PROCESS SHOTS

Right now I'm in the middle of working on a few projects that are not in the printing phase, but I had a strong desire to physically print - to make marks on paper with a bold ink by way of screenprinting.
So, I did.
I used up some scrap pieces of nice paper and used a screen I had already made (for the tote bags I sell) and made some cards. Here are some process shots for the fun of it!

A LITTLE BIT HUMAN

This is a series of three screenprints entitled, The Human Condition; Condition The Human; and Human: The Condition.

The concept and images explore the absurdities in language and life.

They are printed on 100% cotton Rives BFK paper and are sold as a set. It's an edition of 7.

PUBLISHED BY THE ARTIST

Published By The Artist is a benefit exhibition and sale of self-published editions by a varied host of printers curated by Brad Ewing (Marginal Editions) and Katie Michel (Grenfell Press). All editions are priced at $300 or less with proceeds to be shared equally by the artist and International Print Center of New York.

Above is the postcard design for the show, the two silkscreen prints I'm exhibiting (and sold, yay!) and some snapshots taken from facebook of the opening.

My prints are entitled, Connect 1 and Connect 2. They are 2 color screenprints on Yupo paper (which is an archival paper made of plastic) 20x26". The imagery was inspired by photographs I had taken of the urban street-scape of Redhook, Brooklyn and an experimental process of taping black thread directly to the screen (when exposing the screen) to create the free-form tangled lines.

It is an honor to exhibit among an amazing collective of printmakers.

WORK IN PROGRESS

*It's been a while since I have posted any work, but I've definitely been producing. I will take the next few weeks to post projects I've done in the past year and earlier.

The images above are of a work in progress at the printshop. I've been layering circular images onto a beautiful soft black Hahnemuhle paper that is 33x41" in size. All of the circles have been screen-printed onto the paper in variations of white, gray and silver. All of the imagery was hand painted or drawn on film to create the screens for printing. I will continue layering and playing with different ink opacities. Look out for my post of the finished piece!

GUMBY LOVE

This is a custom illustration that documents a special moment, when GUMBY enters the room during the wedding reception.

health CARE reform

I created an edition of these bags to give out to friends that are working for this cause and/or are passionate about it. I am currently seeking an advocacy group to team up with in order to produce many more. I'm open to suggestions. CARE.

TRIPTYCH

Here are three custom screenprints that colorfully document a wedding day. They are all printed on Rives BFK gray paper and are 9x9 inches in size.

CUSTOM SILKSCREENED CARDS

This is an edition of 70 hand silkscreened THANK YOU cards custom made with a half tone photographic image printed in black ink.

US/UK PRINT EXCHANGE

Here are some pictures from Nov.2009 *Secrets* exhibition at the F Block Gallery in Bower Ashton, Bristol (courtesy of Helen Allsebrook). This exchange was curated by Helen Allsebrook of the UK, in collaboration with Sarah Noreen of the US. Each of the 15 artists involved created an edition of 16 prints. We will each receive a set to keep (in the beautiful custom box shown), and the one set will continue to be exhibited - up next at the University of Wisconsin.

NEW TOTES

Hand Silkscreened Tote Bags : Brooklyn Edition

FOR SALE at two of my favorite Brooklyn boutiques called Cog & Pearl and Homebody Boutique. (Kitties not included).

For store info visit : cogandpearl.com and www.homebodyboutique.com

More designs to come ...

HAYSTACK RESIDENCY

I was super fortunate to receive a work-study full scholarship to Haystack Mountain School of Craft (on Deer Isle, ME) to participate in a Surface Design Workshop led by Fraser Taylor of SAIC.  It was a wonderful experience to be surrounded by creative focused energy for 2 weeks without the distractions of everyday life.  Amazing meals were prepared, studios open 24 hours a day, mossy walking trails along the ocean, library resources, a staff of all artists of different disciplines, slide shows and presentations, 70 students from all over the world ... all making for a rich experience of creative growth.  I was definitely influenced by the natural surroundings when making my own work.  Above is a collage of some of the experiments I worked on during my stay.  The hand cut stencils that created the screenprint on muslin are reminiscent of barnacles, bones or sea life.  These were screenprinted individually in variations of white. The prints on paper are "x-rays" of the sea life shapes, created by the pigment residue left on the screen.  These prints were more spontaneous, not knowing what the output of the one swipe of the screen would be.  I also experimented with discharge printing on fabric, using found moss to use as a stamp while making the screen.  Since there was a press to be used in the Book Arts Studio, I printed a solar plate I made in NY, combining it with a process learned at Haystack called Dye Transfer, using sodium alginate to push the dyes through the screen.  The experience was all about exploration and discovery.  For more info about Haystack, visit www.haystack-mtn.org/

Tasmanian Print Exchange

I was invited by Artist/Professor Hilary Lorenz to participate in a print exchange between 11 New Yorkers and 11 residents of Tasmania.  We each had to make an edition of 22 prints, 5x7 format, any technique.  Above is my "Untitled" 3 color silkscreen edition.  I will in return receive 22 different prints from individual artists.

SEW

Experimenting with sewing through paper on a screenprint with needle and thread.

GESTURES OF LOVE

This print is a customized wedding gift.  It is a two color water-based silkscreen printed on 100% cotton paper.  The print is approximately 28x28 in diameter.  The project entailed photographing everyone's hand at the wedding as I asked each person to make their own gesture of love.  All of the hands were individually edited in photoshop, with varying detail, to create the graphics.  The hands overlapping each other in a circle symbolize unity and life itself. 

The lace-like translucent gold that slightly overlays the inner wreath was inspired by images I've seen of a microscopic orchid root, and was hand painted on mylar to create a film for the screen. The orchid historically symbolizing strength, transformation, love and beauty. 

This is my favorite customized project to date, and I hope to continue experimenting with different custom hand projects.

SILKSCREEN / GLASS PROJECT

These are photos of the interior of the John Dory restaurant in the meatpacking district of NYC.  I collaborated with Michael Davis (Michael Davis Stained Glass) on the glowing 40 ft. stained glass ceiling panels and floor strip you see. My contribution was creating the fish graphics, making the screens and screenprinting the images onto the hand blown glass panels.

BETTY on T's too!

I couldn't resist making Betty into this iconic/superwoman/badass graphic too!  So now, many men and women wear her proudly screenprinted on a light summer t-shirt.  It is a part of the ROWBS collection that can be found at www.rowbs.etsy.com

BETTY'S GOT A GUN

This is a four color silkscreen I did on 100% cotton Rives BFK paper.  It was inspired by a 4x6 b&w photograph taken in the 1940's of my girlfriend's grandma Betty.  The print is approximately 24x36.  This is the first print in a series I want to create of women who defied the socially constructed expectations of being, during which they were alive.