Gocoo In the Studio

play on bluesky monotype 11x16 inches
Many people have been inquiring about how I like the Gocco. Like it? Love it!
Well, I went crazy. You see, years ago I had one and thought is was ok. This was at a time when I was doing etchings, lithographs and some silkscreening pretty full time as a student. Then a Gocco crossed my path. I inherited one and used it a bit, thinking that it was pretty cool and quick in processing compared to what I was working with at the time... but honestly, I lost interest in it, and passed it on to someone, somewhere, at sometime. Kind of the way it came to me.
About 7 years ago I acquired another one, through an artstore closing down and having a huge "yardsale" of sorts. I bought the whole lot of mish-moshed items which proved to be a real "find" at the time. Except for the Gocco. Sadly I ignored it and it went unused and then passed on again to a deserving student.
Enter new/old Gocco procured fairly reasonably at ebay and well, ripped open and jubilantly fired up upon said opening.
I had some ideas from old illustrations from the past year - so I was pretty happy to try them out on the Gocco. I have been enjoying printing on monotype backgrounds (like the above and the previous post) that I have held onto for ages. I like printing them also on top of the vintage book pages I was given by a librarian friend. Also I am going to try to make some holiday cards and this years calendar may just be printed on the gocco too! We will see!
Lobster cha cha cha is the latest,
Play and Friend of Nature all in runs of 30 have been made along with some cards and matching envelopes. Today I just received my new stamping gocco equipment, so I can now print up some textiles. New ink colors too so I can mix up a batch of new colors for my next adventures. Which will be very soon. Printmaking is one of my favorite things to do.

Gocco: lobster cards and envelopes

lobster cards and envelopes, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Yes, I have been going crazy with my little Gocco. Every moment printng and playing. I took my lobster drawing from last winter and decided to do a two color card for our shop at artstream. I first did some prints on heavyweight vellum for later use else where, but decided that we needed lobster cards. I have two different kinds of cards. One on Strathmore paper going into our shop on Monday, October 1st and one on smooth white cards going into my etsy shop then too.
The cards are two screens and the envelopes have the wave screen on them. A little wave to surf your stamp on!
We at Chez Schwake are off to our very first family weekend at college with daughter Grace. Excited? You bet!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Gocco

on vintage book page 8 x 10 inches $25
click for a large image

on white archival paper 5x7 inches $15
click for a large image

After fifteen years, I finally bought myself another Gocco printer. I used it a lot in the way back machine and had been longing to fire one up again.
So here you have it, my first foray back into Gocco. It has actually been sitting her pestering me for the past month and well, time was short as you can imagine, but yesterday, I took time for myself and had so much fun.
I decided to try a little illustration I had done earlier in the year which was in response to an illustration Friday prompt.
I made an edition of 30 on white or tan archival heavyweight stock and then a few on vintage papers and some special pieces printed onto monotype backgrounds (more on those later).
Goodness knows I am a printmaker at heart. This was so much fun.
Revealing surprise #2:
I went and did it. I opened an Etsy shop. These prints and some other goodies will be available from time to time there. My affordable artworks will be there as I am very happy with gallery shows for my fine art work. Any and all feedback is always welcome.