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Benconservato Cindy Tomczyk Dee Beale Denise Holmes Emily Glaubinger Fric De Mentol
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haunted house of projects Jesses Mess Kate Pugsley Keeki Kids Haus
Laura George Mateo & Isabel Moira Millman Piktorama Susan Estelle Kwas Susan Schwake 1
Your package contains work from the artists circled on the next page! Thanks so much for your support & we hope you have fun discovering new artists on Pikaland! Amy@Pikaland www.pikaland.com/pikapackage + cover art by laura george
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PikaPackage Gocco Edition
participants Benconservato
Keeki
Cindy Tomczyk
Kids Haus
Dee Beale
Laura George
Denise Holmes
Mateo & Isabel
Emily Glaubinger
Moira Millman
Fric De Mentol
Piktorama
haunted house of projects
Susan Estelle Kwas
Jesses Mess
Susan Schwake
Kate Pugsley
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benconservato Sydney, Australia
benconservato.com
How about a brief introduction? I have always liked print making, all that effort to try to get the perfect edition, and the tons of paper in your house. I like to draw and paint and make monsters come alive. What made Gocco so special for you? I love the fact you can do it at home, no real space is needed, no permission or vast amounts of money out-layed... all very accessible, and portable. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? I have fallen into the basic exposure, with one screen, maybe then blocking off a little and changing the colours, but then hand painting it. As I have the basic set, registration can be a killer sometimes. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Coming back to Australia and jumping in, trying to get the perfect work life balance. Not turning into a complete hermit in the process. Share something random with us! I love to quiz my man on music, he calls me “The Rock Snob”.
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cindy tomczyk Costa Mesa, CA in sunny Orange County
www.aileenholmes.com
How about a brief introduction? I am an Illustrator living and working in Chicago. I also run a letterpress company called Paper Parasol Press and own a Vandercook #3 proof press. Being a first generation American I am always inspire by European Folk Art and design and try to incorporate both European influences and Americana into my work. What made Gocco so special for you? The handmade quality of it and that every print may be a little bit different. Living in a small apartment, gocco is really functional and easy to clean up! Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Using tape on the base to help register a second color and cleaning and saving the screens. I usually put them in the freezer in plastic bags. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Probably attending the National Stationery Show in NYC in 2009 and launching a line of letterpress cards. Share something random with us! I love walruses and rhinos!
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dee beale UK
www.deebeale.blogspot.com
How about a brief introduction? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a printmaker and designer based in the UK where I live with my partner and two small children. I studied Graphic Design & Illustration and after graduating, went on to work in Graphic design. I started printmaking a few years ago after having worked in design agencies for over 10 years. All my work is hand printed by me from my small printmaking studio at home. At the moment all prints are produced on my Japanese Print Gocco. For those that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already know, Print Gocco is small self-contained tabletop screen-printing machine first produced in Japan in the 1970s the process is very similar to screen-printing. Many things including nature, animals and plant forms inspire my work, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also a big fan of mid century art and design so a lot of the artists I admire are from that period including Lucienne Day, Jessie Tait, John Clappison, and Stig Lindberg. What made Gocco so special for you? The main attraction of Gocco for me was size and ease of use, I needed to print from home and had little experience in printmaking, Gocco is just perfect for that. I was also amazed that a machine so compact and originally designed for home use in Japan could produce such beautifully finished screen prints. <<continued on page 22>>
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denise holmes Milwaukee, WI
www.niseemade.com
How about a brief introduction? Nisee Made is simply happy paper goods. What made Gocco so special for you? It’s a lot cheaper than setting up a screen printing studio! Plus it’s so cute! I love my little gocco - it’s perfect for making paper goods. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? I scrape the paint off with a credit card edge and save the screens to re-use. (I do have to use screen cleaner as well!) What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Starting a paper goods business! Share something random with us! I won a hula hoop contest when I was five. I had never even seen a hula hoop before the contest!
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emily glaubinger San Francisco, California USA
www.drawingisawesome.blogspot.com
How about a brief introduction? Hi. I am: an illustrator and designer specializing in apparel and accessories. In love with textile and pattern design. Inspired by everything, but mostly travel. A jewelry maker by hobby (www.ermadid.com). A momma to two wild kitties and being the best lady-friend to a super duper amazing man. I have: been a featured artist in Juxtapoz Magazine and the Contemporary Book of Illustration. Participated in art shows around the globe. Illustrated for a variety of things including band posters, my very own line of Keds, skateboards, magazines, t shirts and even larger than life chalk and paint murals. I am always on the lookout for new and exciting projects and collaborations. What made Gocco so special for you? The tiny space that is needed to print since I have a tiny apartment and the super easy clean up! Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? I need tips! Anyone have a secret supplier that doesn’t overcharge? What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? To be able to live off of my art and illustration. I feel pretty grateful. Share something random with us! I have 64 pairs of eyeglasses, most of which have my prescription.
