New Interns (sort of)

CPC is proud to introduce the three new Summer interns!

Jimmy, Joyce, and John

What's up internet? This is Joyce and John, blogging straight from the CPC funhouse mainframe into your laptop, desktop, or handheld wireless device. A little bit about us:

Joyce is originally from the mean streets of Lincoln, Rhode Island, and has one more year of college in Western, NY making inky marks. You can catch her in Chicago this summer on her bike around the Lincoln Square area. Check out her new low key business, fork and spoon press, at forkandspoonpress.com, for custom printing.

John is interested in the absurd, appropriation, collage, screenprinting, outdated technology, bad movies, magic, neon, sports, chess, and unironic lowbrowism. Check out doublepants.com to see some of his recent work.

Jimmy is a mystery wrapped in an enigma (and he works Fridays). He and John are both going to be finishing up at the School of the Art Institute next year.

We look forward to seeing you around the shop!

Screenprinting Workshop with Dave Fortune

Today the CPC hosted a special FREE screenprinting workshop led by visiting artist Dave Fortune from the University of the West of England in Bristol, UK. As a lively and entertaining teacher and artist, Dave has a wealth of information on non toxic methods of screenprinting, specifically techniques that reap an unparalleled level of fine detail and sophistication. He demonstrated a bunch of cool stuff: mark-making on his signature textured films, screenprinting on water-slide decal paper, monotype water coloring, and mixing acrylic inks that are adapted from a line of products also used by painters.

One of the more interesting things he brought to the demo was the materials used: a set of System 3 acrylic paints, which he then mixed with acrylic printing medium and glaze medium (also from System 3), which he then used to make screenprints. In this process, the drying time of the acrylic paint is slowed down, which also makes for an easy screen clean up. Also, the breadth of image detail was amazing!

Along with all of these new materials, Dave also brought an incredible portfolio made up of both his work and work of his students, which covered a wide variety of screenprinting techniques (some of which we were convinced were lithographs or drypoints!). It was awesome to see a new perspective on screenprinting inks and techniques - a big thanks to Mr. Fortune for showing CPC visitors and friends a whole new range of possibilities in screenprinting. Most everyone in attendance couldn't wait to stretch some 305 mesh screens and have at it! Also, the "swag" was pretty great - folks went home with freshly-printed tees and prints and the CPC was left with some inks to test out. Those signing up for the summer screen printing class might get to try out the new cool Daler Rowney System 3 inks! (hint, hint...)

For more information on Daler Rowney products, visit their website
at Daler-Rowney.com
Dave Fortune can be e-mailed at fortune.eden@virgin.net

posted by Wyatt

Scenes from the Studio

It was a full house today- lots of printing, people, and talk of a new CPC printmaking competition, which you can check out HERE. We had mostly etchers in the shop today, who have all been making a lot of new progress. Below are some pictures from today- which happens to be Deborah's birthday!! Happy birthday Deb!

-Wyatt

Duffy with new student Amy Lowry!

New silkscreened CPC poster!

Post Blizzard Printing!

While most of us got snowed in for the first few days of the month, we're finally all back in the studio! On Saturday, we saw some cool work being made by Margaret Buchen and others. CPC instructor Alan Lerner worked with private student Paul Newmann in producing his first screen print (see below).




Margaret was making a monotype by painting directly on the mesh of a screen (pictured above), which I had seen a few times before, but not with this much "painterly" detail. The result of this process is similar to a painted image, but slightly removed and flattened- which is what I liked the most about the final product.

Deborah has been working on an etching (pictured below with her fancy headgear from American Science and Surplus!).


In other news, we have a new show in the works called "Fresh off the Press", featuring new work by new CPC artists, opening March 5th. I finished screenprinting posters for the event last night, which you will see around town soon- in 2 colors!


Stay tuned for more info on our next show!
-Wyatt

New Intern: Wyatt Grant!

Hey everyone!
Today is my first day as an intern at Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, so I'm writing my very first blog post! It's been a great day meeting people and learning the ropes of the shop.
I'm interning at CPC through the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I'll receive my Undergraduate Fine Arts degree this Spring. While it will be a busy semester, I'm happy to be spending a lot of time helping out at such a great print shop.

