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January Prints in Progress (Part III)

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)!

See Also: Part I, Part II, Part IV, and Part V.

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January Prints in Progress (Part II)

Have you already see January Prints in Progress Part I? This is Part II of the journey to create 30 pieces of art in 30 days in January 2024. Part I covered the basics of the project, so in Part II I’ll show the latest prints and talk about all sorts of random things.

I have been really enjoying this process. Each day I come up with one or more ideas, and either design something digitally or print out an image and do a bit of tracing and drawing and then digitize that and make a plate. The plates are all 3D printed for this project, which has also been a challenge (sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating) but overall I have a process that works for me.

These sorts of creative challenges where you need to create something every day can be rough. I remember discussing a photo challenge with someone where they took one photo every single day and they said there were a number of times it would be 11pm at night, they’d be exhausted, but still had to find the energy to be creative and come up with an idea and get a decent shot…

If you get sick or have unexpected things happen (you know, like a power outage, flat time, having to get an MRI) it can be difficult to prioritize being creative when you are just trying to survive! (Luckily this month has been pretty smooth so far… Fingers crossed!)

Even though this month has been pretty smooth, it still takes alot of time. For me I’ve found that if I can get in 30 to 45 minutes in the morning before going to work that helps move things along pretty well. January has been a slow month for sales and I’ve just sort of pushed off a few other projects I have been working on. They are still getting done, just a little bit slower…

Speaking of slower, while I do like the challenge of creating something new every single day, I sort of look forward to this project ending so I can slow down. Most of these prints are a single iteration of an idea. To me design has always been about iteration and continually trying to improve things, so there are a few prints that I think are (nearly) perfect, and some that could definitely benefited from a bit more time and versions.

Ideas can be like that though… sometimes you get an idea and BAM! That’s it! You nail it on the first attempt… Or so you think. Maybe doing a number of versions, playing around with it, pushing it, pulling it, and trying variations is something worth doing. Once this months is over I may take that approach.

Speaking of approaches, these are relief prints and not linocuts or woodcuts because I don’t actually cut anything. Carving plates is a subtractive process while 3D printing the plates is an additive process. I am not the first person to do this, but I think I’m definitely a person who has now done a lot of this. As I mentioned in the previous post these 3D printed plates have some pros and some cons, and I’ll probably follow up on that topic in another post.

I also had to make more paper because of all these prints. Luckily I’ve sort of got that process down and can make about 16 to 20 sheets in about an hour or so and they are dry and ready to use in about a day and a half or so. Sometimes I really like the paper I make and other times I think I should just use pre-made quality paper made for printmaking. I’ll probably continue to make paper in the future (perhaps experimenting more and trying to create higher quality paper).

I hope you’ve enjoyed this update. We’ve still got another 10 days to go, so expect more prints to come. If you are interested in acquiring one of these prints for your collection let me know. We’re still running a “pay what you want” model in the interest of getting more art out to more people… people like you!

See Also: Part I, Part III, Part IV, and Part V.

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January Prints in Progress

Back in November 2023 a friend of mine said “Hey! I’m going to apply to the Var Gallery 30x30x30 Exhibition, do you want to apply?” and I said “Sure!” and I did, and then I started to prepare for it over the next few weeks, and then I did not get in! No matter. I’m not new to creative challenges so I decided I would still make 30 pieces of art in 30 days so that’s what I am doing. I should mention that there were over 220 applications for the show and (obviously) only 30 are selected. While my friend did get in (Yay Maks!) one other artists I know did not get in, and another said they didn’t apply because of the application fee. (Which sucks, and I will totally cover their application fee next year if they want to apply.)

So here’s my progress so far. The first 10 prints of the month, with another 20 (or more?) to do. I stuck with the small works format of 6″ x 6″ except mine are 152.4mm x 152.4mm because I’m like that.

Each print gets framed in a 3D printed frame that I designed and printed. I used OpenSCAD to create a parametric design so I could create frames of any size. (Here’s a mention of the frame and another.)

Each of these prints was done with a 3D printed plate. I design things in Inkscape (or draw on paper and scan it in) and then extrude the design and add a backing plate in OpenSCAD. (Yeah, I need to write up a post with that whole process.) Basically I am using 3D printing to create plates for printing 2D art and then framing it in a 3D print. Okay!

Some of the prints are really simple, and some are a bit more complex. The method of using 3D printed plates sort of forces some style choices, and producing work fast also adds constraints to things, but that’s sort of the idea right? A new piece of art each day isn’t easy, but it can definitely be fun. (Especially for someone who likes to make something, move on, and then make a new thing.)

Oh, and all that paper I made last month? I’m putting it to good use. Each print features the handmade recycled paper I made. Each piece of paper is unique and each print is unique. Of course along the way I also created a 3D Printed Mould and Deckle so I could make the paper because of course I did. DIY? Duh.

I’ve been doing a lot of rainbow rolls where two or more colors are used, and I’ve been mixing inks for a few of them. I ordered some white ink but it may not arrive until February so I really should try to get some locally because I still have a few ideas that would need it. I’ve also explored texture and color and share more than I typically do when creating art, which is a fun new thing for me.

