Brush pen drawing of a man studying at the Longfellow Dunn Brothers.

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Nearly a year since my last self-portrait. This one was made using Pelikan India ink and an eyedropper, just like my friend and fellow illustrator Ted Michalowski.

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This week, I printed a second edition of the cycling print with lighter ink, and may print a third with type and a simplified design, more line than texture, or I may move on to something else.

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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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Added some new line work. I plan to have a pattern in the background, Van Gogh energy suggesting smoke, heat, fire. This is the first look in that direction along with more resolved line work for the face.

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Still a bit of color adjusting needed, may add an additional hue, line work is still for placement and will most likely be remade, but it’s slowly coming together.

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