Today, Maria and I cleaned and met some new customers, while exploring the ins and outs of where things are. Margaret Buchen, Michelle McCoy and Dennis O'Malley worked on some prints and Deborah and I are doing preparations for her new silkscreen project, which has all been very cool.

I'm mostly a painter and screen printer, but I enjoy all forms of image making. Here's a link to my website: www.wyattgrant.com where you can view a lot of my work. I also make music, which you can find here: myspace.com/poolholograph

While I'm not making art, I enjoy running, making banana bread, and Hulu.

More to come very soon!
Wyatt

Small Prints, BIG SHOW!!!

Small Prints, BIG SHOW!!!

Last weekend Dec 4 & 5th the CPC held its opening weekend for our 21st Annual Small Prints Show and let me tell you, 'twas a blast!
Even with the snowy weather folks came out to view some of the spectacular art we have hanging on our walls.

All of the work, hung salon-style...

...and we have been selling prints right off the wall...

...so the show keeps changing!


There was delicious food...

...coloring for the kids...

... jewelry by Marla Studio...

candles being blown out on cakes...

and some wild print browsing...

The show continues through the end of January, and we are having extended holiday hours, Tuesday through Sunday from 12-5 pm through December 19, so you still have time to come see us!

Director Deborah Maris Lader and resident artist Catherine Jacobi

Participating artists: Hiroshi Ariyama, Shawn Ballarin, George Bodmer, Liz Born, Corinna Button, Veronica Ceci, Alex Chitty, Jennifer Farrell, Christine Gendre-Bergere, Sanya Glisic, Karinna Gomez, Misha Goro, Dan Grzeca, Susan Hall, Stephen Hazard, Carrie Iverson, Kathleen Judge, Ryan Kapp, Kent Kapplinger, Scott Keifer, Amos Kennedy, Jill Kramer, Carol Lader, Deborah Maris Lader, Kim Laurel, Siu Jane Liu, Ray Maseman, Bert Menco, Robin McCloskey, Michelle McCoy, Ruth Moscovitch, Sarah Nishiura, Duffy O'Connor, Dennis O'Malley, Mary O'Shaughnessy, Artemio Rodriguez, Agustin R. Rojas, Maria Sanchez, Jeff Sippel, Megan Sterling, Elisabeth Sommerville, Michael Thompson, Bruce Thorn, Anatole Upart, Kim Vanderheiden, Charlie Van Gilder, Marla Wallerstein, Scott Westgard, Bradley Widness, Jennifer Yung and others.

Make sure to stop by before the end of the run on January 31st.

Voila! CPC's Paris Show!

Paris came to visit the CPC! We had a fantastical opening for our lovely French artists: Christine Gendre-Bergere, Alecos Fassianos, Philippe Favier, Vittorio Matino, Friedlaender, and Annick Claudé! Their beautiful prints adorned our walls, offering a great variety and a taste of Paris for all to see!

Here are Philippe Favier's "Vertical Embassies", very delicate, simple but refined. The CPC is the only gallery in this entire country with access to this enigmatic artist's work. He was the first contemporary artist in France to be included in the dictionary - imagine that! These photos don't do these prints justice - they are really stunning in person.

Christine Gendre-Bergere's signature prints and Alecos Fassianos' "The Violinist".


Some of Philippe Favier's small prints lined the back hallway of CPC. This is a close-up of "Great Trip to 'Cansanie'".

Another print from Christine's "Filiations" Series: "Simonne (with Henri et Louise) in Biskra"
Christine showing a gallery visitor her "Filiations" book.
During the day, the CPC threw open its doors to reveal etching demonstrations. Croissants and madeleines were consumed, and visitors got to watch Duffy show off his drypoint printing techniques!

Le jour est trés bien. Les gravures c'est manifique! Au revoir!

Save the date:
21st Annual International Small Print Show and Holiday Open House
Saturday and Sunday, December 4-5, 11am - 7pm both days!!!