Every time I walk into the printshop, I'm confronted by art. It's inspiring to see the two artists I
share studio space with making and doing and experimenting and starting over when it goes bad.
It's a constant challenge: am I an artist? a crafter? a designer? a business owner?
All of the above?
Last week I got the chance to really create something out of nothing, and not think about pricing, or product shots, or checking the ink color with a client--be an artist, as it were. It's the one-hundredth anniversary of the Vandercook printing press, and I lucked into a spot on the
poster exchange. I put it off until almost the last minute...this artist is a real procrastinator.
My idea was to tell my Vandercook story--make it mine. Here's the first color setup, on the press.
Pulling proofs: I have a soft soft for palimpsests.
And now a question for you: how do you balance the not-for-profit creative process with the need to make rent every month? Any suggestions?
That was my yesterday. And I am totally and completely in love with the results--the way all of the border pieces work together, the pale mint green ink, the size and weight of the lines--but it pushed back the Fort Can advertising posters another day.
You see, it's been just over a year since I called up a couple of artist friends, and talked them in to sharing studio space with me and my printing presses. So we're having a party!
It's also the first time that I'll be showing in the gallery--it's a really big deal, and I have a series of prints in mind for the show. They're still in my head, so I'd better get back to work!
