The last several months I've been mostly researching screen printing equipment. A friend made me realize that air brushing shirts with stencils was also another way to create cool shirts.
I bought a screen printing press, but I have a couple more important pieces of equipment to add to it, before I even begin to buy the supplies like ink, emulsion and screen mesh fabric. I flash back to the photography (dark room) class I took in high school...still exposing screens, and washing them down...who knew?
I have to say the idea of doing all this myself...is a major motivator...it's just the dollars keeping me from moving forward as fast as I want.
Meanwhile, I got my air brush to work. Now, I'm going to start with stencils to practice on first. With airbrushing its all about ink flow, distance and pressure to create the thin and thick lines. I need practice to get my artistic "groove" back.
Looking back to last year...I really did learn a lot about myself and business, as painful as it was to go thru. In the end, I can say I did it. Two event shows later and some leftover shirts to get rid of...I'm getting back on the bike, this time more gradually. The hands-on aspect of creating the shirts myself...and the reward of knowing I will have screen printed my own designs...even if it's only a motivating factor now, makes it all worth it.
My buddy, Oscar, the graffiti artist, is selling his shirts on the west coast as REVEL BRAND.He's partnering with RODRICK NY to get those shirts into stores. You'll see him back in NYC next January 2010...when we do our next big show.
I've been approached by another artist, looking to get back into his graffiti art that could take part in our next show, as well. I'm hopeful, we'll all come together by the end of summer, to organize something really cool...cool art, cool shirts. Check back in a couple weeks!
RODRICK NY