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fric de mentol / ana raimundo US, in the state of North Carolina
www.corelladesign.etsy.com
How about a brief introduction? I’m Ana Raimundo, a Portuguese freelance artist and illustrator. I move often around my country which allows me to know and to smell a lot of new things; that is the source of my inspiration. What made Gocco so special for you? Gocco is special in so many ways! Firstly I fell in love with it because I love printmaking techniques and also that it’s portable; it uses few resources and there’s no need for a big working area. Then I love the result of each print in all its ‘imperfections’. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Gocco allows you to make a lot of different things in many ways and it can also print on different materials such as wood, paper, glass, fabric... so the best tip that I can offer is to experiment and explore. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? {Huge smiles} being invited to be featured in a book. Share something random with us! I have small feet.
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haunted house of projects / Kathryn DiLego Los Angeles, USA
www.hauntedhouseofprojects.com
How about a brief introduction? I’m an artist-illustrator and I like to make loose, limber, lanky, lovely line drawings and turn them into prints. What made Gocco so special for you? My husband surprised me with a Gocco printer for my birthday... and I immediately wished for a time machine so I could give one to myself as a kid! Gocco is ridiculously fun, creates professional results, yet is compact, simple and tidy. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? 1) Experiment. 2) Dispose of the used materials properly. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Cultivating a total absence of interest in accomplishments. Share something random with us! To support my art, I’ve had a variety of interesting jobs -- from being an extra on TV shows to answering phones at a steel company.
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jesses mess / jess racklyeft Melbourne, Australia
www.jessesmess.com
How about a brief introduction? Well, hello there! My name is Jess and I am an illustrator in the beautiful (currently rainy) city of Melbourne. I *just* managed to convert one of our rooms into a studio, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m enjoying a creative time at the homestead filling this space with works of watercolours, pen, ink and of course the beloved Gocco. What made Gocco so special for you? I bought my Gocco through Japanese e-bay - I had to get a kindly friend to translate and buy it for me, then send to a friend of hers who I met at karaoke in Tokyo to pick up! With such effort to pick up this machine-of-wonder, and on one of the best holidays of my life (I got engaged there too) the Gocco has been, and will be, a very special tool for my art making. I even used it to make our wedding invites! Any tips on using a Gocco that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to share? I was very scared to make my first print! I trawled the net for instructions, and found this video very helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJzkhfWwrXM. But you just have to GO FOR IT - make some (semi) expensive mistakes, and enjoy the process. Also, remember to always handle the bulbs with gloves and dispose of carefully - apparently they are very toxic. <<continued on page 22>>
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kate pugsley Chicago, Illinois
www.katepugsley.com
How about a brief introduction? I’m kate, I’m 26 years old and I’m a painter and illustrator. I wish I could say it was my full-time job but not yet! My favorite materials are oil paints, collage, pencil, silkscreen, watercolor and gouache. I grew up in a small town in Ohio, and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA degree in Illustration. I am a fan of Iris Murdoch books, vintage postage stamps, knitting, red tea and animals. What made Gocco so special for you? I am uncomfortable right now with making/selling reproductions of originals or giclee prints. I love silkscreen prints, and gocco allows me to very easily make little prints in small editions without the time and trouble it takes to silkscreen traditionally. It’s also a fun medium to experiment with. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? I’ve gotten the best results when I use a professional quality printer (at Kinko’s or something) to make the image for transfer. When I use my home printer I get a lot of pinholes and fuzzy lines. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Breaking my addiction to sugar. Share something random with us! I keep a vigilant eye out for vintage illustrations of jello. I am fascinated by them for some unknown reason.
