Strawberryluna

Some of my posters featured in the wild on Apartment Therapy!

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart & Bishop Allen posters, hangin in Sarah & Hilarys awesome pad

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart & Bishop Allen posters, hangin in Sarah & Hilary's awesome pad

And here comes the case for “maximalist” living. What’s that? Why, the very opposite of minimalist, silly.

This study of maximalism comes from the fantastic design & lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy, when two roomates from Pawtucket, Rhode Island opened their home to Apartment Therapy. How could they refuse? Their home is absolutely beautiful, cool, chic, warm and anything but the austere minimalist vibe that’s been overwhelming in vogue for quite some time.

I just want to sit here all day.

I just want to sit here all day.

What I love best about their style, is that they use and clearly love the mid-century look and design, but refuse to let the more recent empty aesthetic run roughshod over their personal tastes and attractions.

For the full tour of Srah & Hilary’s place, click here. Thanks so much for showing off some of my work in your super bitchin’ pad too ladies!

Such a fun and organized space!

Such a fun and organized space!

“GIG!” – A new poster show at 52.5 Records in Charleston, SC


Hand printed poster for the GIG! poster show by Chuck Keppler

Hand printed poster for the GIG! poster show by Chuck Keppler

Alright! August is full of poster shows, ain’t it? Which is awesome.

I am super proud to be a part of a poster show at one of the coolest independent record stores around again, 52.5 Records in Charleston, South Carolina. The GIG! show is a rad collection of over 20 current poster artists with a incredibly wide range of work. The opening night is not only coming up on Friday August 28th, but it’s free! With music by DJ BirdFlu of the Bubbleguts Bros, drinks and a special donation event with 10% of opening night sales proceeds will be donated to the Lowcountry Aids Foundation as part of the “7 Stores, 7 Days” event.

All posters on view will be available for purchase at the show throughout the duration of the show, but they tend to go fast at the openings.

Artists in the GIG! show include: Alan Forbes, Leia Bell, Art Chantry, Matthew Foreman, strawberryluna, Johnny Pundt, Adam Turman, DWITT, Crosshair, Pete Cardoso, Matt Pfahlert/Get a Clue Design, Oliveargyle, Darren Grealish, Jessie Bowers, Jason Brachman, Chuck Keppler, Lil Tuffy, and Scott Campbell.

The essential details all nice & neat:

WHEN: Opening Night – August 28th from 7-9pm. (Show to hang through September 30th.)

WHERE: 52.5 Records at 561 King Street in Charleston, SC

More info is available at 52.5 Records’ website here and also at 52.5’s blog here. If you are in Charleston on Friday the 28th of August, go see some cool poster art and have a fun ol’ time supporting handmade and local.

New poster released: The Decemberists

Hand screenprinted 3-color poster for The Decemberists show on 8/14/09 at The Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA

Hand screenprinted 3-color poster for The Decemberists show on 8/14/09 at The Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA

No surprise, I love, love The Decemberists, they work the lovely and dark into a thing of beauty and complexity so well, so deftly. We’re really pleased and excited to be working with them once again for this poster.

This poster is my all hand screenprinted ode to The Decemberists “The Rake Song”. It’s a 3-color print with bright & shiny metallic gold, midnight black and rusty pink inks. Edition of just 110. Size: 16w x 22h inches. Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100 lb White, cover weight. Available on my website here.

Their show in Pittsburgh last night was fantastic, exceeding even the rumors we’d heard and expectations set up from tales of previous nights’ shows on tour. Playing “The Hazards of Love” from start to brutal finish, kicking much ass with a killer rendition of Heart’s “Crazy”, and giving a magical reenactment of “The Battle Of Fort Pitt” by The Decemberists Family Players, we were spellbound. And now I’m even further in love. Thank you for the magic. And thanks again for signing a copy of your poster for us too!

The Decemberists take the stage at The Byham Theater

The Decemberists take the stage at The Byham Theater.

For more progress photographs of this poster being printed, check out more photos on my Flickr page here.

