Really Big Plans for Really Big Prints

It's technically spring here too, but you wouldn't know it to look outside where we've got a fresh 6+ inches of snow. This time of year I lean hard into plans for things to do in warmer weather. Things like gardening, not wearing two sweaters at a time, and ReallyBIGPRINTS!! I'm most excited about the last one, ReallyBIGPRINTS!!. It's a national, juried, printmaking event right here in Manitowoc (July 11th -14th) during which we use a steamroller to produce large scale relief prints.

Printmaking team from RedLine - Milwaukee! We're hoping to have them back this year.

It's a festive professional event and a beautiful time of year to visit NE Wisconsin. We throw a party on Saturday with food and beer and watch the sun set over Lake Michigan. For most printmakers, it's also a rare opportunity to print at such a large scale. Tempted? Applications to attend are open now and available here. We also welcome print-friend volunteers who want to watch the printing or help out. (Each print takes a team of people to print.)

Summertime on Lake Michigan. 

GIANT WOODCUTS

Next month the city of Denver will celebrate Mo'Print, a month-long celebration of printmaking that will include exhibitions, demonstrations, studio tours, and workshops, among others. Check out this exhibition schedule!  Colorado is beautiful, Denver is cool, and printmaking is the best. I wish I could be there for any of it, but especially for the opening of GIANT WOODCUTS, a show at Art Gym Denver in which I'm honored to have a print.  

That print will be in good company-- just look at this all-start lineup!

James Bailey (Professor, University of Montana)
Jamaal Barber (Owner, J Barber Studio, Atlanta, GA)
Lyell Castonguay (Director, Big Ink, NH)
Annalise Gratovich (Associate Director, Flatbed Press, Austin, TX) 
Holly Greenberg (Associate Professor, Syracuse University, NY) 
Dusty Herbig (Associate Professor, Syracuse University, NY) 
Martin Mazorra (Owner, Cannonball Press, Brooklyn, NY)
Humberto Saenz (Assistant Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX)
Sean Starwars (Owner, Woodcut Funhouse, Laurel, MS)

My print comes from Really Big Prints 2016. We're currently accepting applications for this summer's Really Big Prints in Manitowoc, WI. It's a fine time to visit Wisconsin and a great set-up for pulling a large print. Join us! 

Sketchuary

Last fall I participated for the first time in #Inktober, an online drawing challenge in which people make and post daily ink drawings. Many of the drawings are in response to a list of prompts provided by Inktober creator Jake Parker.

It was an excellent challenge that functioned for me as a sort of motivation and accountability. Now I'm partnering with several artist friends to participate in the similarly structured #Sketchuary. We've generated our own prompts (shown here) and are encouraging people to join the challenge with non-drawing sketches like prototypes, rough drafts, and other forms.

If you're at all inclined to participate in the challenge, please do! Whether you go the full 28 days, every-other day, weekly, or once, there's something to be gained from this practice.

Domestic sketches