I’m considering participating in the Littlest Print Exchange. I missed out on a print exchange last year that I really honestly could have participated in if I hadn’t been a stickler for exact dates and timing.

The idea is that 50 artists get together and make fifty 3.5in x 3.5in prints. Send them in and exchange them. Sounds cool. Nice small prints. I’d have to come up with an idea. And… How exactly would I make this edition of 50? Should I do a sheet of 5 and run it 10 times? Sheet of 10 and run it 5 times? Or should I do each one individually?? That’s a lot of work. I think before I even consider participating, I should see if I come up with a design, and decide on how to execute it. THEN I might sign up to participate if there are still openings. The dates are all pending. It’s open call until they get 50 participants.

Another one?? Okay so I just found another print exchange. PrintZero Studio Exchange #6. Last year they had a whopping 285 participants! For this one there need to be 15 5x7in prints. 2 for exhibition and 13 up for random exchange. The deadline for this one is May 15th. So as long as my prints get there by that date, they’re in. There’s no registration! Yay! But can/will I do it?? I’d be really fun to.

This is a little extra info about the prints and art cards I have or will have available for sale. Questions welcome!

ATC’s/ACEO’s

These are the prints that I have available ACEO’s for. They are in editions of (I believe if I remember correctly) 15. They were printed by artcardswanted.com and are semi-glossy cardstock. Since these are editions and not originals and first editions from 2008, actually… They are only $2.50. Although they don’t scan well, they look nice.

Watercolor Intaglio

These are the prints that I am choosing to reprint as monoprints (the same image, with some differences, in this case, where the colors fall, mix and possibly their tones.) Because of the particular process I will be using it will be practically impossible to replicate these prints exactly the same as pictured. If the print has an outline, that will be almost exactly the same as what you see. Also, because each of these will be pulled individually and upon request, I can print them in custom colors as well. These prints, although the basic image will be the same, will essentially each be a OOAK.

These will be reproduced with watercolor intaglio, on watercolor paper. I will have examples of each print eventually, but for now I only have the originals for display.

4.5in x 5.25in

Relief Prints

These prints are going to be printed in Editions of 30. They are single plate printed black on white, with the exception of the F!SH which is two plates printed on colored paper (that i have yet to choose).

6inx8in

In the Works

These prints are going probably to be available eventually, either by Watercolor Intaglio or otherwise. Because of their size and complexity they are on the waiting list.

So I’ve been experimenting. It’s taken me months to actually pull a print off of my plates! This is a method I read about that was developed by Pamela Conway Caruso. The short of it is, etching a plate with what you want to print, and then going over the scrapes with watercolor pencil. You then print it onto dampened paper, and it lifts the color onto it.

I’m still working on it, trying to get the right balance of paper moisture, etching depth, and print pressure (without a press… I ended up trying a rolling pin).

But these are my first two plates. They got a bit washed out from scanning. I didn’t take the time to adjust the scanners settings. I think I need to clean up my etchings just a little bit more. Some color got wiped away before printing on the jellyfish. The hearts were on a styrene plate, and the jellyfish is on a bit of plastic used to guard the viewing window on a welders mask. My dad brought home around 24 of those plates for me to mess around with. I also intend to get an etching … gun? because my hands cramp up from etching…

This is the new method I hope to reprint most of my works in for a smaller, quicker format. I’m pretty excited to work on it some more.

I’m thinking about making my artwork available for purchase. At least some of it. I tried last year or the year before (i can’t remember) on etsy, but I didn’t market myself long enough or put enough effort into it. So here I am, in 2009, the year of me, trying again.

The problem is, I don’t really know if any of my work is… purchase worthy. BLAH!
I intend on turning most, if not all, of my prints into ATC’s/ACEO’s and I will easily be able to trade or sell them for less than $5.00. I’m working on developing my skills at watercolor intaglio so that I can reprint my Planets and Gods series at smaller sizes. I will also continue to work in relief printing as well.

Anything like a drawing or painting will probably be printed through a company as a giclee print as one of the reasons I never became a cartoonist is that I have a hard time drawing the same thing twice. Sculptures are currently out of the question. Not like I have ones that are good enough to buy. hahaha

This is also in part of me wanting to expand my collection of other artists work, which is as of right now, very small. Which is why I’m open for art trades too. I won’t give away my originals, with the exception of a few linocut and silkscreen prints that I have created editions of, but I’m willing to recreate almost anything I’ve already done for anybody who’s interested. Almost everything I’ve done can be recreated in less time, for lower cost and a smaller size if necessary in a slightly different medium.

So… I guess… Since I’m basically trying to promote myself… if there’s anything in my gallery that you like and would like to have a version of, drop me a line and we can coordinate a purchase/trade.

I dropped out of the exchange. LAME!!!

I’ll still do the print. I’m actually sort of glad that I dropped out. This way I can produce the print using lithography like I like to and take my time. It will look good. I think I will try to participate in an exchange again someday, but I think next time I wont sign up until I actually have it designed and ready to print. That’s probably a wise move.

Anyway, this is what it is supposed to look like:

My zodiac has already taken a back seat to laziness, unfortunately.