Finished poster & Carl Sagain. Yep.

Finished poster & Carl Sagan. Yep.

Gold ink, ready to go.

Gold ink, ready to go.

Gigposters.com is awesome, and needs your help!

Click on it! Go to Gigposters.com today!

Click on it! Go to Gigposters.com today!

Gigposters.com is just about the best website one the entire internets. I know, I’ve looked at almost every site out there. (No, really…) Not only is Gigposters.com my home away from home, the reason that I do what I do for a living as a rock poster artist, it’s also the most comprehensive and amazing resource for art, design, bands, artists, wise-acres, designers, and people who just love lively conversation and dig art. Straight up.

And, Gigposters.com needs your help. Desperately. With over 107,000 thousand posters currently (and literally growing every day) for over 98,000 bands this incredible website takes a good amount of time and maintenance to keep running smoothly. And that means money honey. So, this is my  personal drive for support and plea for anyone who is already familiar with this kickass site, or to anyone who is perhaps just becoming aware of it now, and sees how rad it it from this link to Gigposters.com here.

If you love posters, screenprinting, design, kittens, bacon, cheese, intelligent wit, music, bands, and love and/or are a currently working designer, artist, or illustrator, this site is for you. Help support one of the most innovative and cool websites that gave every single working poster artist today a chance to grow and shine. We could never have done it without Gigposters.com.

Ways to help include becoming a Premium Member (with rad benefits), buying the new and fantastic Gigposters Book Vol. 1 (complete with exclusive prints by the wonderful Jay Ryan), buying merch or making a donation, no matter how small.

Look! I made it easy for you!  

This might be the coolest book ever.

This might be the coolest book ever.

Jay Ryan exclusive Gig Posters Book print 1

Jay Ryan exclusive GP Book print 2

Jay Ryan exclusive Gig Posters Book print 2

Jay Ryan exclusive Gig Posters Book print 3

And tons of other really cool and fun stuff, like colorings book with illustrations by over 40 underground artists, (Vol. 2 pictured below) 3 delicious volumes of playing cards with a different gig poster designer doing art for each card (also pictured below), a pin up calendar (hubba hubba!), t-shirts, hats, hoodies,  mouse pads and more.

Gigposters.com Coloring book Vol. 2 (Vol. 1 is also still available.)

Gigposter.com exclusive Card Deck # 3, uncut sheet art.

Gigposters.com exclusive Card Deck # 3, uncut sheet art.

And so much more. Please visit Gigposters.com today and check out the super cool Merch section, and consider making a donation to this amazing, excellent and vibrant website that supports SO much of the art and design you love. Feel free to pass this information along or post to your own blog. Every bit helps!

New poster released: Magnolia Electric Co.

3-color, all hand screenprinted poster for Magnolia Electric Co.'s show on 7/15/09.

3-color, all hand screenprinted poster for Magnolia Electric Co.'s show on 7/15/09.

Heartbreakers. In a great way. That’s what Jason Molina’s band,  Magnolia Electric Co. are, and they’re amazing. I’m pleased as puch to be a part of the summer 2009 Magnolia Electric Co. tour series of posters, (a different limited edition, hand screenprinted poster was produced by artists from all over the country, one poster for each night of the tour) and had such a fun time at the show last night at The Andy Warhol Museum seeing MEC and the super cool Sand Diego band, The Donkeys. Thanks so much again!

Sometimes something beautiful goes wrong, in a beautiful way. KABOOM! This is my all hand screenprinted poster for the heartbreakingly lovely Magnolia Electric Co. It’s a 3-color, print with heart red, alarm-orange and midnight black inks. The orange ink is swirled into the red throughout the bombs and the text so that each print is unique and different. (Just like you Butterfly.) Edition of just 85, so they’ll go quick. Size: 16w x 22h inches. Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100 lb White, cover weight.

* This poster is now available on my website here, and also on tour with Magnolia Electric Co. this summer! *

Vintage postcard art & design; Part 1: Dogs

The trip of a lifetime! (Pre-Hidenberg, assumably.)