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keeki / alison haines Brighton, UK
www.keeki.co.uk
How about a brief introduction? I studied Illustration at Portsmouth University and graduated back in 2002. Since then I have had my work in Just 17, GQ, Amelia and Anorak magazines as well as various pieces of work for local companies and bands. I also sell my limited edition screenprints in Art Republic and my handmade goodies in a couple of local boutiques in Brighton. Keeki means cake in Japanese and so I thought the name was quite fitting as I love cake! What made Gocco so special for you? Gocco is so great because it’s like mini screenprinting at home for me on a manageable scale (much less mess!) Also, I love Japanese products so it made sense to get on the Gocco! Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Simple is best! Also a bit of spray glue is good to keep cards in place when printing. Don’t let your cat sit on them! What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Having my fox print picked out for an article in a big national paper :-) Share something random with us! I really want to get a Shiba Inu!
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kids haus / michelle maclise Seattle, Washington
kidshaus.typepad.com
How about a brief introduction? I’m the mom of two marvelous little ladies, 4 & 8 and the wife of an incredibly talented and handsome husband of 15 years. I knew at age 6 that I was going to be an artist and I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to make a living being creative in one way or another. I’ve been a professional graphic designer, textile designer, illustrator and web designer throughout my adulthood and it just never gets boring. I love to sit with my daughters and draw with them when we have down time, it inspires my illustrations every time. What made Gocco so special for you? It was my inspiration behind illustrating again... after a 12 year hiatus. I wanted to delve into screen printing but it was too messy and complicated to do in my house and Gocco allowed me to set up shop in my tiny art studio without a hitch. I’ve been able to bring my illustrations alive with Gocco and I love it when layers of color overlap and there are faded edges that naturally occur while printing. It gives each of my illustrations texture and character that you can’t get from an inkjet printer. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? When I illustrate a print, I like to use several colors but because Gocco supplies are expensive and in high-demand, I need to conserve, so I try to manipulate my illustration so that a couple of different colors can be burned onto one screen, far enough away from each other so that they don’t bleed into each other. I use a lot of ink blocking foam to keep the ink isolated and minimize spreading and wasting ink...it works like a charm!
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laura george / laura berger Chicago, Illinois
www.laurageorge.etsy.com
How about a brief introduction? My name is Laura Berger and I’m an artist and illustrator based in Chicago, Illinois. My work is illustrative and is inspired by the idea of finding novelty and adventure in everyday life. I participate in group and solo showings around the US and Canada, and I also do freelance illustration work, murals, and commissions. When I’m not painting or drawing, I like to spend my time on coffee, really good food, my guitar, dreaming of the ocean, reading, traveling to distant lands, and taking pictures. What made Gocco so special for you? Gocco was my first foray into screenprinting of any kind! I enjoyed it so much that I would say it had a really big role in inspiring me to start making more art. I started out by printing my own greeting cards and sending them to friends and family. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Make sure you get a good sharp drawing to start with. And make sure you use your Gocco very frequently. Because it is fun. And fun is good. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? I just quit my job to pursue my art and illustration full-time. It took a lot for me to take this risk, so I’m proud that I jumped. Share something random with us! I want a micro-pig. I would also be very content with a micro-hippo, but I’m not sure those exist.
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mateo & isabel/elizabeth & matt lucas Oakland, CA, USA
www.mateoandisabel.com/
How about a brief introduction? Mateo & Isabel is a collaboration between Elizabeth and Matt Lucas. Formed in 2008, the idea behind Mateo & Isabel is fairly simple: design and make art about things we like and sell them for affordable prices so that all can enjoy. What made Gocco so special for you? There’s nothing like it. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Printing line work seems to be better than printing solid shapes. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Being part of this Pikaland Package Project. Share something random with us! We’re high school sweethearts.
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moira millman Cambridgeshire, UK
www.moiramillman.co.uk
How about a brief introduction? I’m an illustrator living in the Cambridgeshire countryside with my illustrator husband and our grey and white cat. I love to create quirky and colourful illustrations using my favourite tools of pencil, scanner and Mac. I’ve been illustrating for many years but have only recently started making prints from my designs to sell online. I’m inspired by 1950’s and 60’s design and I’m an avid collector of pottery, books and ephemera and enjoy searching for vintage ‘treasure’ in charity shops and antique markets. I also love to drink copious amounts of rooibos tea and eat too much dark chocolate! What made Gocco so special for you? It’s a great little machine and the process is fun with a little frustration thrown in! I love the quality of the prints and the process is also quite addictive, I can’t wait to start printing some more designs... Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? I always use the blue filter with a photocopy to burn my screens and I use kids glue spreaders to apply the ink which I find more controllable than inking straight out of the tube. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Working successfully as a freelance illustrator since graduating in the early 90’s. Share something random with us! I have an irrational fear of dragonflies!
