Tamara Kane of Easy Street Studio creates beautiful and evocative images by digitally combining two or more photographs. The images ebb and flow and seamlessly intertwine, revealing the spontaneity with which she works. She says, “There isn’t a whole lot of planning that goes into them. They come to me and when they do I work with a sense of urgency while I have the idea still flowing in a clear way. I think this is one of the reasons that I prefer this medium because I can work quickly and not risk losing the ‘moment’.”
New listing in the 622 press shop that’s a bit off the beaten path: a series of intaglio prints that I think look like cells under a microscope.
I created each of these unique prints in college using completely unconventional processes. For each plate (the prints above use three separate plates), I dissolved copier toner in alcohol, then dripped or poured it onto the clean, heated aluminum. Heating the aluminum made the alcohol dry faster than the toner could move, leaving the shapes you see above. To get this image to print, I then painted a thin coat of silicone over the whole plate, which was resisted in the areas where the toner had dried. Once the plate had dried and the toner was washed off, the ink stuck to the raw aluminum only and I printed these!
I love this process because it employs relatively cheap everyday materials and really is something anyone could do. Plus, both the aluminum and the toner were recycled (respectively from old newspaper printing plates and the last remnants left in the cartridge that usually get thrown away) Each print is approximately 5″ square and signed on the back — and available for purchase here!
Professor and pottery instructor at several colleges in St. Louis, Rachel is an exceedingly talented ceramicist. She is classically trained with a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and MFA from Ohio University in 2006.
Her softly curved thrown vessels are accentuated and decorated with soft lines of glaze or texture. The pieces are then finished in soft colors, which she hopes will “allow people to slow down, carefully examine and be peaceful.”
I had the pleasure of spending last night at my alma mater. Each spring UWSP’s Art and Design department hosts NOWhere, a conference which features workshops and presentations by two high profile designers as well as presentations by alumni (me!).
Last night’s featured designer was Chase, a Belgium native who originally began painting murals throughout Los Angeles with the simple intent of spreading his message throughout the world.He has since been recognized for his unique style and has created custom pieces for big companies and licensed his work to be used on everything from housewares to skateboards.
Mural Installation: The Awareness Geezers in Hawaii
He uses two basic motifs over and over, each with a well-defined concept behind them. My favorite is the “Awareness Geezers,” which are these characters with very large eyes who have gained a wisdom of sorts. When Chase paints these he finishes the piece by spraying stenciled “truths” on top.
Mural Installations: The Kama Lounge in Hollywood
Some of my favorite pieces are the ones that consist almost wholly of these spray painted “truths.” When I saw the installation above during his presentation, all I could think was “I want that in my house!” Luckily, Chase was kind enough to give us all a tiny piece of his work — after the presentation, we all went outside and he painted anything we wanted. I got my purse painted with his signature eyes!
Self-described as creepy and whimsical, Colleen of Loopy Boopy creates art dolls that are eerily beautiful. Each polymer clay piece is sculpted individually and only once — Colleen doesn’t even sketch them out first! She then adds embellishments, often vintage textiles, and finishes them with a little paint. Her inspiration comes from within — whatever her mood is that day — and from all around her — the amazing characters that make up New Orleans.
Professor and pottery instructor at several colleges in St. Louis, 
622 press | LETTERPRESS GOODS MADE BY HAND 