SPX + new zine!

It's been a while since my last update but I've been busy working on my new fully silkscreened zine and I'll have copies available for SPX this weekend!
Here are some photos of the screen printing I've been doing over the past couple weeks:

 I went in to print shop right when it opened for the school year and it was real nice because nobody was there. 

 Some mushroom prints on the rack.

 Part of my inspiration for determining the palette of the illustrations is the growing popularity of risograph printing. I purposely limited myself to 2 colors for a lot of the book because of it and I'm really happy with the results.

 Bone folding paper. Also, the zine comes in 2 different color covers!

 One of the last steps after stapling, putting it through the guillotine. (the weird looking water bottle is filled with coffee in case anyone is curious....)

Finally, Small Press Expo, here I come! This will be may first time exhibiting at SPX. I've attended previous years and it's loads of fun. I'll be tabling with my friend, the very lovely and incredibly talented Jess Ruliffson, find us at table D12. I also booked a hotel room which will be jam packed with old and new friends. Like every year, SPX will make hanging out in Bethesda a crazy good time like no other. So stoked!!

Waking up in a Tutti Frutti Hat

I have a couple of pieces in a show at Alternative Cafe! The show is called "Waking Up in a Tutti Frutti Hat", curated by my friend/studio mate Aya Kakeda. The show will feature a bunch of illustrators/cartoonists/artists that also make books, along with the artwork on the wall they will also carry books by all the artists!

These are the new prints I made for the show. The print with the rooftop scene is the most detailed screen print I've attempted so far, and it wasn't easy! (printing the line) Even in the humid weather.     

The gallery will have copies of "hot + cold" and "Find my Light" The opening reception will take place Friday, July 13th at 7PM. Check out the Facebook event page. The show will remain on display throughout July and beginning of August.

Here are some process photos from the print shop.

 After printing blue, pink and yellow.

 Preparing 2 colors for gradient effect.

 After printing transparent gradient.

 Test scraps.

 "Follow Me" print.

 Printing line.

"Rooftop" on the racks.

"Ghost Show" at Pony Club

I recently made some new prints for this show! "Ghost Show" at Pony Club Gallery in Portland. It opens April 5th (tomorrow!) so if you're in PDX area, you don't want to miss this. I got to meet some of the Pony Club folks when I visited Portland for the first time last year and they are total sweethearts! I'm heading to PDX again for Stumptown this year (more details about that soon) and I am definitely gonna stop by the gallery once I'm there later this month.

Here are some snapshots of the ghost prints on the rack:

my second time printing gradient!

4 step color process for "Boo"

printing tote bags

Don't get squirted! Or do. Yesterday I went grocery shopping right after I printed and the cashier nearly freaked out because she thought my arm was bleeding but I was just squirted with red...

I still have a hard time printing tote bags but I think they came out ok this time around. It's hard because the paint has to be thick but all I want to do is water it down, but you would run the risk of the image bleeding...

Also, bags take longer to print because I am re-registering each individual bag for every single color, so much work! Here I am registering to print blue, making sure everything is aligned.

Yellow paint with transparencies. This was the easiest separation to print. If all the colors are mixed right it has vibrant results.

Before all the printing begins I iron all the bags, wrinkles in the fabric gets in the way of the paint. I use a blow-dryer to each bag for every layer of color that is printed.

All this paper I use because some way or another I mess up printing the line in-between. Maybe one day I'll get to use one of those carousels, but this will do for now!

CMYK guide for "Forest Fire" print

With my own custom CMYK colors, of course. If magenta was a diluted rocket red, and blacK is instead browN. CRYN? Maybe not as good of an acronym. :)





"Forest Fire" is going on exhibit in an upcoming gallery show, which opens in July in Monterey, CA. Details very soon!

Recap: TCAF and Toronto!

my table at TCAF!

I had an amazing time in Toronto!! I met sooooo many new people, ate so much amazing food and experienced some new beers. Toronto is definitely a place I want to revisit again and again. :)
TCAF was an incredible time. It reminded me of Brooklyn Comic Fest a bit, except larger scale. The free admission definitely makes a huge difference. This festival had a diverse and friendly crowd without being overwhelming the way Brooklyn Fest was. My tote bags did surprisingly well, I'm used to only selling maybe a few, but I actually ran out of all the Lemon + Lime totes that I brought, I even had a few people asking for them after they ran out! :O
My comics and silkscreen books also did really well. I found TCAF a more enjoyable festival than Stumptown, but this is my first time exhibiting both events that have evolved so much over the decade. I would love to do both festivals again if I get the chance!

Having tex-mex brunch at Sneaky Dee's! With Irme, Taylor and their friends Agatha and Laura (pictured below)

The Dunking Donuts of Toronto, or as they call it, "Timmies" This was Deo's dream come true.

Exploring the Distillery District where we had a sake tasting, some artisanal gelato, and a cheese sampling at a place that imports from Quebec! Plus we strolled around with the cutest dog in the world, Murray!

Embarking onto Kensington Market! Where we had family style tacos at "El Trompo"

Post-TCAF karaoke-ing! Pictured here are Hellen Jo, Calvin Wong, Ryan Sands, and Jen Wang.

This is the infamous Canadian dish called Poutine, consisting of french fries slathered with gravy and topped with cheese curds!! This is the classic. Next time I visit I want to try poutine with pulled pork on top...or bacon....! The accompanying drink is called a Ceaser, which is Canada's bloody mary, except it's spicier and more savory, the extra ingredient is clam juice! yumm yum!

Photos above (basically all the good looking ones) taken by my close friend Deo, he is the best traveling companion!

Portland recap + TCAF

I'm tabling at TCAF this year for the first time and I'm so excited! I'm also stoked about visiting Toronto Canada for the first time, I am getting there via 11 hour bus ride (!!!) and I might have a buddy traveling with me to explore Toronto with. (yippeeeee!!!)

outside of Guapo comics and coffee

Portland was AMAZING.... I had the best time, thanks to some new friends who were incredible hosts. Stumptown was an interesting convention, I've never seen so many pirates in one place, although Amy (of Pony Club) mentioned to me that the pirate thing was something new this year. Anyway, the screen-print posters were a hit. You can now find some of my prints at Pony Club Gallery!



Here I am at my table, photo taken by Jen Vaughn. She did a great recap of the fest on The Beat. One guy bought my new "hot + cold" book as a wedding present for his friend who, if I remember correctly, is an architect getting married to his other friend who is a poet. I thought it was very touching! And yes, my books can make a great wedding present! :)

Portland is all kinds of wonderful. There were instances where I could see myself living there, even! But instead I think I will visit there, a lot! Here are some highlights of my trip:

some of the yummiest biscuits n gravy I've ever had at Pine State Biscuits on Belmont!

Bicycle fencing :)

any coffee lovin' town is my kinda town!

All the way North at Cathedral Park, where the grass is so tall...

Walking through Irving Park on my way to Mississippi St.

For more photos of my Portland adventure check out my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jentong/sets/72157626557067668/

what's cookin' at the printshop