Here is a version without the text. This donkey-ear concept was of course inspired by Pinocchio‘s trip to Pleasure Island with Lampwick.

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I wasn’t sure how I felt about the contrast between the pink and the dark blue so I reduced the palette to a simpler monochromatic light blue and dark blue. Above is the two-color version with separations below.

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Fused the ears to the head a bit more, added the hairshirt texture to the background, not sure if this is finished yet, designing it for a three-color screen print.

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In-progress, looking a bit like a baseball card. It’s a rebus, a pictogram. Not sure if this is too strong of a statement. The likeness seemed to fade a bit when the donkey ears were added. The hairshirt is to suggest some humility, sympathy.

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Above is the final Cyclestache illustration. The background bicycles looked like they were going to be too busy so I changed the pattern to wheels with curls of hair suggesting wings, flying wheels.

The first session in the print studio went well. I printed the yellow background and the pink skin color. The next session though I messed up when I left a ruler under the paper (a positioning method I was using) which caused the orange ink to darken at the edge of where the ruler sat (see the arrows in the bottom image below). After three prints, I realized what was happening and tried to fix it, but ended up getting ink on the bottom of the screen, just a number of mess-ups with the third ink. The fourth ink started out well but my pulling technique needs more practice, ink again gathered under the screen (I think I pull too much ink). Later I realized the yellow and pink were too dark anyway, so a failed print, but hopefully a good learning experience.

For theexhibit then, I made a banner print, larger than what the screen print would have been which was good, and on Epson Fine Art paper, a sharp image on a soft cloth-like paper. I printed a few extras to sell at the exhibit.

Below are some process images from the screenprinting sessions.

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The idea for this one is a combining of the mustache with bicycle wheels. The rider has multiple mustaches, each twirled into a wheel. In the background, where the wheels are now, will be a pattern of bicycles.

The basis for this portrait is an 1895 photo of Paul R. Clauss, a famous rubgy footballer from Scotland, reference found here.

Below is the line drawing from the photo reference, with additional mustaches, eyebrows, and eyes.

Below is the photo-sketch, combining the reference photo with the thumbnail sketch.

Below is the rough thumbnail concept sketch.

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I decided to pull the print with two hands rather than use the one-armed-bandit, felt much more comfortable, more control although it’s easier to get messy with the ink, and the angle of the squeegee can vary if you don’t pay attention to what you’re doing. The one-armed-bandit made me feel a little removed from the process, too automated.

Below is the final print followed by some process images.

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Today, I was in the Printshop beginning work on the cycling print, with little progress. It’s been a couple of years since my last screen printing project so it took some guidance and help from my friend Shannon Brady and a little time to reacquaint myself with the process.

Above is the final Photoshop image. I decided to print this edition without the type. Below are the two separations, printed on vellum, one for medium red and one for dark red.

We exposed one screen for the medium red, image size is 16″ x 22.4.”

I was using the one-armed-bandit for the first time so I wanted to use newsprint for a test print which unfortunately allowed some ink to flow onto the bottom of the screen, ruining the first two prints. Below is one of the prints, big blotchy mess of ink. Plus we noticed a filled-in spot in the screen (big white spot next to the bottom of the front tire).

So not much accomplished this first day, although I have the medium red ink mixed and one screen exposed, and I feel comfortable with the process again. We’ll be back at it tomorrow with a clean screen and no newsprint.

Just realized I forgot to document this printing session. Screen was exposed for 30 seconds. Medium red was I think four parts Shop Red, one-half part Yellow, and one part White (or some mix close to that). Paper is 90lb. Stonehenge Vellum White. I’m planning for this print to be an addition of between twenty and thirty.

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Well the Kickstarter funding fell short, but still planning on printing this, just at a more modest scale. Still have a bit more work to do. The “live strong” bracelet is an option along with the watch, may change the word “strong” with “wrong,” plan also to add some tattoos and more line work over the path. Also will be adding line work for the tires, bike frame, and shoe.

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