Etching: in Progress

Always a work in progress...going to put this in the acid one more time, and add aquatint to the outside border. I like the original drawing better, since it was more delicate. I'm learning a lot of things about how to get that delicate quality in etching and feel the etchings I do later will benefit from all of this stumbling around in the print shop I've been doing. Working on more fun stuff like the actual interior-- story. I think I'm at the point where I am over-thinking and just need to make it. Kinda feel silly making the cover before the inside pages. Onward we go!

Plate

Putting this old thing in the acid tonight. 

A Finely Tuned Beginning

Here's the sketch for the cover for issue two...hoping for this one to be longer, think there is lots of good story to cover. Am turning this drawing into an etching and am really excited about it, gonna be really beautiful. I need to work faster but am still getting a grasp of the printshop schedule and just returned from the Alternative Press Expo, which was really awesome! Met a lot of nice folks and made some new friends. The pre-party was in the warehouse lair of Last Gasp, will update later with some photos of that crazy place.

Quitting

This was a super fun job I got to do over the weekend for a feature article in the Portland Mercury on escaping junk mail (and sometimes Facebook). The spots were really funny to draw, I am a fan. Thanks Justin!

 I'm silkscreening business cards at the printshop but it is really taking so long and has left me eager to work on other projects (like comics!) I'll be at MOCCA with something up my sleeve. I really want to see the talk at 2:30 on Saturday with the Pizza Island ladies. They are so talented and encouraging me to not be sad that comics is often dominated by cranky old men. Here is an etching I did while waiting for a space to open up in the silkscreen room (it sure is busy lately).

Charlie

I'm making a comic book and some etchings based on people I have met in the city that have been or are homeless. Charlie is usually on the Bowery, near some nice graffiti. Banksy spotted him last year and had him pose for this poster:

It was weird seeing this poster at the Sunshine Cinema, only a few blocks away from where it was taken. I asked him about it and he said he got paid $100. That made me kinda mad but Charlie said it was okay. I see Charlie on the way to work most days if the weather is good. He told me sometimes the other men at the housing place try to put curses on him. I tell him that I am sending him good thoughts. I think I gave him California Raisin Hands in the drawing.

I Like You

I just finished these silkscreen cards. This was a belated valentine book idea that turned into a promotional piece. I printed a few on white, hot press stock, and sent them out to my favorite art directors,  though the scan is from the edition I pulled on less-fancy cream colored card stock.

Tri Fold Book Art Show 10/12

I made an accordion fold etching book about the Gulf oil spill and it was accepted into this book art show at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center (135 Broadway in Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The opening is next Tuesday and the show looks really interesting (and huge). Come by and say hello.

Oil Spill Book Etchings

woo hoo!

Mini finished! See you at Mocca!

Thank you Dom, Kip, Richard, Stephanie and Victor! You guys are the best!

Printmaking is Hard

I'm working on a mini-comic and hope to finish it before Saturday, just in time for MOCCA! I went to the printshop to silkscreen the cover and it look me 3 hours to get one color. I forgot that printmaking is hard!

holiday silkscreen

Remembering to floss, clean my squeegee, and breathe.

Sarah Burns

Check out these awesome things Sarah makes. She's a really cool Boston-based artist I met last week. Her blog is here.

Seasick Mama Artist Grant

Apply for this! Deadline this Friday, May 15th.
The talented Danielle Abbiate has shown work with Seasick Mama (last spring I think), check out her work here. I had the opportunity to see Danielle's work at the SVA printshop, she's INCREDIBLE!
Also, every Saturday Seasick Mama has a booth full of artist goods (sweet threads) at Artists & Fleas.

The Arm letterpress studio!

I made a business card yesterday at The Arm letterpress studio in Brooklyn! The weather was perfect and Dan (the resident Letterpress guru) has an endless amount of patience. Workshops are held most every sunday, and he also teaches at Cooper Union. Check out The Arm's website here.
Awesome Flickr-age also here.

I loved the class because I got to walk away with something tangible without having to know an insane amount of information in a very positive environment.