I decided to create my own art school. I'm at my residency and feel like time is running out (It’s Day 4, after all). Eventually, I want to bind books, but for now, I'm pushing myself to make some art. That's pretty broad, right? So, I needed some structure. Based on the materials I have, I chose to start with linocut. I've tried linocut printmaking briefly before and saw some amazing work at the Southwest Print Fiesta in Silver City, New Mexico. Many pieces there were what I'd call stylistic realism—identifiable objects with an artist's twist.
I'm more into abstract art because I don't draw. I say don't instead of can't because we all can, right, it’s just that many of us have been out of practice since we were ten. This residency lasts only a month, so re-learning to draw isn't realistic for me now. Plus, I naturally lean towards abstract art. So, I'm starting with shapes. I carved a simple geometric design into Speedball Speedy Cut (blue). It's very soft, so I'm glad I'm not trying detailed illustrations as a beginner.
From that experience, I thought I'd make individual stamps and play with composition instead of making a finished design from one block. A process started forming in my mind, which felt comforting. Since this residency has no handbook, I'm creating one for myself.
Here's my plan: pick three favorite artists, look at their work, make sketches inspired by them, and then turn some sketches into linocut stamps. It might sound like copying, but it's more like art worth stealing, as Austin Kleon says in his TED talk.
As a tasteful thief (a David Bowie quote), I started with Cody Hudson. I initially encountered his work at the beloved Andenken Gallery in Denver, Colorado. His style is influenced by his graphic design background, this resonates, as I’m drawn to function and visual communication. He's also a partner at Land and Sea in Chicago—a creative project and hospitality group I deeply admire. Before moving to Chicago, Longman & Eagle (one of their earliest projects, a brilliant bar/restaurant with a handful of rooms above) piqued my radar and I wasn't wrong, it became a favorite spot. Discovering this connection from his art to the best hospitality and design projects in Chicago officially made him a superhero to me.
Here are just a few favorites to show the range that is Cody Hudson:
Borrowed without permission from his website, please visit for more amazing work
So, here we go. I started with sketches.
I picked a few of my favorite, a term I use loosely, and set to making stamps by transferring the shape to the squishy blue linoleum and carving them out as individual units. After carving, I made an initial print in black ink of each design.
On the right are the linoleum stamps, on the left are the first prints of each stamp which I carefully cutout with my amazing new Penco scissors (thanks, Isa Catto).
And, I’d like to suggest to Chronicle Books, that working with Cody Hudson to make a set of stamps seems like a real brilliant idea to me. The shopkeeper in me is always present.
Next, I played with composition by arranging the paper cutouts (from the first imprints) on 5.5 × 7 inch sheets of printmaking paper.
A sample of the 8 compositions that I landed one
I took photos of each composition for reference and then I recreated them using the actual stamps. Here I learned things about ink- how much, how little, how not to dally, and how to roll it out until you hear the sizzling bacon sound. All the things that are only learned by doing. And then doing many, many more times.
These two were my favorite compositions
This day felt successful not in the designs but in the process. If felt good to provide myself with the structure I felt I needed. But the best part was pushing through when I did not love what I was creating. Had I embarked on something like this at home there’s a strong chance I would have abandoned it as bunk. I’m here to push through the bunk. And I might still be creating bunk at the end of the month but I hope I’ll have created a daily habit of creating bunk.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I attempt to take two of the compositions and push them forward with color and materials.
these are wonderful!