Hand Crafted Illustration

People love to say that listening to music on vinyl gives you a warmer, richer sound. The same could be said of handmade illustration and printmaking. The colors pop more. The lines feel organic. The presence of the artist can almost be felt giving a room more warmth and personality.

Hand pulled silkscreen enhances that feeling because each layer of color is subject to the artist’s hand. Small changes in angle, speed, temperature, humidity, screen tension, and many other factors all play a role in how ink is laid on paper and every pull creates uncontrollable variations making each print a one-of-a-kind.

We live in a time when photography and 3D graphics dominate. Yet despite advances in technology things often feel flat, false, or lack personality. It’s as if the pursuit of perfection has compressed life into a two-dimensional representation of something more genuine. That is why handmade is important to me: it breaths life back into an otherwise oversaturated world dedicated to being as fast and cheap as possible.

I think it’s important to slow down, breathe, and take stock of life. And also drink craft beer. And stuff my fat face with chocolate chip cookies.

The Dude Behind The Beard

People like to ask, “How long have you been drawing?” For as long as I can remember is the simple answer. I think it really took off as a child when I learned that I could impress other kids with copies of popular comic strips. As I got older I realized that I could create my own cover art for binders and trapper-keepers and soon started decorating the world with all the things I was interested in: Wolverine, Punisher, Ferrari Testarossas, Harley’s, Skulls, Dragons, half naked women. But when I started getting requests for artwork in exchange for cash I learned to hate my talent. I quit and walked away from art out of an immature selfishness.

After more than a decade of artistic silence I started to have cravings again and thanks in part to new tablet technology I picked up where I left off all those years ago. Since 2009 I’ve worked with small businesses, nonprofits, and schools to provide a better look and feel for graphics used in a variety of print and digital mediums. As a graphic designer I have good taste and an eye for composition, but my roots and real passion lies in illustration.

Today I make my own products and I’m working more and more to be a better illustrator so that one day I might be self employed. For now I moonlight as an illustrator while working as a stage tech building sets, hanging lights, and mixing sound for live shows.

Screen Printing? (A Quick Video)

Copyright 2015 © Robert C. Olson