risograph – Flower City Arts Center

RISOdency Update

Over the past few weeks I’ve been getting to know the Risograph duplicator and am finding it to be an incredibly versatile and useful machine for experimenting with image making. We’re so lucky in Rochester to have FCAC as a space where community members have access to specialized tools for art making!

I had the opportunity to teach an introductory workshop and whenever I teach I always learn more in the process. I really enjoyed seeing what color combinations and layering techniques the students used. FCAC also has a swatch book for the seven colors they keep in stock, which is helpful for the planning stages of any project.

Most of my interest in the Risograph comes from a need to expand my book making practice to larger editions. The cost effectiveness, speed, and eco friendliness of the Risograph far outweigh its drawbacks.

I have been primarily experimenting with the use of photographic imagery and was able to do this for the FCAC 2020 Printmaking and Book Arts calendar. The first two layers of my calendar month (June) were linoleum blocks printed on the Vandercook No.4 and the final two layers were printed using the Risograph duplicator.

I am also very excited about the potential for variation when printing on different colored papers. Below are a couple examples of images I’ve been working with so far:

AIR Introduction: Megan Magee Sullivan

Hello, I’m happy to introduce myself as the new Risograph Artist-in-Residence in Photography & Digital Arts at Flower City Arts Center. For the next 6 weeks I will be experimenting with the Risograph duplicator. As a producer of visual books, I’m excited to see how the Risograph will expand my ability to execute projects that involve images and text.

As an interdisciplinary artist who creates books and experimental video, I appreciate how the two relate as time-based media. I utilize elements of personal and collective history, erasure poetry, and materials gathered from various public and private archives to examine the constructs of religion, family, and memory.

I’m looking forward to using the Risograph to execute a book project over the next several weeks. I will keep you up to date on my progress through the blog and my instagram @maggiemagees.

www.meganmageesullivan.com

My Favorite Things About Risograph Printing!

There are lots of exciting things to try at Flower City Arts Center. As the photography and digital art intern this summer, I got to get a taste of the facilities offered here. One hidden gem of Flower City is the Risograph Printer. I was lucky enough to be able to play around with the printer and create a few designs, and I fell in love!

What is Riso printing?

For those who don’t know, the risograph pringint process is sgjhimilar to screen printing. Your original image is scanned on the Riso and burned onto a “master copy” which is then wrapped around a print drum which pushes ink through the screen and onto paper.

Here is why printing on the Riso is so unique:

Color

The riso printer is a wet ink process that uses bright ink to create delightful color on the page. Because each ink color is printed separately, the overlap of inks creates interesting color layering. Adding colored paper changes how color appears as well. Flower City currently offers 7 ink colors which is more than enough to create bright, beautiful work!

Texture

Part of the charm of the Riso printer is its uniqueness. Because of the printing process, ink coverage can vary to create an interesting speckled-like texture. No two prints are exactly the same and it gives the prints the feeling that there was a human hand creating them. As always, texture of paper can add a new element to the print that is accentuated on the Riso.

Versatility

With the Riso, the sky is the limit! Digital files, drawings and photography can be easily translated and printed through the Riso. That is why it is a favorite among graphic artists, designers and photographers alike!

Ease

I am no technology wiz, so when I was I would be printing on the Riso I was intimidated. But, to my surprise the process was extremely intuitive and easier than I had ever thought. Once you get a sense of how the process is executed, it is easy to get comfortable.

Learn More

Come on down and jam to some Lizzo while printing on the Riso!

If you are interested in learning about this process or getting a chance to use the machine check our upcoming Riso Projects Class and our Intro To Riso Workshops!

Click here to learn more about the photography and digital art facilities!

Intern Introduction: Jade Hansen

Photograph from my Era Renaissance project, 2019.

Hello! My name is Jade Hansen and I am a student at Eastern Monroe Career Center enrolled in their photography/visual communication program. As it is my senior year of high school my EMCC program gives us the opportunity to intern at a place in our future field. I have been taking classes here at Flower City Arts Center almost every summer since I was little, and was fortunate enough to be able to intern here! My personal interests in photography lay mostly in the realm of portraiture and nature, as well as an interest in film and other analog processes. I do also do some graphic work both digitally and traditionally. I love drawing assorted ghoulish things!

Risographs printed today from my Creepy House illustration.

Aside from my interests in the art world, I enjoy collecting bones and dead insects (I’m a HUGE fan of bees), and I have two cats that I love very much! My internship started last Monday and so far we have been exploring the new Riso printer (creating a swatch book of the colors and experimenting) I am defiantly enjoying it so far! If you are interested in seeing any of my work, my instagram handles are @thecoffinismoving (photography) and, @artghoulz (all other non photography art). I am looking forward to learning new things and creating here! -Jade