The trip of a lifetime! (Pre-Hidenberg, assumably.)

Postcards used to be far far more popular than they are today. Possibly as a pre-television, pre-Internet way of communicating, and possibly due to their fairly cheaply reproduced but lovely art and extremely variable style, they once enjoyed a big place in popular culture, not just of vacation destinations but of everyday life. Because of that large volume of postcards produced in the late 19th and well into the 20th centuries, both photographic and purely illustrated, there are many amazing sub-genres, several of which have become highly sought for collectors. I’ve decided to start another irregular series of posts, featuring the art and design of postcards. Today’s post? Dogs, dude.

Dogs are obviously well loved pets and companions, perhaps because of that long history they also have a place symbolically with humans as well. I was surprised to find that despite being Man’s Best Friend, many of the images I came across were actually of women and little girls with dogs.

A flower dog and a flower girl.

A flower dog and a flower girl.

Summer reading.

Summer reading.

There are also many many images in which children and dogs seem to be equals, as below where a young girl shields her dog from rain while they sit on the same bench:

Finding shelter together.

Finding shelter together.

And this one, where one child is rollicking on the ground at dog-level, and the other pup is up on the bench, elevated with her friend:

All friends here.

All friends here.

Whoah.

Whoah.

Being a symbol of fidelity, I love the many subtle variations on a warm greeting and love letters that I found as well. Many featuring the blue flower Forget-Me-Not as an added layer of meaning:

Cute, but psycho.

Cute, but psycho.

How sweet.

How sweet.

There are many postcards which simply show off a specific breed’s characteristics, either in a straightforward way or more comically:

A noble Irish Setter in the field.

A noble Irish Setter in the field.

Poor little Dauchshund, he's only the way we made him.

Poor little Dauchshund, he's only the way we made him.

Washing Day, Scottie style.

Washing Day, hard-working Scottie style.

I expected to find postcards of dogs getting into all sorts of troubles, probably fed by the iconic Coppertone ad illustration, like the below little scamps:

Sneaky Petes.

Sneaky Petes.

And of course, I knew there would be some great and symbolic postcards of doghouses, to convey being in trouble, often with one’s spouse:

Sleep tight.

Sleep tight.

However, a surprising find was a plethora of postcards featuring dogs working in some traditional and other very surprising situations. We’re all familiar with the idea of Arctic travel and mobility using dog sled teams:

Mush!

Mush!

But mostly likely, if like me, you are also not familiar with the use of smaller dogs teams to haul milk carts, which was quite common in the 19th and early 20th century:

Pups taking a break.

Pups taking a break.

A French milk dog cart.

A French milk dog cart.

But perhaps the most intense or emotional are the postcards featuring dogs and men in times of war. Of course the arguments can be made that animals shouldn’t be conscripted to serve in the wars of mankind. It seems absurd. And unfair. Perhaps that is why seeing images of dogs, such faithful and willing friends, in these scenes (both photographic and illustrative) is especially bittersweet.

dog-med-war3

A dog who saved this soldier's life and received a medal.

Rover, hatin' on the Enemy.

Rover, hatin' on the Enemy.

A German Shepard medic.
A German Shepard medic.

And finally, but never ever least, there is this stunner:

Look! The bulldog is cheating!

Look! The bulldog is cheating!

New poster released: Wilco!

3-color

3-color hand screenprinted poster for Wilco at The Fox Theater in Pomona, CA on June 26th, 2009.

I’m super thrilled to be working with Wilco, one of the most supportive and pro-screenprinted poster bands around. This poster is for Wilco’s SOLD OUT show on Saturday, June 26th at The Fox Theater in Pomona, CA.

It’s a 3-color, all hand screenprinted poster with fire-truck red, sky-blue and midnight black inks. Edition of 200, with 180 copies going to the band on tour. NOTE: I only have 20 copies of this limited edition Wilco poster available, so they will be going fast. Size: 16x 22 inches (40.6 cm x 55.9 cm). Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar, 100lb White, cover weight.

