Fungi is going to save the world.

I was finally able to get around to printing up one of my drawings this afternoon. My parents had visited for Father's Day and I had a wonderful time but the second they left I couldn't wait to get going on my printing. I've been meaning to print this mushroom spores drawing for over a week. I didn't even bother to clear my desk off I just started working on the floor like a maniac (the whole time guarding my designs from nibblesome bunnies).

I made this design after watching this T.E.D. talk on how fungi is going to save the world. I was also motivated to draw something that did not contain a precious little creature. I really like drawing bunnies and bunny stuff sells well but I want to make sure I don't overdo it until I become formulaic.

Above are three parts of the Gocco process.

1. I made a sketch. In the sketching phase I'm very messy. In this particular drawing, I kept adding and removing a snail from the end of the top branch. I'm glad I settled on being snail free because I think it really took the focus off the spore cloud.

2. I use a micron pen to neatly draw over my sketch and erase all the old marks. The carbon in the pen is what burns through the screen I'll use.

3. The printing is my favorite step. I decide what color ink I'll use and then print it on a few different colors of cardstock until I find the magic combination. This step is the part where I sometimes get surprised. For example, today I expected to print this design on a dark mossy green paper but it turned out that the combination of white ink on the silvery gray was much more appealing. I love how the cleanliness of screen printing and the right color combinations can make a rather mediocre drawing much more special.

I printed a small edition of 25 and I'll be putting them in my shop later this evening.