For those unfamiliar with screen printing, it’s a method designed for consistency. It developed as a commercial process for posters, signage, and textiles, where the goal was an edition of identical prints and any variation from one pull to the next was considered a flaw. Like letterpress or copper plate etching, it was designed for duplication: getting the same image out into the world, fast and in higher volumes.

But one thing about artists is if you present them with a method, they will immediately start poking at it, exploring it, playing with it. Curiosity about the world around us and how we can interact with it is in fact a distinct trait of many artists. Playing, testing theories, and observing the results is how artists work. Creativity is not unlike science in this way. Out of this experimentation was born many methods where the stencil stays the same while the ink application evolves.

In our class, we explored a few ways to do it:

• Split fountain: Lay several colors side by side in bands across the screen, then pull the squeegee and watch them blend into a gradient that shifts with every print.

• Mono printing with hand-painted ink: Brush the colors directly onto the screen for bolder, more intentional passages of color.

• Mono printing with rizzled ink: Dribble the ink across the mesh for a marbled, unpredictable effect.

Because the ink is applied differently each time, no two prints came out alike, and instead of an edition, we got a lineup of one-of-a-kind pieces.

I love the irony of it. A process designed for predictability got played with until it learned to surprise us. But that’s what artists do: they play, and the play turns into something wonderful.

It’s such a joyous experience to share these methods and processes with my community and watch their worlds expand artistically. The amount of ideas and inspiration buzzing in the air after class was almost dizzying.

Which brings me to the real purpose of this post, which is to remind everyone that I have only THREE events on my calendar in San Antonio before I pack it in & head to New York. I’ll be coming back to visit, don’t worry, but come December, Dirty Bones will be finding a new home in the Big Apple. If you’ve been wanting to get inky with me, these will be your last chances!!

Halloween | Oct 31 | 5:30-7:30 PM
Live Screen Printing at RPNA’s Annual Halloween Block Party

Bring your tricks and make a bag to carry all your treats! All supplies included, just show up & print this very cute halloween design with your kids, or make one for yourself!

Nov 7 | 12-4 PM
Live Screen Printing at Artpace’s DreamLab Family Day

Bring your own (light colored) garment or use the paper provided to screen print your own reminder that humans and our creative traditions are worth fighting for and enjoy an afternoon of hands-on art activities led by local artists & explore work by their artists in residence.

Nov 14 | 10 AM-4 PM
Live Screen Printing at Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Yanaguana Native Arts Community Day

The event is FREE and includes admission to the Briscoe, making it a perfect way to celebrate the important role Native Americans played in shaping the West while enjoying art and artifacts that highlight Native American history. We will be set up here offering hands-on screen printing for families & visitors, totes & paper provided.

learn more about all our events here

Or, if you’re craving connection but don’t have a lot of time in your schedule, why not check out our Pen Pals United Initiative? Sign up at the form below and we’ll match you with a pen pal that has similar interests to you! Writing letters is often the most relaxing part of my week, and while I love meeting new people, sometimes the social calendar can be overstimulating. Writing a quick post card to an almost stranger once a month (or whenever works for you) can be a low-pressure, low-commitment way to get your brain juices flowing & ramp up those social skills.

Check out our pen pal program

Alrighty that about wraps it up for me friends. I have quite a few things to do to prepare for these very fun printing sessions & more packing than I want to think about, so I’ll leave you with this wonderful quote from William Morris, one of the leading figures of the Arts & Crafts movement, to inspire you as you go about your week:

“A good way to rid one's self of a sense of discomfort is to do something. That uneasy, dissatisfied feeling is actual force vibrating out of order; it may be turned to practical account by giving proper expression to its creative character.”
-William Morris

If you find yourself feeling anxious about the state of the world or overwhelmed because your career isn’t as far along as you thought it would be by now, why not take some time to unplug from the machine & reconnect with yourself through making something? Observe a river, write about the light flickering on your front porch, do something that asks you to sit & reflect & connect with the world around you. Remember, the solution to a pot boiling over isn’t to turn up the heat, but to release the pressure within by taking the lid off the pot.