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piktorama / amaranta martinez Miami, USA, originally from Caracas
www.piktorama.com
How about a brief introduction? Piktorama is a colorful person, an artist, illustrator, a good friend and a good big sister. All of those things make her happy. That’s what inspires her to make her magic, detailed and playful world come to life. Favorite things to draw are patterns and cupcakes. She is from Caracas and loves chocolate. What made Gocco so special for you? What makes Gocco so special is that is very crafty and you really have to get your hands dirty. Is like being a kid again, just have fun and it doesn’t really matter if is not perfect, because you’ll always get a beautiful result. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? The best tip is play, play, and play and not only follow what you have in mind. You wouldn’t believe all the amazing results you can get if you experiment with different materials and many inks at the same time. Just try to have fun and relax! What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? All the amazing people that love my work and they the take time to share it with me. It’s very fulfilling to receive an email with amazing words from people all over the world. That’s what inspires me and helps me to create more work. Share something random with us! I’m having twins... ooops! TMI? jeje :)
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susan estelle kwas Milwaukee, USA
www.susanestellekwas.com
How about a brief introduction? I’ve illustrated eight books for children. I also teach illustration part time at the art school here. I like to spend time drawing in my journal, riding my Electra, watching movies and seeing more of the world whenever I get the chance. What made Gocco so special for you? The design of the gocco printer is so elegant. Its ease of use is Japanese design brilliance. Gocco limits the mess and commitment. I can hatch an idea and a couple of fun, fast hours later, I have a new image. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? I read this tip from a fellow on Flicker and I’m afraid that I can’t credit the idea properly. When using the foamy blocking material, put down a sliver of Scotch tape first. It peels up off the screen easily and makes clean-up a million times easier. Also, I think it’s important to let a gocco BE what it is.... delight in the imperfections of the image. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Hmmmmm-maybe just being able to live as an artist but, I’ve had tons of help. Share something random with us! My horoscope said I can talk the birds down from the trees, I’m going to try that today.
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susan schwake New Hampshire, USA
www.susanschwake.com
How about a brief introduction? I am an artist, gallery owner and curator of exhibits. I also have been teaching art in my own little school for the past 18 years. What made Gocco so special for you? I first used a Gocco machine in college in the late 70’s. It was introduced to me by my mentor who had us silkscreening in every possible form. Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Try mixing up your own new colors on a piece of glass with a palette knife! Then apply gently to the screen. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? The LARGEST accomplishment to date was a 15 foot by 5 foot banner I hand painted for a friend’s wedding this past August. Share something random with us! I really love a good campfire, especially in my own backyard!
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Interviews: continued... >>Dee Beale (page 6)
Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share? Be sure to use the Gocco Ink blocking sponge, which is cut into strips, placed around the image area on your screen and used to contain the ink and stop it bleeding off the screen when printing, If you don’t, be prepared to spend a long time cleaning up. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? That’s a tricky one as I’ve been printmaking for such a short time but I think it has to be my work being exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea London last year represented by the lovely Boxbird Gallery Brighton. Share something random with us! Eeerrrrrr I keep chickens in my garden.
>>Jesses Mess (page 11)
What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Art-wise, just this week I was part of an Emerging Artist Exhibition at the Walker Gallery in Dandenong, Melbourne - it was an impressive show, and I felt happy to be selected. I feel like I’m just getting started this year, even though I have illustrated for my whole life, and it is feeling really good. Share something random with us! My second toe is longer than my first. It is an “alien toe” and I am not a fan of it. :)
>>Kids Haus (page 14)
What’s your biggest accomplishment to date? Well, the obvious albeit cliche answer is “raising my daughters”... which is 100% true; however, the fact that I had a one year old, worked part-time and managed to illustrate, Gocco print and open an Etsy shop to sell my line of prints in a 4 month time span still baffles me today. I had a fire in my belly and it consumed every free-moment I had -- I loved that feeling! This fall, I hope to take on a couple of new personal goals with similar fervor and see what comes of it. Share something random with us! How about a “guardian angel story”? When I was 22, I had been laid-off by 2 small design companies in a row so I was ready to work for an established, stable company. One afternoon, I had an interview with the Nordstrom product development division and was incredibly nervous. As I was getting out of my car, an older gentleman came up behind me and said, “Good luck!” and handed me a four leaf clover. I thanked him, pulled my portfolio out of my car, turned back around and he had disappeared. Kind of crazy but I like to believe that he was my guardian angel that day. Oh... and yes, I got the job.
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www.pikaland.com/pikapackage
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