This blog has moved

The blog, which has chronicled my four undergrad years at MICA, is now retired. Follow my current work at ianonpaper.tumblr.com

Trying out different color combinations for a t-shirt design featuring a very messy bucket of ink.

Xerox + Photoshop = AWESOME!

It was time for a new desktop wallpaper today, but I could not find anything that suited my fickle taste. What I really wanted was something colorful...and with arrows!

Having some free time, I drew an arrow, copied it a bunch of times to make it all texture-like and yummy, and then used Photoshop to make the colors pretty.

This is exactly what I wanted. If you like it, download the full-sized image (1920x1080) and make it your desktop wallpaper too.

Black Friday MURDER

There couldn't be a more fitting day to publish this print, titled "MURDER." As swarms of desperate shoppers flock to the doorbuster sales, I am reminded of the cackling of crows, their eyes searching for fresh carrion. In a group, ornithologists refer to them as a "murder." Thus the title and subject of this print. Enough crows to devour you and me hide themselves within the churning black texture of this print.

22"x30" digital print on newsprint, folded. The newsprint will yellow with age, revealing the message (and hidden crows) in greater clarity as time passes. You can be the proud owner for only $10. Signed and numbered, edition of 25.

Halloween T-shirts

Created this design at work for a client hosting a "Halloween Run." Shirt was popular enough to warrant a re-order, which is the best kind of compliment.

Let me know in the comments who your favorite runner is. I like the mummy. He's probably a student running from midterms.

And in ink. Added a black stroke to the lettering just before this went to film. Some of the spider-web lines are about as thin as can be screened.

A new sketchbook.

I think I've been on vacation long enough. Here's a sketch of the scissors I use every-day with a little color thrown on top digitally.

Thesis in Detail, part 8.

Squawk. Drypoint on copper.

Detail of the plate itself. Coarse sandpaper was used for the wings.

Thesis in Detail, part 7.

Snail. Drypoint on copper.

Detail.

Thesis in Detail, part 6.

Toad. Drypoint on copper.

Detail of the plate itself. Parts of a previous frog burnished away are still barely visible.

Thesis in Detail, part 5.

Mammoth. Drypoint on copper.

Detail of the plate itself.

Thesis in Detail, part 4.

"Sift" 15"x25" Screenprint and lithograph with collaged drypoint and colored wash.

Thesis in Detail, part 3.

"Sludge" 15"x25" Lithograph and screenprint with collaged drypoints.

Thesis in Detail, part 2.

"Simmer" 15"x25" Lithograph and screenprint with collaged drypoints.

Thesis in Detail, part 1.

A look back at my thesis exhibition, in detail.

"Slurp" Lithograph and screenprint with collaged drypoints and colored wash.

Untitled #3

Here's a work from thesis that was not included in my exhibition. This was the largest of the works using folded paper and digital printers, and the only one of it's kind. I was unable to achieve reproducible results at this scale--the paper would consistently jam and tear.

60"x40", digital inkjet print on handmade Chinese paper.

Not a student anymore.

Believe it or not I'm not a hobo like we all thought I would be. Two days after I graduated from MICA I got a call from a former teacher with a lead on a job opening. Before the week was over I had the strongest recommendation I could ever ask for waltzing me through an interview and on Monday I started work bright and early at my new (and first) full-time job.

I'm now one of two designers comprising the art department at Captain Jerry's--a screenprinting business started 35 years ago by the Captain himself: Gerald Millman. Now run by the younger Millmans.

I mostly take napkin-sketches from clients and turn their scribbled machinations into beautiful press-ready designs and then replace all the copy with Cooper Black or Hobo when the client thinks my type-setting isn't "fun" enough.

Sometimes I get to skip the napkin sketches and design from scratch for those very awesome clients who are happy to leave the designing to the designers.

Here's a walkthrough of one such project for the Army at Fort George G. Meade.

My workstation (with a current-generation imac all to myself) with the output-ready design onscreen.

The key layer on this three-color print being expertly squeegeed by one of our Gauntlet automatic presses.

The finished shirts coming out of the oven, ready for boxing.

And the design itself, created by yours truly.

2011 Commencement Show

2011 Commencement Show was a big success. Follow the picture to my website to explore each work in detail, in the 'color' and 'print' sections.

Commencement Exhibition 2011.

Come see my final exhibition, along with the hundreds of other graduating seniors.

Friday, May 13: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 14-16: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Opening reception: Sunday from 1:30 - 5 p.m. Food and drink!


Here's a sneak peek of my prints.

Toad study.

Practicing toads. Gouache on cardboard--my new favorite thing.

Greedy Lizard.