I’ve been sharing the photos of the prints online (typically on Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Pixelfed, and even… LinkedIn!?) I love sharing the things I make with the world, and I always hope others enjoy them as well. In fact, people have actually wanted some of these prints. People wanting the art I made is a strange and new experience for me. I am fortunate enough to work two jobs which allow me to survive and making prints is basically a hobby/thing I love doing. In most cases it’s been people I know who want a particular print, and I’ve found a way to accommodate their requests. (Also, how fucking awesome is it to know my art will go to friends of mine? It’s really awesome.)

If someone wants a print I ask that they cover the cost of shipping and then I ask them to use the “pay what you want” model where they get to choose the price. Selling art is weird to me. I mean, I know artists have to survive, and selling their work is one way to do that, but for me and this adventure I just need to cover the costs of the shipping and materials, and if I make any more than that then I get paid something for my time. Again, with printmaking as a hobby I’m happy that people want these and are willing to pay for them.

I have no delusions of quitting my two jobs and becoming a full-time artist because I know the amount of work needed to do so. And the work is not just “make art” but all the work around that, which is marketing and promoting your work, constantly showing your work, always creating new work, making art people want to pay for, etc. Right now I am more than happy making a print, taking a photo, sharing it online, and whatever happens happens… even if nothing happens. Worse case I have a bunch of art in my studio (er, “basement”) and eventually I give it away or throw it away.

For me the largest value of this whole process is… the process. I’ve learned a ton of new things. I’ve developed new processes for making art, I’ve learned new techniques, experimented with styles, wrote parametric code to create frames, learned how to frame things inexpensively, and as always seems to be the case when creating things, I’ve learned about myself and the things I create. I shared with my artist friend that writing about the work (even if it’s just a few lines) makes me think about the work, and often have revelations about it, or form connections to it, and see how things connect to my life, and my experiences. And that is amazing.

So yes, stay tuned… we’ve still got 2/3rds of the month go to and we’ve got more art to create!

See Also: Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V.

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Speedball Brayer Holder

It’s a bad idea to store your brayers laying down on the roller, as they can flatten due to, you know, gravity (or mavity depending on your timeline) and since I don’t have a good place to hang mine I made a little holder that stores them standing upright.

Also, as I mentioned recently I use water-based inks, so that means I clean up my brayers with soap and water, so this holder makes a nice little drying rack for the brayers after a good washing.

The holes seem to fit all of the Speedball brayers I have, and others will not fit if the handles are a larger diameter (of course you can always adjust the OpenSCAD file to fix that.

So if you need to stand your Speedball brayers upright, and you have a 3D printer (or access to one) here ya go!

You can get the STL and .scad file from Printables.com – Speedball Brayer Holder. Print it if you need it!

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Water-Based Printing Inks

I like Water-Based Printing Inks. Yeah, I said it. Below I will explain in detail (possibly too much detail) why I like Water-Based Printing Inks.

First, some background. I’ve been printing for, well over three decades now. Yes, I am old. That doesn’t mean I know everything, or know more than you do, but it does mean I’ve observed a lot over the years. Second, I am cheap, or should I say, I like to keep things low-cost when I can. When I was printing shirts for punk bands and my own art in the early 1990s I would often get the cheapest shirts, scrounge materials, and buy low-cost things, and I could sell shirts for under $5 and still make a (small) profit. I mean, it wasn’t about the profits, it was about spreading art and making it accessible. Anyway, forget all that.

Printmakers will tell you to avoid water-based inks, and there certainly are reasons to do so, but I use them for two reasons. They are cheap and they are easy.

Cheap

Compared to “good quality” oil based inks, water-based inks are going to be much cheaper. sometimes close to half the price. For me, this means I can get more colors, and right now I am all about the colors. If you buy a print from a professional printmaker it will probably have been printed with high quality oil based ink. If you buy a (cheap) print from me it will probably be done using water-based ink.

Note that I said “professional printmaker” above. I do not consider myself a professional. I am a printmaker but I do it for fun, to explore, to learn, and if I ever make money from it, cool… but again, I am interested in spreading art around for cheap.

Using water-based inks means I can make prints cheap, and sell them cheap. I like that, as it makes art more accessible.

Easy

Easy has a few components to it, the most important being that it’s easy to clean up. Water-based inks can be cleaned up with soap and water. That’s it. Like washing dishes. There are some hybrid inks that are oil-based but water-soluble or water-miscible. They cam be cleaned with water, sort of, but in a specific way, and you’re not supposed to put the water down your drain.

So here’s the deal… If I make it easy to print, I am going to be more likely to print. If cleanup is a pain in the ass, I won’t want to do it. If cleanup is super-simple, then I don’t mind it at all.

One issue with water-based inks are that they can be difficult to work with for a long period as they dry up while you are trying to print. You can add a few drops of vegetable glycerin to the ink to prolong your printing time but for me, it doesn’t matter because I am quick.

Often a printmaking session for me is done in well under 15 minutes. I often only make a half dozen prints. I’m not doing huge runs, but just a few at a time. Sometimes I do a few prints in the morning before work, get everything cleaned up, and the whole process is less than 20 minutes.

Since I am using the Provisional Press I’m not hand burnishing prints or rubbing a spoon for five minutes. I can roll that press and get a print in seconds. It’s not about going as fast as possible, but I’m not taking minutes per print, so that ink is not getting a chance to dry on the brayer.

Anyway, that’s my argument for water-based inks, and why they work for my specific needs. I don’t expect everyone to work the way I do, but I think that if you want to use water-based inks because they are cheap and easy you can totally do that. I support you!

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