This month, we’re proud to present a selection of publishing projects from the members of our People of Print Community. Reinforcing that Print Isn’t Dead, our members have created illustrations for the covers of novels, photography-based zines, and books for budding-printmakers.
Chris Brown: Refueled Magazine Collaborates with Jason Lee
Refueled Magazine’s series ONE goes behind-the-scenes with the creation of Jason Lee’s new photography book, Galveston. Refueled Publisher and Creative Director Chris Brown, along with Lee, photographer Raymond Molinar, and writer Will Gilham (Amon Carter Museum of American Art) were hosted by the Galveston Historical Foundation as “artist-in-residence” for two weeks on the island. Black and white “behind-the-scenes” film photography was shot by Molinar and a selection of Lee’s colour and black and white photos from the book are featured. Words were provided by Lee, Molinar, and Dwayne Jones; CEO of the Galveston Historical Foundation.
Isle of Riso: Riso Parade
How amazing would it be to have a travelling Riso machine? This dream of Alice Prentice, founder of Isle of Riso, was the inspiration for this joyful concertina zine! The publication was produced as part of a studio exchange project with the Riso Club – a collective of experienced Risograph Printers from Riso Pop in The Netherlands. Each member of the club was invited to create illustrations with the theme “riso parade”. They delivered troops of imaginative characters including; blobs, bikes, dogs, and even dragons. The map for the back of the concertina illustrates an immense Riso themed journey that the Riso Parade is thought to have travelled, illustrated by Aafke Mertens.
Benjamin Wurster: Leafy House Plants
Last November, Benjamin Wurster had the chance to publish Leafy House Plants with Slanted Publishers. Leafy House Plants is the new edition of Udo Dammer’s botanical encyclopedia Zimmerblattpflanzen from 1899. It includes all 46 detailed plant illustrations from the original publication, the original texts, and a comprehensive introduction to the whole project. These are supplemented by an overview of all plant names and miniatures of the original book pages.
Sebastian König: Rotklinker Zine
Rotklinker is a self published, Riso-printed zine. The 32 page publication shows several spot illustrations which are stylistically linked by the use of red bricks. In Hamburg, the city where Sebastian Koenig lives, the red bricks are called “Rotklinker“, and are an omnipresent style element in architecture. “I liked the idea of paying homage to my hometown with this zine,” says Sebastian. All illustrations are non-verbal picture stories consisting of one image. The zine plays with impossible objects, tragic stories, and funny images. Produced in limited edition of 50, and printed and bound by Drucken 3000 in Berlin with Riso red on Metapaper.
IS Projects: Existent Books
Existent Books is a semi-annual publishing initiative established in 2015, which brings artists to IS Projects to experience fine art printmaking, letterpress printing, and book binding. These artists then design an artists’ book that IS Projects’ staff produce by hand, taking inspiration from all the techniques that the studio has come to offer: screen printing, relief, intaglio, letterpress, foil stamping, die-cutting, pop-ups, and more. With a mission focused on building awareness and breaking down barriers to entry in artists’ book publishing and collecting, the Existent Books initiative is invested in collaborating with a variety of artists, including those working in different media and with limited to no experience in printmaking or book arts. To date, the project has included artists whose primary practice includes printmaking, illustration, painting, sculpture, graphic design, video, architecture, drawing, fibre, and performance.
Concrete Nature: OUT OF OFFICE
OUT OF OFFICE is Concrete Nature’s latest Risograph printed publication. Across two volumes the publication features the photographic work of international creatives produced between March 2020 and May 2021. The first volume is set in the urban environments we live and work in while the second volume explores the great outdoors. Both investigate our connection to our environment, others, and ourselves. They are an intimate testimony of a tumultuous year; the loneliness, strangeness, and tenderness of it all. £1 from the sale of each volume will be donated to UK based charity The Calvert Trust.
Susan Yeates: Beginner’s Guide to Linocut
Beginner’s Guide to Linocut aims to provide a selection of simple projects to introduce linocut to those that have little or no knowledge of the technique. After an introduction section that explains about the tools and materials, there are ten separate projects (with simple templates included if needed) to teach different techniques such as mark-making, working with text, and making greetings cards. Linocut printmaker Susan Yeates has written three other books, but all of these were self-published. However, for this project she worked with knowledgeable art and craft publisher, Search Press, and a wonderful editor, Beth. Published in 2019, Susan describes it as a “labour of love” and hopes to inspires many other creatives to get into the craft.
RACHLLOYDPRESS: Ant Book
Ant Book is an experimental publication using rebus and phonetics, influenced by early Dada sound poetry performances and reference to comedic uses of language. For Rach Lloyd this project was an exciting way of exploring uses of rubber stamps and the connections between image, text, and symbols. She states; “I found it really rewarding to see my audience connect, laugh and ‘get’ the joke of the book. It was a really positive and silly project to complete over lockdown. I also really enjoyed the process of planning, printing and binding the books.”
CHOCHO: Surtido Variedad
Surtido Variedad is an illustrated publication by Jazmin Varela, handprinted and edited by CHOCHO. Translated as “Assortment Variety”, the 20 page publication contains drawings of plastic, glittery, and fruity treasures harking to feelings of nostalgia and times gone by. Available in a limited, hand-numbered edition of 200 copies.
Mal Fisher: Love, Hope
Illustrator, Mal Fisher, was recently commissioned by Hodder Staunton to design the cover for the new Juliet Ann Conlin book, Love, Hope. The story is told through letters from two people from different backgrounds who end up writing to one another. Mal’s design features both Hope and Arnold (and his dog) with hand drawn typography, surrounded by a postage stamp frame which ties into the theme of the book.
Check out more incredible work by our members and apply to join our community of printmakers and creatives at www.members.peopleofprint.com.
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