For more info, or to purchase, visit my website here!

I also took a few photos of the printing process, with a few below and more are on my Flickr page too. Enjoy!

This is what 4 inches of posters looks like on press.

This is what 4 inches of posters looks like on press.

2nd color (red) flooded in the screen and ready to print.

2nd color (red) flooded in the screen and ready to print.

5 posters to a shelf, whew! 200+ Wilco posters printed and drying on the rack.

5 posters to a shelf, whew! 200+ Wilco posters printed and drying on the rack.

WYEP Summer Music Festival!

4-color, hand screenprinted poster for WYEP's Summer Music Festival

4-color, hand screenprinted poster for WYEP's Summer Music Festival

It’s full on summer time friends! And Pittsburgh’s fantastic independent radio station, WYEP 91.3 FM is hosting their 12th annual, amazing Summer Music Festival to help celebrate summer with 4 great bands. Kind of made a natural fit then for hand screenprinted posters right? When Brian of WYEP asked me if I would be interested, I was definitely excited to design and print a poster for them.

Show information:

What: The WYEP Summer Music Festival with Sam Roberts Band. Also appearing are Dar Williams, The Duhks, and Meeting of Important People.

Where: Schenely Plaza, in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Grab a blanket and enjoy live music on the lawn at Schenley Plaza as WYEP kicks off the summer.

When: June 26, 2009 from 6pm-11pm

Cost: FREE! And open to the public.

Line-Up

6pm – Meeting of Important People
7:15pm – The Duhks
8:30pm – Dar Williams
9:40pm – Sam Roberts Band

The poster above will be available for purchase as a hand screenprinted, 4-color poster in an limited edition of only 100 posters. Proceeds to benefit WYEP. I will be there selling posters and chatting with fellow-summer-loving Pittsburghers and enjoying the line up of great bands on a pretty Friday night. Come say hi!

Below are a few process shots of me printing this poster at AIR print studios here in Pittsburgh, with more on my Flickr page too.

First color printed for WYEPs Summer Music Festival poster

First color printed for WYEP's Summer Music Festival poster

4th & final color printed, all done!

4th & final color printed, all done!

New poster released: The Detroit Cobras!

Don’t mess with these badass ladies. Just, effin’ don’t.

2-color, hand screenprinted poster for The Detroit Cobras.

2-color, hand screenprinted poster for The Detroit Cobras.

Yeah! Kitty kitty. This is my all hand screenprinted poster for the awesome, kickass band The Detroit Cobras‘ show with Dex Romweber Duo on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at Mr. Small’s Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA. I got to catch the show last night and they were fantastic! Even with singer Rachel Nagy admitting to feeling under the weather, the band was hot and ON. We loved it. Thank you Detroit Cobras! They are still on tour, so do catch a set if they are in your town.

So excited to once again do a poster for some of the most kickass ladies of ROCK, the awesome Detroit Cobras. This feline of a poster is a 2-color, multi-layered print with blood red and midnight black inks. The black is slightly transparent, allowing repetition of awesomeness to show through. See it? Yeah, that’s right pal. Edition of just 80. Size: 16w x 22h inches. Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100 lb White, cover weight.

Here are a few process photos of this poster as I printed, with more over on my Flickr page too.

1st color, red, flooded and ready to go.

1st color, red, flooded and ready to go.

First color red, bloody red, flooded in the screen and ready to print (pull). “Flooding” is a lighter pressure pass of ink with a squeegee across the stencil and is the way to get enough ink across the screen to fill the stencil and allow for one perfect print pull with the squeegee.

1st color, red red red, printed, down and done.

1st color, red red red, printed, down and done.

Below is a close up of a freshly printed Detroit Cobras poster showing the red underprinting a slightly transparent black, allowing the red to show through.

Close up and angular to show underprinting.

Close up and angular to show underprinting.

