Good News in the Mail

After a very relaxing long weekend in Estes Park, I received word that my entry in this year's National Small Prints Show was accepted, and was added to the traveling exhibit. This is an image I started to draw shortly before my sister died more than two years ago. I did nothing with it until July of this past year. I was finally ready to get back to work on some printmaking.

 

 The ladder in the image is an exploration of how the ascension to God and his mysteries often seems impossible. I cannot yet untangle the suffering and growth in my spiritual journey over the past two years. I am learning that comfort comes during suffering, and sometimes richness is found in wanting. What seems impossible to you?

You Are Invited

Bound Staff Press is located in a Jr/Sr high school. I am always looking for ways to get students in to use the equipment and become more familiar with printing processes. Earlier in the year, I asked if any students would be willing to print their graduation invitations on the small letterpress in the shop. Three students thought it was a good idea, so I started to put together the things we would need to make a quality invite fairly similar to the ones they could purchase from Jostens. With some trial and error, we managed to produce our shop's first reliable photopolymer plates. I set the type for the text inside the invite, and the students learned how to set up make-ready.

Our project will cost somewhere around 14¢ per invite. This is quite a bit less than the options available through Jostens. We don't have an engraving or foil this year, but we might next year. Stay tuned.

Taylor printing the front of the card

Taylor examining her work

Etchpop

If you haven't heard, Etchpop is a laser etching company that can turn an image into a relief printing plate. The company started off as a Kickstarter project, and has really taken off. They put out a call for artists, and I jumped in with both feet. Not long ago, I got a sample block of the image that I let them use. It is available as a 4.25x5 up to an 11x17. I think it is a super cool way to mix old and  new technology to create hand made goods.

Print swap with Nick Morley (Linocutboy)

 I have been admiring the work of Nick Morley (Linocutboy) on Flickr for a number of years. He has made some very nice linocuts, and has started teaching workshops incorporating letterpress and linocut printmaking. Earlier in the month I set up a swap with Nick, and this is the prize I got in the mail over the weekend.
I try to swap work with a few artists every year. It has been a great way for me to fill my studio with wonderful art for a small price of shipping and a little of my own elbow grease and inventory.
Be sure to check out Nick's work in his Etsy shop, and Blog.