A perfect thing to partake in for all of these would be in-print newsletters! You may have seen them running around your feed this past year, and for good reason. As our world turns increasingly online, the social pace picks up & way more products than we know what to do with are shoved in front of our faces, we’ve all been craving something a little more tangible, something we can hold in our hands & run our fingertips over to ground ourselves in the ever-growing onslaught of technological & commercial advancements.

Emails get buried in the “I’ll get to it later” pile, while reels give us yet another thing to scroll past if the hook doesn’t give us the most biting 3 seconds of our life. Mail, however, and mail that you pay for, is substantial. It doesn’t get buried in feeds or inboxes, no, rather, the fact that it’s physical & you’ve sacrificed for it commands attention in and of itself. It asks a bit more investment of us, with a more substantial reward for our nervous system in return. Considering that, it’s worthwhile to mention you don’t want to subscribe to newspapers or prose collections you won’t enjoy reading, so here’s a specially curated list of my favorite physical subscriptions I’ve enjoyed this year, complete with prices and why you should pick it up.

1. The Lottura Post | $11 | Monthly

   1. This monthly newspaper brings me so much joy every time I recieve it, not just because it’s beautifully designed, but the artwork & stories within are insightful, beautiful, & really do add the perfect dose of perspective to your morning coffee. One of my greatest joys as a child was reading the Sunday comics at the kitchen table while my grandpa read his paper, so it’s nice to be able to have that feeling again even if I’m not reading with him anymore. Whether you’re interested in short folk-focused fiction or the architectural philosophy of what makes a building worth building, the Lottura delivers it all, accompanied with the most decadent hand-drawn illustrations & carefuly selected paintings. A few things to note about this publication:

      1. It only goes out monthly, & when you subscribe you recieve the next month’s issue (ie, if you subscribe in May, your first edition will be mailed out in June)

      2. They have a kids’ newspaper as well, called The Lotturette (isn’t that quaint?)

      3. If you’re on the fence about subscribing, you can check out their free digital issue!

2. The Prose & Post Society from Six Penny Stamp | $14 | Monthly

   1. Self-described as “A Monthly Mail Club for Readers & Curious Souls”, The Prose & Post Society mails you two 5" x 7" vintage art prints featuring a thoughtful literary quote, a personalized letter with your name in hand drawn calligraphy, and a little paper surprise to delight & inspire such as stickers or bookmarks.

      1. A shorter read than The Lottura Post, Six Penny gives you variety. It usually takes me 3-4 sittings to get through an entire issue of the Lottura, but I can polish this letter off in one morning coffee

      2. The little artsy vintage surprises are perfect for a trinket collector/letter writer looking to keep their stationery drawer stocked.

      3. This letter club feels a bit like wandering through an antique store with a friend; if you’re into literary inspiration, & vintage art, Prose & Post is the perfect little monthly surprise.

3. Under Sun Scriptorium | $16 | Monthly

   1. This is a collection of vintage stories, sourced directly from library & other literary archives, mailed to you every single month. All stories are fiction & each month’s booklet comes with a fine art print of a vintage piece directly related to the stories’ themes.

      1. This subscription also offers variety, as there are 3 different collections to choose from. Unfortunately, you can’t combine them all, nor can you switch collections from one month to the next, but they do offer a 4th collection option which is essentially a sample platter of the other 3.

      2. The booklets are designed in house, the stories themselves are really fun to read through, & it’s nice getting to “rediscover” lost fiction works.

      3. They also offer a sample digital issue as well as a Substack where you can discuss that month’s stories with other readers, so this is a great way to make some new friends!

If you should decide to pick up one of these mail clubs, I hope it reminds you how good it can feel to slow down & take your time with the media you choose to consume. And, if you’re looking to make your own mail, why not join our Pen Pals United Initiative, where we get you matched with a person of similar interests who also wants to write letters?

Check Out Pen Pals United

Alrighty that’s all we’ve got for you today, sweet peaches. Til next time!!

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