This limited edition Detroit Cobras poster is trimmed, editioned, signed and ready to go. Look for these (and many other awesome posters for the band) on the rest of their tour this summer, and also at my website here.

“Naïve: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design”, aka I can’t believe I’m in this book (!)

This year is rich with books celebrating and exploring current graphic design, screenprinting and the vibrant hands-on design processes. The newest book that I’m beyond in love with is Naive:  Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design. And I am thrilled and honored to have a selection of my posters in this book with an amazing collection of ridiculously talented artists from around the globe.

Published by the German art & design publishing & curration house Gestalten, they describe this beautiful book best:

“Naïve documents the extraordinary renaissance of Classic Modernism, from the 1940s to 1960s, in contemporary graphic design. This compilation introduces a new wave of young designers who are rediscovering the stylistic elements reminiscent of classic graphic design such as silkscreen printing, classical typography, hand lettering, woodcutting and folk art and integrating them into their work. Inspired by 20th Century American legends such as Saul Bass, Charley Harper and Alexander Girard, the burgeoning designers and their work showcased this in this book are inspiring, ranging from illustrations, poster art, editorials, book covers and record sleeves to stationary and textiles.”

Naïve is a seriously stunning book filled with jaw-dropping illustration and design work at every turn of the page. No foolin’. Naïve is available at Gestalten’s website, or Amazon, and book sellers near you.

Venus Magazine interview; Spotlight on women in rock posters

Miss Amy Jo

Miss Amy Jo's take on poster art & artists. (Click for a larer view.)

So, wow. When the extremely rad, Chicago-based Venus Magazine contacted me at the end of the winter about doing a feature on women in the rock poster scene, I was floored. But, also, in true strawberryluna fashion, pretty sure that not a whole lot would come of it. I mean, come on, Venus is a great magazine dedicated to women, art, music, culture and the places where they collide. It seemed too cool to be true.

Well, I was wrong. Happily. After talking on the phone with Christine Bejasa for about 45 minutes one very grey, dreary and cold Pittsburgh afternoon, I was pretty excited. And now, I can share my stokage.

Some things that I said about posters...

Some things that I said about posters...(Click for a larer view.)

Profiling Miss Amy Jo of Minneapolis, Judge from Chicago, and myself, strawberryluna, straight outta Pittsburgh, the article was a fun read and definitely sheds some light on not only what’s it’s like being a working rock poster artist, but in being part of a larger world of printmakers, illustrators and designers making a go of this weird life. For larger and easier to read images head over to my Flickr site here!

Th art & words of poster artist, Judge.

Th art & words of poster artist, Judge. (Click for a larer view.)

The article is on news stands now, in the summer 2009 issue of Venus Magazine. If you like it, and dig the issue, consider a subscription. I promise, this magazine never fails to be rad.

Thank you Venus Magazine! Keep rockin’ the awesome!

New art print released: Coffee, Thee & Me

Do you love coffee?

new 3-color, hand screenprinted art print, "Coffee, Thee, & Me"

New hand screenprinted, 3-color art print "Coffee, Thee, & Me"

Do  you love things that good, sweet, fair and even? What about best friends and love? You better! Otherwise where’s the fun in life?

This is my all hand screenprinted art print done for a traveling print show and Fair Trade coffee benefit organized by Mugshots Coffeehouse* in Philadelphia. These bestest buddies are my all hand screen printed art print with sun-orange, warm red-brown and elephant grey, hand mixed and non-toxic water based inks. Hi friend! Edition of 80. Size: 16 x20 inches (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm.) Paper: acid free & archival Cougar, White 100lb cover weight.

Freshly printed and available on my website here.

