Test Prints by Aesthetic Apparatus

I saw these fellas speak this spring and forgot to post about their test prints — when they screenprint posters, they use the same sheets of paper to test their new screens, they layers of which result in these unpredictable collage images. They then sell these prints as one-of-a-kind art pieces:

All test prints are one-of-a-kind (monoprint) products of the screen printing process and are signed and editioned “1/1.” Because these prints serve a very specific, conventional function before they are crowned “beautiful”, there may likely be bent corners, smears, scuffs, dirt or all of the above on any test print. This is evidence of the print’s previous life and is considered a “character building” part of the process.

I tried to pair prints with similar imagery together so you can see the different results. What’s interesting to me is that it’s obvious that these test prints influence their more intentional designs — I had to check as to whether this Explosions in the Sky poster was a test print or not!

Also, a great example of selling by-products/artifacts of your process.

(Thx Kate for reminding me of their work.)

Printing the new Creativity Is Subtraction screenprints

On sale now!

Anatomy of a Linocut

drawnblog:

Here is a great video of the process of making a (really big) linoleum block print. The artist is my mentor and friend, Bill Fick, and this is one of his signature style prints. Gorgeous!

Very cool.