What makes your artwork eco-friendly?
I use biodegradble linoleum, recycled fine art paper, and non-toxic inks. The paper is made in a hydroelectric powered mill and my screen printing inks are made in a solar powered facility. All my "plastic" protective sleeves on prints are made from plant oil and are commercially compostable!
What is a Serigraph?
A fine art screen print. Serigraphs are archival and considered an original work of art because they are created by the artist in close collaboration with a printmaker. In my case I am the artist & the printmaker! Printed by hand, one at a time, each serigraph is unique.
What is Linocut Printmkaing?
Hand-Carved Block Prints made using linoleum blocks. Artwork is not only printed in reverse (mirror image), but it is also carved backwards how you would normally draw, paint, etc. Instead of carving the image you want, you have to remove the negative space around that image, like creating a sculpture: it is what you DON'T carve that becomes the image! After hand-carving the linoleum block, the block is inked by hand, and then an etching press (old school printing press) is used to create the impression and transfer the ink from the block onto the paper. The etching press is a manual press and hand-powered. Linocut Printmaking creates original artwork made by hand.
What is Linoleum?
Linoleum is an eco-friendly version of wood. They use off cuts from wood when making lumber, sawdust, etc to make a wood flour. The wood flour is combined with Linseed oil and tree resin to form the linoleum block. A canvas weave is added to the back to support stability and hold it all together. Being made from all natural materials, linoleum blocks will decompose completely, and faster than a wood block.
Why do you destroy your Linoleum Blocks after printing?
To stay true to Limited Editions. Some of my linoleum blocks self-destroy by the art making process. For example, the reduction method is a way of printing multiple colors, one color layer at a time. After one color layer is printed it must be removed in order to print the next color layer. So by the end all the color layers are gone forever, except the last color layer. This makes reprints impossible! If I don't use this method and instead carve just one color layer, then I will cancel my block after I make an edition of prints. Each Linocut Print is a Limited Edition Print. Not being able to go back and reprint my popular designs forces me to be more creative and make new artwork. It also makes each one of my Linocut Prints more valuable! They are rare and once sold out, will never be available again!
How long have you been doing this?
I've been an artist my whole life, but never really knew it, or believed. After losing my commercial printing job in 2022 I went all in on myself and became a full time working artist. I first got into printmaking in 2017.
Can I wash my Recycled Cotton Tote Bag?
Yes. Machine wash cold, hang dry. After screen printing his own artwork onto the tote bags, Paz takes the extra time to heat set the inks. The heat fuses the ink to the fabric making it permanent!