these prints and would not mind selling more. People have paid anywhere from $10 to $50 because I’ve implemented a “pay what you want” model. If you want to buy a print and can pick it up, pay anything! If I need to ship it, you’ll need to cover the cost of shipping and then pay anything.
Just like with Gallery 69 the idea of “Art for the People” is a great idea, and one I want to help promote. Speaking of Gallery 69, none of these prints have gone in there yet, but some of the test prints will most likely find their way in there once the weather warms up…
Oh! One of the people who bought a print said “Wait, you made the paper?” and well, yes… I did make the paper. The batch I made in December lasted until about the second week of January, and I’ve made two more batches since then. (A batch is about 16 to 20 sheets.) I like making the paper, and it makes every print unique.
Speaking of unique, while the whole idea of printmaking is that you can make a whole bunch, the Var Gallery 30x30x30 requirements started that prints should be unique, not part of a series. I’ve mostly stuck to that idea. Each photo is the good print. Sometimes I’ll do two, and maybe three in some cases, but the one you see a photo of is the one print that turned out most acceptable.
You’ll also notice each print is framed. I figured that a frame piece of art is ready to go, and you can get it and just hang it on the wall or put it on a shelf. I’ve been guilty of getting a print and not getting it framed for nearly a year. This solves a problem I had and maybe other people have too. (All the frames are 3D printed, and I designed those as well.)
Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed this challenge, experiment, exploration… whatever it is. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to do it. Sure, I pushed other projects to the side, I spent a lot of time alone (which I need and like anyway) and I can definitely say I learned new things… new things about myself, about the art making and printmaking process, and about how I want to move forward with my own journey.
But wait! There’s one more… Sure, I’ve shared 32 prints so far, but there’s still a week left, and I have more prints coming, so stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of… January Prints (2024 Edition)!