_________________________________________________________________________

Beans & Screens, screenprinted art print Coffee Show 2009 Important Details:

*Mugshots Coffehouse in Philadelphia is a part of the Independents Coffee Cooperative, both working collectively to raise $16,000 for the Peruvian farmers who grow the coffee sold as their house coffee (Independents Peruvian Select). The farmers are undertaking an ambitious project to build a solar powered drying facility (to dry the beans after they are harvested). This will allow for the farmers to improve both the quality and quantity of the coffee they grow, by protecting it from the frequent rains in the region. 100% of the profits made through the show at Mugshots will go to Cooperativa San Fernando, a farmer-owned organic coffee cooperative located high in the Andes Mountains near Cusco, Peru.

Beans & Screens traveling show dates in Philadelphia, PA:

Opening June 26th 2009 – Green Line on Locust – Green Line Cafe

August 2 2009 – Kaffa Crossing – Home Page

October 4 2009 – Metropolitan – Metropolitan Bakery : The Art of Old World Baking

November 1 2009 – Mugshots Coffeehouse, Manayunk – Mugshots CoffeeHouse & Caf :: Homepage

December 6 2009 – High Point Café @ the Allens Lane Train Station – High Point Cafe

Januray 31 2010 – InFusion Coffee & Tea – InFusion Coffee & Tea

February 7 2010 – Mugshots Coffeehouse, Fairmount – Mugshots CoffeeHouse & Caf :: Homepage

All 25+ artists’ prints will available through Mugshots online when the show opens at: the Mugshots Coffeehouse  website here.


Gig Posters Volume 1: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century, new book!

It has finally arrived!

Gig Posters Vol. I book, chock full of 101 poster artists

Gig Posters Vol. I book, chock full of 101 poster artists

Freshly published and totally incredible. I’m so proud to be a part of this rad book, as is taken from the imaginations of, and containing the work and words of 101 working, contemporary and kickass rock poster artists from around the globe. All compiled into a nifty book format. Just for you! Each poster artist talks about their work, influences and process as well as providing a full page format, perforated page tear-out poster. It’s a lot of awesome, and not just because I’m in it. In fact, I would venture to say despite the fact that I’m in this book.

Published just this May, you can now find this fantastic book at booksellers everywhere. Or, you can order a copy from the following websites:

Directly from me, at my website here, NOTE: personalized and autographed by me, just for you, with a bonus set of stickers, over 15 designs in all.

Directly from the author at Gigposters.com here. NOTE: BONUS ART PRINTS (While Supplies Last!!):
Order now from GigPosters.com and receive an exclusive limited edition screenprinted art print by Jay Ryan! Jay has created 3 different 10″x13″ art prints for the book release. The first 900 orders get free art prints! (300 of each) *Order the 3-pack to assure you get one of each art print!*

Directly from the publisher, at Quirk Books here.

Directly from the publisher, at Chronicle Books here.

Publisher’s description: 11×14 inches, paperback, 208 pages.

Since 2001 Gigposters.com has been the Internet’s first and best resource for rock-show poster art; their massive online database showcases more than 90 000 posters from 7 000 different designers including all of today’s top poster studios. Gig Posters Volume I highlights the 700+ best examples in their collection including 101 perforated and ready-to-hang posters for bands such as Radiohead Wilco the Decemberists the Shins Arcade Fire Sleater-Kinney and TONS more. Packaged in an oversized 11-by-14-inch paperback, Gig Posters Volume I is a spectacular compilation of rock show art (and one hell of a cheap way to decorate a dorm room or apartment). Author Clay Hayes is the founder and proprietor of Gigposters.com. He lives in Alberta, Canada.

Designers included in Volume I:

3d Glasses, Adam Turman, Aesthetic Apparatus, Alan Forbes, Allen Jaeger, Amy Jo, Andrio Abero, Andy Vastagh, Beyond The Pale, Billy Perkins, Bobby Dixon, Bongout, Brad Klausen, Brian Ewing, Budai, Burlesque of North America, Casey Burns, Cricket Press, Crosshair, Dale Flattum, Dan Grzeca, Dan McCarthy, Dan Stiles, Daniel Danger, Delicious, Denny Schmickle, Diana Sudyka, Dirk Fowler, Drew Millward, Drowning Creek Studio, DWITT, Eleanor Grosch, Emek, Engine House 13, FarmBarn Art Co., Firehouse, Furturtle Printworks, Gary Houston, Gregg Gordon, Guy Burwell, Hero Design Studio, Invisible Creature, Ironforgepress, James Rheem Davis, Jamie Ward, Jared Connor, Jason Goad, Jay Ryan, Jay Vollmar, Jeph, Jermaine Rogers, Joanna Wecht, Johnny Crap, Jon Smith, Josh Rickun, Judge, Justin Hampton, Justin Kamerer, Largemammal Print, Leia Bell, Lil Tuffy, Little Jacket, Lonny Hurley, Lonny Unitus, Luke Drozd, Lure Design, Malleus, Mark Pedini, Mat Daly, Methane Studios, Micah Smith, Michael Michael Motorcycle, Mig Kokinda, Mike King, Nate Duval, Patent Pending, Powerhouse Factories, Powerslide Design Co., Print Mafia, Rob Jones, Ron Liberti, Ryan Nole, Sasha Barr, Scrojo, Seripop, Squad 19, Stainboy, Steve Walters, strawberryluna, Tanxxx, Tara McPherson, The Decoder Ring Design Concern, The Heads Of State, The Little Friends Of Printmaking, The Small Stakes, Thomas Scott, Tim Gough, Todd Slater, Vahalla Studios, Zach Hobbs, Zeloot

Thoughful oversized, yet lap-fitting dimensions of the new Gig Posters Vol. I book.

Thoughful oversized, yet conveniently lap-fitting dimensions of the new Gig Posters Vol. I book by Clay Hayes.

New art print released: Spring 2009, happy Arbor Day!

Spring 2009, hand screenprinted, 2-color limited edition art print

Spring 2009, hand screenprinted, 2-color limited edition art print

Ahhhhhh Spring. It’s here! And just in time for Arbor Day (US observed).

Arbor Day was one of my favorite elementary school days. I swear we went outside in the fresh spring air in the morning, watched a new tree planting and dedication, had some cupcakes back inside the school room and then (!) Smokey The Bear would come visit and talk to us in the afternoons. Maybe I’m mashing a few special school days all into one, but I don’t care. That’s how I remember Arbor Day. So, I wanted to release this new limited edition art print on Arbor Day!

From a few designs I was playing with a few weeks ago, (see my previous blog post here and more designs here on my Flickr page here) I chose this one to be my Spring 2009 art print. I just love the simplicity and the surprising way that magenta and this tender, light green interact and work together.

This is the second print in a series of seasonal, limited edition prints that I’ll be releasing. Ready? Here’s the mind-blowing part – there will be 4 prints per year. Crazy! I know!

This springy dance is a 2-color, hand printed screenprint, with bright new green and transparent magenta inks. Magenta overprints green in parts to make a ruby red. Edition of only 50. Size: 16.5w x 22h inches (39.4 cm x 55.9 cm.) Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100lb White, cover weight. Now available for sale on my website here.  There are a few process photos that I took while printing this on my Flickr page here as well.

New poster released: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin! (yay!)

Hand screenprinted poster for the neato Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Hand screenprinted spring tour poster for the neato Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Good grief, we loved Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin‘s music before they ever played Pittsburgh. And now, we like ’em even more. Smart sweethearts, every one of ’em. They might be the best band that not enough people have heard. For realsies, so go listen. Don’t fret, they will be out on tour again soon.

This hand screenprinted and emotional poster is my 2-color fella with sad blue and black inks. Edition of 150, with 100 copies going to the band. Size: 16w x 22h inches. Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100 lb White, cover weight. Available at my website here, and soon, at the SSLYBY’s Super Store, once they’re home from tour and it’s back up & running. And, as per my usual dweebyness, here are some process photos I took while printing their poster at AIR here for you on my Flickr page.

And here’s a photo of 2 SSLYBYs and 2 Drew Danburrys in the King’s Monroeville parking lot on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Horsing around.

Horsing around.